Akiva1080 Posted July 18, 2008 Report Share Posted July 18, 2008 Hi everyone! I took some time reading thru past threads but couldn't really seem to find an answer. Although I did find a lot of information I know I'll need in the future as well as a few good laughs We bought your super duper cheap-o special Intex 12' pool a few weeks ago. Followed the initial set-up instructions and avoided the "do-nots" people wrote about online and it was a blast to swim in the first few days. Then tragedy struck. I covered the pool with a mesh cover (actually a spare black trampoline net) and when I went to uncover it this past week, we found the dreaded algae. Not just that, we had hundreds of lovely mosquitos! -I hereby submit my theory of why the top inflateable ring on these type of pools lose air so much! Well, the dummy that I am didn't think I needed chlorine or any chemicals for a pool this small. Even worse, I realized I had hooked up the 530 gph filter backwards!!! Ack! I've learned my lesson that even this needs to be maintained. So I borrowed a neighbors brush and after connecting the filter correctly I scrubbed some of the algae around. I put in almost 1/2 lb. of shock the first night, and it cleared up quite a bit. Did almost another 1/4 lb. last night and its almost all gone. But here's the big problem I'm having. After a little research I'm pretty certain it's mosquito larvae. All the chlorine killed them thankfully and now that the waters circulating I'm happy, but the problem is, it seems like the little filter isn't doing much to clear them. They're everywhere! I used my friends leaf net with very small holes but as I skim, most pass thru anyway. What would you guys recommend for removing all these bugs short of draining and refilling 2500 gallons of water? I plan on bringing a sample to a pool store tomorrow and buying the appropriate ph chemicals (I know, shouldv'e probably been done before I shocked it) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Angela Posted July 18, 2008 Report Share Posted July 18, 2008 Hi Akiva Welcome to the site. It would be helpful if you added the size of your pool, pump and filter etc to your signature. Its hard to advise you without this info. But I'll give it a try. I had the same prob with lavae. The shock should have killed them and then you vacuum them up from the bottom of the pool. The odd few that survived got vacuumed up as well - I chased them down with the vac hose, great fun. Good luck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Akiva1080 Posted July 18, 2008 Author Report Share Posted July 18, 2008 Hi Akiva Welcome to the site. It would be helpful if you added the size of your pool, pump and filter etc to your signature. Its hard to advise you without this info. But I'll give it a try. I had the same prob with lavae. The shock should have killed them and then you vacuum them up from the bottom of the pool. The odd few that survived got vacuumed up as well - I chased them down with the vac hose, great fun. Good luck Thanks for the response. I specifically mentioned that stuff in my post (2500 gal, 530gpm filter) I'll put it in my sig tho. I had my water tested and the ph is spot on, everything is good, but surprisingly the chlorine level was .5!!! and that was after the shock I put in. I guess I need more. So i picked up another 1lb. bag of shock as well as 2gal of liquid chlorine. Also bought a test kit so i can keep after it. The vacuuming or skimming is the hard part. I saw a nice skimmer that was very tightly woven but about $20 I'm contemplating the garden hose venturi style vacuum b/c you're right, I definitely need to vacuum it up. Maybe its also time for a new filter cartridge, but it looks better everyday! Just the bugs...yuck! LOL Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Angela Posted July 28, 2008 Report Share Posted July 28, 2008 I also got my pool cheap and on the spur of the moment. Big pain in the butt until this year (my 2nd season) when I replaced the filter for a much more powerful and efficient system. Also added a heat pump. Not looked back since - clean pool every day and warm enough to swim in every day no matter what the weather is doing. The vacuum suction is just strong enough to clean everything out of the pool - but you do have to ensure you brush the pool at least once a week too. I do hope your pool is clear now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Akiva1080 Posted August 11, 2008 Author Report Share Posted August 11, 2008 I also got my pool cheap and on the spur of the moment. Big pain in the butt until this year (my 2nd season) when I replaced the filter for a much more powerful and efficient system. Also added a heat pump. Not looked back since - clean pool every day and warm enough to swim in every day no matter what the weather is doing. The vacuum suction is just strong enough to clean everything out of the pool - but you do have to ensure you brush the pool at least once a week too. I do hope your pool is clear now. been a while since i posted but yes! everything worked out just fine. bought all the appropriate testers and chemicals and we've been enjoying the pool every day! We had a baby girl 2 weeks ago so granddad was here playing in the pool with the other kid and exclaimed how nice the water was. possibly the best 100 bux i ever spent! A friend just installed a beautiful jacuzzi and an adjacent 12 person jacuzzi/swim spa. I can't wait to try that out. He rolled up his larger above ground metal pool and offered it to me at an irresistible price but I had to turn down the offer as I don't plan on keeping our rubber one up most of the year. Cant wait to see our water bill. Anyway, thanks for the advice i found on this site! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Angela Posted August 12, 2008 Report Share Posted August 12, 2008 Congratulations Akiva! A new baby and a clean pool! Hope you enjoy both as much as I am enjoying mine. Now if we could just have some nice warm sun here life would just be blissful. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trigger Posted August 13, 2008 Report Share Posted August 13, 2008 ....Cant wait to see our water bill. Anyway, thanks for the advice i found on this site! As Chas in the hot tub section always reminds us "Water is the CHEAPEST chemical you can add to you hot tub (or pool for that matter). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dymondgeezer Posted August 13, 2008 Report Share Posted August 13, 2008 FYI I bought a Pool Blaster Catfish battery powered rechargable vac for the pool. Works very well, no hoses to mess with and for my weak pump / filter combo it was a better option until I upgrade the pump next season. Bought mine on Ebay for less than $100 I put the toe of a pair of pantyhose inside the filter bag and it captures everything, even silt and algae. The battery lasts about 45mins to 1 hour, plenty of time to do the entire pool. Pool Blaster on Ebay link Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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