On Jul 12, 3:50*pm, wrote:
On Jul 7, 11:13 pm, Alex wrote:
Hi Everyone,
We let ourabovegroundpool go for a few months, and now I'm unable
to get the water clear. *It's anabovegroundpool, 25 feet diameter
and about 5 feet deep on average. *With a few larger trees in our back
yard, the bottom was covered in leaves, which I believe started
growing algae.
After shocking the heck outta the pool I spent several days vacuuming
the pool to get as many leaves and crud from the bottom as I could
find, though it wasn't easy since I couldn't see the bottom. *After
this plus scrubbing the sides I balanced the chemicals (still cloudy)
and took a sample to my local pool store where they suggested a 'super
floc'. *I poured twice the standard dose for my pool (about 8 oz) and
ran the pump for 2 hours then shut off for 24 hours. *I saw no change,
so vacuumed again and did another dose... again no change.
Went back to pool store and they recommended another clarifier which
also didn't work. *From what they said the first would make the crud
settle to the bottom and the second would make the particals stick
together so they could be sucked into filter.
This was all last week, and I've let my pump run 24/hours for the last
4-5 days with still no change. *The water is clearer, but still not
crystal and can't see the bottom.
I'm continuing to vacuum out every couple of days and keeping the
chemicals balanced, but I'm not sure what to try next. *I've read some
folks say they drained 2/3 of the pool, but I'd rather not do that
since I don't want to hose thevinylliner.
Any suggestions? *I've been messing with the pool for 2 weeks now, and
still no luck. *At this rate it'll be winter before it's ready to
go 
*Also note to self, maintain the pool through winter this year.
Alex
Alex,
This is a tough and very frustrating situation I know... I just
cleared mine which is 21' x 38' and I have to say I was ready to empty
it completely after 3-4 weeks of trying. But I endured with excellent
guidance from my local pool store.
I use a cartridge filter, only because that's what the pool came with.
I prefer DE because you can maintain it almost effortlessly and
inexpensively. Regardless if your water is stable and filtering is not
working to clear it here is what got me past that point. *Important is
DO NOT LET YOUR CHLORINE LEVEL DROP! Next I added a product called
FiberClear to my filter system which acts much like DE to filter out
the finer particles in the water. Then I ran the filter for 2 days 12
- 14 hours with my vacuum hose on the bottom of the pool . Cleaned my
filter once again, and repeated, this time using the pools normal
circulation. (Note) if you keep pouring in chlorine and it disappears
in a short time, it could be chlor-locked with all the shocking.)
Liquid last a little longer and is easier to stabilize.
GOOD LUCK I hope this helps
Hi Everyone --
Thanks for the great replies! I'm now at a few weeks in trying to get
this water cleared-up, and though it's MUCH clearer then it was, it's
still cloudy as heck. I can at least see the bottom alittle
(sometimes). I've been working with the guys at Leslie Pools and
I've used about three different products. They think there's probably
some leaves or something at the bottom I'm missing with the vacuum and
algae or something is growing under it and releasing more crap into
the pool.
I'm currently draining about 1/4 to 1/2 the water to refill, and
hopefully that'll give me a good starting point where I can see the
bottom and vacuum up whatever the heck is down there. I've actually
gotten in it a few times and walked around, though I couldn't see the
bottom.
The pool does have a sand filter, and the sand was just changed out
two years ago -- so I assume it's still okay.
But I'll post another message in the next few days after I've filled
it back up and ran more chlorine through it.
Thanks for all the input though... it's encouraging to know that it'll
be clean at some point -- even though we've already missed out on most
of the summer thus far :-/
Take care --
Alex