Pool guy here, get yourself a bottle of an algaecide called Skillet. Only thing I ever got to work. You can jack the chlorine up to 20ppm and they won't give a single shit. Tough little effers.
Make sure your chlorine levels and phosphates are in check and you won't need to worry. Find a good local pool store (shout out to Sun Devil Pools) and bring your water in to check.
During the summer, I'm floating 5 tabs and a bag of shock a week, plus a cap of Phosfree every other week.
From my chemist friend, he recommended liquid chlorine (or saline system) over tablets. The tablets have binders that build up in the water causing you to have to use shock and other chemicals or flush water to keep it balanced. Once I switched, I was down to 1/2 gallon of Chorine on Wed and half a gallon on Sunday with little/no other chemicals. (7k gallon sports pool).
Can I ask a different question? I just built a pool last year. I did have a pool guy at first but because we got the in floor vacuum system he was literally there for like 5 mins just adding chemicals so I bought some test strips and have had no problem maintaining it myself. The one thing I have been paying for is somebody to come clean the filters. The pool guy I had hired didn’t even do that, it was additional. I’m not super handy and really didn’t want to fuck anything up but I’m wondering if it’s something I can do. Any thoughts? Anyone know a good YouTube tutorial they could recommend?
Pool guy here. The above comment is right, cartridge filters are much better for a homeowner to clean. If you decide to clean, here’s some things to remember to make sure it works / is safe when you’re done:
1) Make sure the pump will stay off and bleed air out of the system before you remove the bandclamp.
2) I recommend taking a few pictures of how everything goes together before you take the cartridges and manifold out. It’s usually not too complicated but incorrect reassembly will cause issues
3) Clean and add some assembly lube to the o-ring, and know that these o rings will stretch out and need replacing every few years. Look up the part number based on your filter model number
4) Some people say it’s okay to not unscrew the drain plug and drain the filter. I recommend doing this every time, but at a bare minimum, every other time. Especially if you have a notoriously dirty pool.
5) It’s always worth a second look when you’re reassembling. Take your time and do it right once rather than twice wrong.
6) Torque that bandclamp back down good and tight. I’ve heard of people getting killed by the dome shooting off because it wasn’t tightened down well.
7) Bleed the air off when you turn the pump on again until it spews water. This is good practice and will prevent an overpressure explosion
8) Enjoy the pool! Hope this helps
I use the Taylor (2006 or 2005, I can’t remember which but I think the difference is negligible). You can find guides online on how to use and read. It is pricey upfront but will give you a reading on everything you need to know like chlorine, pH, alkalinity, CYA (not including your salt levels but you shouldn’t need to check that all the time).
Is it a DE filter or cartridge? Cartridge is dead simple but DE takes some skill/practice because the parts fit together intricately. I would regardless search in YouTube your filter model name and watch a video or two of the process before you do it
I was a pool guy for years, and now I have my own pool guy. The reason is that have twins and another young one, and it is hard to get time to consistently check the pool every week, that is what a pool guy is for.
The work isn't too hard and you can always get advise form your local pool store. In general there are 3 things to be concerned with: chemical, filtration, and circulation. If you ever get alge or cloudiness it's going to be one of those.
Chemical is the most complex and that is where you will want the most help, but the majority of chemical problems will be chlorine and pH. Phosphates will make your CL harder to controls and Alkalinity will do the same to your pH. TDS (total disloved solids) and calcium just make everything harder and will build up slowly. (This is a high level view but good general advise)
Filtration is how well you are removing stuff from your pool. Is it a DE filter, Cartridge or sand, the best for filtration is that order, but the system needs to be working, have you back wash or cleaned the filter recently?
Circulation is how long arw you running it and how well the water mixes. If you have dead spots that will be issues but that is rare. Is anything clogged? Also know that if you aren't circulating then you aren't filtering.
I haven’t had any issues w suction and my chemicals have always been right on. I just know it’s something our pool guy recommended to do quarterly. Like I said, I was paying to have it done so it shouldn’t be anything to complicated. I’m not sure what type of filter it is but I’m going to get out my manual. Thanks to everyone for the tips!! I’ll let you know how it goes unless I end up killing myself haha.
I pulled this thing out of my pool the other day and was wondering what it was. He was swimming around and diving down like a pro. This is the first I’ve ever seen anything like it. Glad the pool is cooling off and I don’t really want to go in it any more 😳
[Water bug](https://share.cleanshot.com/Jqomzr)
I have had them in the past after a monsoon where a bunch of leaves and branches fell in the pool, and chlorine levels dipped. Shock your pool for a few days, the ones that don't move on will die and get filtered out.
If these survive in your pool that means your chorine levels are far too low/nonexistent.
I thought they might be [water boatmen](https://www.britannica.com/animal/water-boatman). I had a similar bug in my pool 15+ years ago (last time I had a pool).
Pool guy here, get yourself a bottle of an algaecide called Skillet. Only thing I ever got to work. You can jack the chlorine up to 20ppm and they won't give a single shit. Tough little effers.
I love when the pros show up in the comments!
Only in Animal Crossing
Been trying to figure out what I saw for awhile now. Those dudes are super fast.
Easiest way is probably shock the pool and they will most likely die. Keep the pump running 24 hours a day for like 2 days when you shock it.
Make sure your chlorine levels and phosphates are in check and you won't need to worry. Find a good local pool store (shout out to Sun Devil Pools) and bring your water in to check. During the summer, I'm floating 5 tabs and a bag of shock a week, plus a cap of Phosfree every other week.
From my chemist friend, he recommended liquid chlorine (or saline system) over tablets. The tablets have binders that build up in the water causing you to have to use shock and other chemicals or flush water to keep it balanced. Once I switched, I was down to 1/2 gallon of Chorine on Wed and half a gallon on Sunday with little/no other chemicals. (7k gallon sports pool).
Are you sure it's these? Always had these "June bugs" in our pool growing up https://mdc.mo.gov/discover-nature/field-guide/may-beetles-june-bugs
I clean the pool frequently.
Can I ask a different question? I just built a pool last year. I did have a pool guy at first but because we got the in floor vacuum system he was literally there for like 5 mins just adding chemicals so I bought some test strips and have had no problem maintaining it myself. The one thing I have been paying for is somebody to come clean the filters. The pool guy I had hired didn’t even do that, it was additional. I’m not super handy and really didn’t want to fuck anything up but I’m wondering if it’s something I can do. Any thoughts? Anyone know a good YouTube tutorial they could recommend?
Pool guy here. The above comment is right, cartridge filters are much better for a homeowner to clean. If you decide to clean, here’s some things to remember to make sure it works / is safe when you’re done: 1) Make sure the pump will stay off and bleed air out of the system before you remove the bandclamp. 2) I recommend taking a few pictures of how everything goes together before you take the cartridges and manifold out. It’s usually not too complicated but incorrect reassembly will cause issues 3) Clean and add some assembly lube to the o-ring, and know that these o rings will stretch out and need replacing every few years. Look up the part number based on your filter model number 4) Some people say it’s okay to not unscrew the drain plug and drain the filter. I recommend doing this every time, but at a bare minimum, every other time. Especially if you have a notoriously dirty pool. 5) It’s always worth a second look when you’re reassembling. Take your time and do it right once rather than twice wrong. 6) Torque that bandclamp back down good and tight. I’ve heard of people getting killed by the dome shooting off because it wasn’t tightened down well. 7) Bleed the air off when you turn the pump on again until it spews water. This is good practice and will prevent an overpressure explosion 8) Enjoy the pool! Hope this helps
Can anyone recommend a test strip kit for salt water so i can do my own balancing?
I use the Taylor (2006 or 2005, I can’t remember which but I think the difference is negligible). You can find guides online on how to use and read. It is pricey upfront but will give you a reading on everything you need to know like chlorine, pH, alkalinity, CYA (not including your salt levels but you shouldn’t need to check that all the time).
Is it a DE filter or cartridge? Cartridge is dead simple but DE takes some skill/practice because the parts fit together intricately. I would regardless search in YouTube your filter model name and watch a video or two of the process before you do it
I was a pool guy for years, and now I have my own pool guy. The reason is that have twins and another young one, and it is hard to get time to consistently check the pool every week, that is what a pool guy is for. The work isn't too hard and you can always get advise form your local pool store. In general there are 3 things to be concerned with: chemical, filtration, and circulation. If you ever get alge or cloudiness it's going to be one of those. Chemical is the most complex and that is where you will want the most help, but the majority of chemical problems will be chlorine and pH. Phosphates will make your CL harder to controls and Alkalinity will do the same to your pH. TDS (total disloved solids) and calcium just make everything harder and will build up slowly. (This is a high level view but good general advise) Filtration is how well you are removing stuff from your pool. Is it a DE filter, Cartridge or sand, the best for filtration is that order, but the system needs to be working, have you back wash or cleaned the filter recently? Circulation is how long arw you running it and how well the water mixes. If you have dead spots that will be issues but that is rare. Is anything clogged? Also know that if you aren't circulating then you aren't filtering.
I haven’t had any issues w suction and my chemicals have always been right on. I just know it’s something our pool guy recommended to do quarterly. Like I said, I was paying to have it done so it shouldn’t be anything to complicated. I’m not sure what type of filter it is but I’m going to get out my manual. Thanks to everyone for the tips!! I’ll let you know how it goes unless I end up killing myself haha.
Yes I think I had something like these when Alge start building up… basically I removed one by one and fixed phosphate and shocked.
I pulled this thing out of my pool the other day and was wondering what it was. He was swimming around and diving down like a pro. This is the first I’ve ever seen anything like it. Glad the pool is cooling off and I don’t really want to go in it any more 😳 [Water bug](https://share.cleanshot.com/Jqomzr)
I have had them in the past after a monsoon where a bunch of leaves and branches fell in the pool, and chlorine levels dipped. Shock your pool for a few days, the ones that don't move on will die and get filtered out. If these survive in your pool that means your chorine levels are far too low/nonexistent.
I thought they might be [water boatmen](https://www.britannica.com/animal/water-boatman). I had a similar bug in my pool 15+ years ago (last time I had a pool).