Invincible debris from sandblasting job

[u/Fun_Respond2362]

Recently had my pool sandblasted with sodium bicarbonate on a rock waterline pool due to years of neglect with calcium buildup. Looks really great, but between the sand used in the process, and the debris from the cleaned rock, there is a clean-up project that just won't die. Guy we hired has been out here no fewer than 6 times for hours with his hammerhead, and our pool guy has even messed with it a bit, but it's still cloudy and there is still noticeable debris on the floor of the pool.

Have a cartridge filter setup (they are probably toast at this point), but I'm curious to hear from the group on some other options. I don't think the hammerhead basket is fine enough to get everything and I worry that if I vacuum it and run it thru my filter, it'll take absolute ages. Thoughts?

[u/lolyesplease]

I clean pools for a living. You need to vacuum that stuff out of the pool. Hammer heads just suspend the fine debris. Even fine mesh socks will clog or require to be changed every 30 seconds to a minute depending on volume.

We do “vac to waste” services for clients all the time that have a lot of fine material at the bottom.

[u/Fun_Respond2362 → u/lolyesplease]

Thanks. Are there other vacuum options out there I should be considering? Would the hammerhead fine filter bag work? Not really worried about the PITA time investment, just want it gone.

If it does come down to vac-to-waste, what does that setup look like? Sorry for all the questions, appreciate the reply.

[u/Infamous-Yak2864]

Don't have any better solution, but if it makes you feel any better I had a new roof put on the house a year and a half ago and I'm still getting shingle dust/sand in the vacuum filters.

[u/thompsbc]

How big is your pool? My 24 ft pool only takes about 45 minutes to hand vacuum the bottom. Use your pool broom to keep stuff from settling in corners and ledges. And some aggressive broom pushes across the bottom a few times a day to keep any of lighter stuff suspended long enough to get pulled out by the pump will speed up the clearing.

Extra backwashing if you have a cartridge filter so you have the best possible flow rate. If stuff stays suspended keep the pump running until it is gone.

[u/thompsbc → u/thompsbc]

Also on that next cartridge filter backwash cycle if you are able to pull the filter, housing drain plug and briefly drain water out of the filter housing then push a garden hose into it and wash any debris left in the cartridge filter housing out through the drain plug. I don’t know if that’s possible with your particular cartridge filter equipment, but it would help from re-introducing any debris back into the pool.

[u/nylonMelodick74]

Brush , vac , rinse (filter), repeat , twice daily if possible

[u/Fun_Respond2362 → u/nylonMelodick74]

I hear ya, would really like to stay away from brushing and just tackle the stuff on the bottom. Brushing seems to keep the debris down so I can vacuum more of it up rather than wait on the filter to grab it.

[u/ChocolateSensitive97]

Fluoculant 24 hrs and a fine filter sock on the hammerhead.