Q: I have just moved into my mother's old house which already has a pool albeit in a state of dis-repair. Sadly, due to the cost issues and plans for a future family I feel that I should fill in the pool and return the garden to grass (the pool and patio take up almost all the back garden). I know you may feel I am mad but I would appreciate any advice as to what materials can be put into the hole to avoid any subsidence problems in the future. Are their other factors that I should have thought about ie existing Pipework etc and do you think I am doing the right thing?!!
Admin reply: I always feel that it is a total waste to fill in a perfectly good pool. If you really HAVE to take it out of use, why not try to simply preserve it. It could be filled with sand and decking placed over it. You would need to sink a pipe with a submersible to keep any water drained out of the shell. When you are ready, you can remove the decking and sand, wash out the pool shell and clean it up ready for filling and use.
Q: I have brownish black stains or algae on the bottom of my vinyl pool in ground. It almost looks like dirt. I have treated for brown algae and also for metal stains but it is still there. It is creeping and growing larger. Any suggestions?
Admin reply: This may be a common bacteria found in the ground - Asperilus Niger.The staining from this looks similar to "candle soot" The usual way to destroy this is to flush chlorine behind the liner. You may be able to do this by first lowering the pool water level and then pouring chlorinated water behind the liner, and hope it gets under the floor to kill this.
Q: I am currently treating a 35,000 gallon in ground pool with baquacil, I would like to convert to chlorine without having to drain the pool to do so. Do you have any procedures that would allow me to do this?
Admin reply: Unfortunately, Baquacil reacts with chlorine to produce large quantities of a sticky orange-ish residue. It is sometimes possible to conteract this reaction by using very large amounts of shock chlorine - but we never recommend that procedure. Realistically, your only option is to drain the pool, flush or replace the sand in the sand filter, and start afresh.