2 Problems After Opening Our 1-Year Old Pool.

[Bob_1964]

Hi folks - I have 2 problems that I am working through post-opening that I was hoping you could help me with.

I had a local pool company open our pool last week.

It's a 1 year old (installed July 2009) 11k gal. Gibraltar above-ground with a Hayward sand filter.

Once the initial murkiness turned to cloudy blue (about 4 hours), we noticed a lot of white sediment on the bottom of the pool floor along with a significant amount of what looks like sand.

I asked the company if the white stuff might have been the opening chemicals they used and they replied "no", more likely that it is dead algae.

Is that a likely possibility?

Also, in researching the sand part, I have learned that a "bad lateral" could be to blame.

Is it normal for a lateral to break after only 3 months of use (July 09 - October 09)?

The company that opened the pool this year is the same who closed it last October. Could they have damaged a lateral when closing and moving into my garage?

Or could there be other reasons for the sand in the pool floor?

I have vacuumed (3 times) and we have about 75% of the white stuff up. It brings the filter pressure from 10 to 20 pretty quickly, so it's a work-in-progress.

While vacuuming, the return comes out a little white, but there does not seem to be a noticeable return of white debris to the pool floor. I assume its breaking up and circulating through the filter.

After running the filter overnight, the gauge went from 10 to 20 by morning.

Any advice for a knowledge-less pool boy?

Thanks in advance folks. Bob

[wsommariva]

I had a bad phosphate(algae food) problem. Treated with a phosphate remover, two applications. Ended up with what looked like sand on the bottom. Wasn't sand as I don't have a sand filter. I just vacummed it up. Now crystal clear pool.

[polyvue]

Dead algae is one possiblity. It sounds like your filter is working.... the increase in pressure from 10 to 20. Have you backwashed yet? I don't know the frequency of filter problems but you can also open to inspect the laterals.