Draining & Cleaning our MASSIVE 18th Century Swimming Pool (again!)
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You REALLY should submerge mesh bags filled with biochar to filter your pool water. It will charge the biochar, which in turn can be used as superfertilizer, sequestering that nitrogen that messed up the pool back into the ground along with the carbon biochar. Plansts grow up to 70% larger. Full circle, win/win. Clean water, sequestered carbon, nutrients in garden.
My late father used to do that with his pool, and it was always clear.
Biochar definitely works!
I had never even heard of that before.
It works...I do this here in NC in my 1.5 acre pond. I built a container that I load with charcoal. It has mesh sides and stays submerged with a barrel bottom mounted on top, filled with floatation foam, and a fountain pump that makes a nice water feature that oxygenated and cleans water. I clean it and refill it once a year.
Yip get to the core issue
You should also float solar powered water fountains that will keep the water moving and air circulating.
Those could be incorporated into the plant floaters.
I love that idea
Turtles do fine on their own so no real need to add more turtles. However, swimming in water shared with a turtle can be problematic as turtles can be a source of Salmonella. Salmonella is a bacterium that is naturally found in the gut of turtles. So, take care when swimming and wash thoroughly upon exiting the water.
I was going to say the same thing. Also the waste of a lot of turtles is going to create more issues.
That’s why they quit selling tiny turtles back in the 1960’s 70’s as pets, salmonella was rampant. 🇨🇦
There are illnesses you are way more likely to get from a giant pool of stagnant water than salmonella from a single turtle.
Exactly what I was thinking
I don't see that being a problem since it is such a big pool. People swim in lakes and ponds all the time where there are turtles without issues
Turtle waste is a problem in small home turtle tanks because it encourages algae growth. I don't think you want a bunch of turtles fertilizing your pool!
That is what I was thinking!
Turtles are not going to keep anything clean! They’re cute, but they are stinky little buggers. If you want to keep them right, your new hobby is going to be constantly tweaking filtration systems and lighting.
Scrub the pool first then use a commercial pump and filter system to filter and clean the water. Then you dont have to drain it.
I will have my gardeners clean my 18th Century pool as soon as I dig enough change out of the sofa cushions. 😂
😅😅😅
Yep this video is soooo relatable 😅
I think you mean “my garden team” because what is 18Th Century English Country House ownership if not ta-ta and cheerio TEAMWORK, right??😂
@@keithball6749 Don't you remember all the work WE did, you know, as a TEAM? We even got a spot of dirt on our bespoke rubber boots!
Splurtles may eat a lot but they also poop an awful lot. My friend had to clean her sponge filter twice a day because of hers
Poop + Samonella = Unhygenic, like lead!?!
@@kathleentaylor8840 Unless they plan on licking Splurtle, I don’t think salmonella is really the biggest bacterial concern in a giant pool of standing water.
@@willowashe Do you realize how many times a day you touch your face? If it's in the turtle, it's in the water they are swimming in.
Helloooo!🙋♀️ We have murky pond troubles often in TN, USA and one of the things we do to combat the algae is to put a floating solar sprinkler in it. The moving water deters the algae from forming and keeps the water aerated. Hope that helps! Keep up the great work!😊
Aeration is absolutely needed. But it is a beautiful pool.
What a labour of love for this beautiful historic pool. Definitely a team effort!
The pool is one of my favorite parts of this channel!
Always!
I found your channel the last time you cleaned your pool. The fact that it got so green so fast is a sign that the water isn't moving (algae grows when the water is still - motion disallows it getting a foothold). All the other commenters have good ideas, but essentially you need to do something other than just letting it sit. You could even just set up a hidden recirculating pump with a filter. It may not quite be simple to set up, but it would be easy to keep in up once in. Good luck! I hope the next pool video is regarding installing some method to keep the water clean and circulating!
I vote for Spurtle the Turtle t shirts , mugs , and hats!!!
The reason I believe your turtle liked the pool so much is that it's somewhat like a swamp.... might be good for a turtle but not so good for a human...I could be wrong.... but I don't think so. Good luck with the turtle issue as well as your other issues. I love history and you are part of the manor and its lands history. Again lots of luck.
Top notch editing w a beautiful background score made the mundane pool cleaning into a lovely & relaxing video !
Thank you very much!
Pool guy also suggested an aeration system to move the water around and add oxygen to the water.
A fairly common practice with fishing lakes is to dye the water to stop algae blooms or to add a floating aerator if there is lots of dissolved oxygen in the water algae finds it hard to grow.. You could perhaps use a pool vac to get the sledge from the bottom of the pool.
I just love your outfit Julia and that hair cover is fabulous! You always look fashionable regardless of what you are up to whether it is cleaning pools, renovating, cooking, or finding treasures in and around the property. Whether you realize it or not you are becoming a fashion icon. Please consider posting in the description where to buy some of the clothing or accessories in the future. I have also seen other KZheadrs posting a link connect to Amazon showing items like camera gear, materials they used in their video, or even fitness gear if it's a video on wellness. 🌸You are absolutely lovely in this video, as you are in every video. Enjoy your weekend.🌸
It unnerves me to swim in water when I can’t see to the bottom or there’s mush/slime on the bottom but I love the idea of natural swimming pools. Someone built their own family’s natural swimming pool; it was set up with plantings in a separate area along side their pool and water was filtered through the plants before the water returned to the pool. It seemed more complicated than I describe, but I wonder if setting up something like that along the sides so everything grows in specific areas and the center of the pool stays clear. I am sure it isn’t possible with a historical site. Very interesting to see your endeavors. If the turtles actually help, I think it’s great to add them in.
Watching from US you might need a fountain in the pool to help circulate the water we have them in a lot of our ponds here in the states. Good luck !!!
Like this suggestion. Will look spectacular!
Our neighbors solved their problem with a wonderful floating fountain that changes colors and can even play music. No more green slimy pond.
next year you should paint the inside of the pool with waterproof rubber pool paint I bet it would make it so much easier to clean and be harder for the green stuff to grow on. x
I loved your commitment to catching your turtle; cleaning the pool,; and restoring the pool to it's formal glory so that you may swim in the pool! I cannot wait to see the next episode when you fill the pool with water and have your inaugural swim! Well done!
Im from the US and I absolutely love your show😊The pool is an incredible sight. Beautiful ❤️ But if I may make a suggestion, i know you want to keep the natural aspects of the pool, but a liner would really help keep the cement from crumbling over time. Power sprayers every year will only weaken things I'm afraid. They can look very natural. And I wonder, if Luke's ancestors had access to today's technology, would they have used it?😊 just a suggestion. Go Squirtle😁🤘🐢
are you gonna get him a ramp so he can actually get out of the pool and bask in the sun when he needs to. x
Splurtle. Definitely cute but I had a turtle and they are big poopers. Swimming in turtle poop? Maybe in a lake with a natural working ecosystem but an enclosed pool with no aeration, no. Are we sure this is a pool? For swimming?
I suppose there was already frog and newt poop.
I would not get in that pool
Is there any way for Splurtle to get out of the pool, or is he trapped once he’s in there? If not, perhaps you should put a couple of ramps up to the edge…this will also keep other critters from drowning if they fall in the pool…critters like bunnies, ducklings, cats, etc.
I do think that the additional bio load added by the turtle (and was this the same place all those frogs were?), needs to be considered.
Why are two of the shrubs cut in half? It's very interesting to see the internal structure.
I was going to comment on this as well: will they grow back? Thanks for the beautiful shots!
So glad Spurtle is thriving!! Taking care of the pool seems daunting- you and Luke are doing a wonderful job!!
Hi Julie and Luke, I love watching all the hard work you and the team put into keeping the house and gardens so picture perfect. Thank you both for sharing... So pleased to see one healthy turtle. x
Awe!!! So glad you found the turtle!!!!!!
You still need a filter pump because of the dust n leaves, etc..build up into sludge. You wouldn't need to clean up all the mud debris every year..
Yeah but the historical significance of the property means that they cannot just install, remove, update or repair things at will. Any change, at all has to be approved by the antiquities council and done in a historically accurate methods.
@@codename495That sucks. They really need a filter
Its also full of frogs and newts in summer. The ecobalance would be disrupted.
Behind my 18th century New England Colonial home I have a 20th century gunite pool. Although I do use chemicals (bromine) I use a very minimal amount and my pool stays crystal clear (without ever fully draining it.) I think the secret to my success is 2-fold. First, I have a DE filtration system. Next, I have what was marketed as a "floor cleaning system' but I think is more accurately called 'a water moving system'. Water is pulled out of the pool via a pump, goes through the DE filter, goes back to the pool through an actuator. The actuator is essentially a gear system that outputs the filtered water into the pool via floorheads that work in sequence. What this does is effectively moves the water throughout the pool. If you don't want to use a filter, you could just run pipes on the bottom of the pool and (via sump-pumps) move the water around. That alone may help. Good luck!
My husband owns a pool company, we used to do gunite and marble plaster. We have a fibreglass,pool with chlorinator, salt water. It’s beautiful. This pool has so much organic material. That is seeping through. My husband says this size pool needs so many more plants for a natural pool. Prob best to line it with something to stop the water seeping in from the side walls.
These pools are so beautiful. You need surface plants and underwater plants to naturally filter water properly. Most people put fish in to complete the balance, putting a turtle in works, he probably feasted on frog legs. I'd put a ton more plants in than you have though. Reeds, water lilys, there are tons of water plants to chose from. Getting oxygen and movement in the water would help. I'd talk to a pond aquascaper. There are filtration options that would help control the algae. Also it's going to bloom with algae worse on a water change year because the pond hasn't biologically settled yet. Be careful of your toes when swimming with turtles though, they can be nibbley..
What fabulous gardens you have ❤️
I really adore Julie's style, she's such a lowkey countryhouse hipster. But also, I really love the floating islands, every time I see them I think it would be so amazing to put simple mass-produced acorn finials at each corner, and maybe even (again mass-produced) wooden rococo pediments centered on each side. It would look like a parade of Royal Barges! (Did I spell that right? autocorrect has nothing to say on the subject of barges. Also I know nothing about approvals on listed houses.)
Let’s hope David’s idea of underwater reed beds helps with water clarity. Turtles will also add to the ammonia/ nitrite/ nitrate cycle- so don’t overstock the pond with too many poop producers. You may also consider going the low voltage natural bog filter route. And including some bubblers/ aerators. Could that ‘Queens bathing house’ sludge pit (that Luke tormented you with!!) sit close enough to pool to somehow become an external natural bog filter? . Being able to skim out falling leaves before they start rotting into the pool might help too. I don’t know. Just some thoughts. However, if you want to learn about building economical low voltage pump, bog style filters - then the you tube channel ‘Oz Ponds’ is great. Kev is an amateur enthusiast for crystal clear natural ponds with minimal maintenance. You could get some ideas from him. Good luck with it all :)
I would consider a filtration system. Or what about an aerator?
Hi Julie, I'm so thankful you decided to clean that pool. There are deadly brain-eating amoebas that lurk in water like that...... especially if it has a turtle living in it. Please do some reasearch on Naegleria fowleri infection
People have washed themselves in ponds and streams for tens of thousands of years. I wonder whether these amoebas are fairly recent,imported with plants and weeds from abroad maybe? It never used to be a problem. Or even a result of climate change.
This was a delightful video! The music, the banter....such fun. Spurtle the Turtle is darling! Cheers from Canada 🇨🇦
Viewing from the US here! Cool project! You can get a typical pool sand filter and pump setup that could potentially be non-invasive and go a LONG WAY to keeping the algae at bay along with the plants! You could then have the ability to vacuum the pool easily and the water will be a lot clearer.
Love your choice of music for this video... majestic and exciting like the pool.
The pool cleaning music reminded me of an old western, I kept expecting to see cowboys galloping over the ridge on their Pintos and Palominos!😂
I love Raymond suppressing his “yes Julie” lol…. I hear attempted patience…very much so😂
A very amazing stately home love the swimming pool keep up the great work you both do
So glad you found the turtle 🐢.
LOVE the Vibrant, pool cleaning music 🎼⛲️
Thanks for the AG1 link. I subscribed!!!!
I love Nestor, he’s such a sweet kid and a great sport. 😂
I imagine you have some historical requirements. In order to do a long term sustainable pool you'd need a much larger regeneration zone that includes gravel beds and a way to circulate the water through the beds. To do this you could create concrete walls the length of the pool and plant them. Alternatively you could use IBC totes on the shallow end with David Pagan's method of airlift pumps, or you could use powered pumps. Either way you need to oxygenate the water and you need media for beneficial bacteria to grow in.
It looks beautiful and perfectly compliments the land and the great historical home. I love the floating plants. I wonder if you can use a pool vacuum to keep the sludge off the bottom and some fountains to keep the water moving?
I love your videos about the pool. That pool fascinates me.
Geez Louise -you clearly have the resources - plaster the walls and install a filtration system. You won’t regret it.
It’s about preserving the historical aspects. I believe that they are operating under a historical property license and to do that you’re not allowed to just do anything you want to do
Depending on what type of turtle, they usually need mud to burrow into and something to climb on out of the water.
And a friend.
@@alkemy9279 Yes, quite a few friends
I just figured out that's why the turtle never left.. He couldn't get out😂😮 But he's had a happy healthy life it looks like and I'm sure he was able to get into the planters for land so it doesn't look like it's hurt him at all!
In Australia if you need a pool dug or a fence installed etc you call on your mates to volunteer for the day. You lay on morning and afternoon tea, sandwiches for lunch and at end the day with a barbecue and beer. This could work for the reeding of the bottom of the pool. Bring your own bathers and towels.
We could volunteer together. A trip to England might be nice.🤣
Yep, that's what us Aussies do! No airs or graces here! 😂
You Aussie’s are wonderful people, much better than we are here in UK. Long live your perfection.
@@frankiepitt9135 It's not perfection, any Aussie that thinks that is a bit on the nose, it's taking the mickey out of stuff and just getting on with it. Apparently a bit of an Irish trait also, which is understandable.
There is a tremendous Koi enthusiast community in England. Raising Koi is water management…ask about. A few barges of plants will be a losing battle. Also, add edging to stop lawn water runoff of nutrients into the pool
Glad you found the turtle while emptying the pool!
big pool and big job to keep it clean i was hoping those floating gardens would do the trick keeping it really clean maybe those additonal reeds you will be adding really help a lot but i hope it leaves a lot of room to swim in!!
You could use the pool on the other side as a filter pool. It would keep the main pool crystal clear. I would add miscellaneous size rocks at the bottom of the main pool and paint the sides a dark grey green color to keep it looking natural. Keep that turtle in the filter pool. You need water jets to keep water moving. You will not need to clean that cool again.
Great music for the pool cleaning!
Bless your hearts ❤
Ooo,Spurtle!, in the house! 🎉
Just thinking that Spurtle may enjoy a Mrs Spurtle? Also if they grow to the size of their environment you may create the Loch Mapperton Monster. Definitely a tourist attraction in its own right! I first started watching you guys two years ago cos of your beautiful natural and historic pool. I admire you so much Julie for your determination, energy and early morning swim x
I Think it's time to look at some of the suggestions for filtering the pool, many options these days for "Natural scape pools" with native water plants and no chlorine.
I'd add underwater plants and didn't David talk about aerators?
Power washing wasn’t the problem so much as it knocked out old grout and hole plugs which then let in even more nutrients from surrounding earth and leaks, hence the algae. Those were all fixed so presumably power washing is ok to do now.
@@erink4685 Ok, cool, thx.
Needs more plants and some of David's 'bubble pumps'. (Thankfully low power and low cost.)
How about solar floating pump system? So the pump works with the Sun ☀?
i watch a lot of palladium and natural pool videos. Gravel bottom for nutrient eating bacteria? More floating islands (up to 1/3 of the surface if the pool). Also terrestrial or emergent plants soak up more nutrients than fully aquatic ones. A full bog filter area would help immensely as you could combine all these things into one area.
Ok , I love that pool .
Its very simple.. you need water flow aka circulation and some kind of bio media to help filter and eat up the nute load. Not that will you do it but you can simply build a wall, bury a centipede at one end and fill space with large gravel followed with smaller gravel down to pea gravel on top, plant plants in pea gravel, pump from centipede to other side of pool to several jets at bottom of pool on the other side.. For better results you could even use the front pond as a filter pond to circulation back into the swimming pond on a larger scale filtration and get even better clarity and less maintenance then above suggestion
I really do love your energy.....
Keep some snapping turtles in there Julie. You will feel even more refreshed after a swim. LOL. Is the other pool a swimming area as well?
I imagine you need at least half of the surface covered by plants. so Adding waterlily and water lotus is a great way to go. Plants use up the nutrients and block some sunlight to help decrease algae.
I just love your giant pool!! I have a natural swimming pond pool (way small compared to yours though) oxygen would help the clarity a lot and help the beneficial bacteria thrive. Maybe for simplicity try adding 3 aerators with diffusers if you have a place to plug them in. No electricity is in the water so still safe for swimming. Then buying packets of beneficial bacteria. (Think probiotics in a tummy, it helps digest and keep a healthy balance in the water) maybe those 2 things could get you an extra year of not cleaning/draining? (I have had 1-3 turtles in my pond every year and Love them too) brings a glimmer to my day. Plant water mint in your floating bogs, they naturally help disinfect the water as well! I sure hope I can visit your magical home someday. Cheers!!
I have a fish pond and I don’t use any chemicals in it at all and the water is very clear and clean. I do use an ultra-violet filter light. You wouldn’t need to pump some water out and through the filter and then back in again but it looks to me like you have some ports where you could quite easily to that. Yes, you do need some electricity (could be solar supplied?) to energize the pump and filter it wouldn’t be that much. This could be a chemical free way for you to keep your pool clean.
Great job guys! Question, is there a difference between the 2 sides of the pool? Thanks!!
Blue pond dye will help lower the sun penetration, which was slow down the algae growth solar aeration add a couple koi. Just a couple will keep the algae at bay also water hyacinth will do amazing for water filtration then just remove them at the end of season before they die and rot very easy since they float on the surface just net them out they make great compost
Interesting!!! Hi from Pennsylvania ❤❤❤
I would ask the Flawless Cleaners to come in. They are amazing.
Wow! Your pool looks great!
Wondering what you could do for the long term cleaning itself, so to speak. It would take many more plants I would think to have clearer water , needs circulation, neat to swim in all the same I wonder if you ever thought about painting the pool walls, to brighten, just a thought. Love the turtle lives there.
Tak!
Wow Julie what a huge job, where does all that muck at the bottom of the pool come from?, hopefully there is a solution to keep it clean, kudos to you both and your team, it can’t be easy taking care of such an amazing beautiful home, tfs x Julie
Nice, another pool episode. This Chanel’s best content by far. You should drain and fill it every week. lol
Didn’t David recommend having bubblers too. You can buy solar floating fountains for a bird bath, I wonder if a few or a dozen of those would hel with the aeration. Or if u could have a couple of larger ones running on solar. ❤❤❤❤
Love your series❤ I have many questions: I’d love an episode where you explained the historical and modern relevance of the various titles. As an American I think we all have a somewhat clear understanding of Soverign and Prince or Princess but get a little lost with the rest. How long can Viscountesses be traced back and what was the point of the title throughout history? As well as all of the other titles. Were these houses their own kingdoms? Do your in-laws still live at Mapperton? Thanks so much for all you share and do ❤
I would filter the 18th century pool water through a series of the largest diotomaceous earth water filters and backwash these every month to clean them. You could also plant MANGROVE TREES.😊
Not again! What happened??!!!
Wow! Has it been 2 years already? So glad to see that the repairs have held and the pool is good for another refill. That must have been a relief to not see the pool filling back up while trying to empty it. Maybe spurtle will have to live in the next pool down with his own floaty?
Fascinating to watch! What is the history of the pool? Why are there what look like walkways in the bottom? This was so interesting! I'm also glad Splurtle (sp?) has an amazing home!!
You have to put in some kind of a running fountain so that it's circulates the water in the pool and it'll keep it clean Big fountain that pulls the water up and throws it out and just keeps circulating the water in the pool
I have to subscribe now just so I don’t miss the refilled finished pool. I was expecting this video to show you doing a lap in a clean pool.
I just found your channel and watched my first 2 episodes. The pool.
Are you cleaning the other pool as well (the one on the other side of the crossover)?
Leaving Nestor out there for days is exactly what my parents would have done! 😂
Love the music 😁
Adding a bog filter somehow to circulate water through planted gravel would work wonders for this. Could create one within the pool along one side, or externally between the two pools.
Bamboo. Grows like crazy in aquatic settings and sucks up nutrients. Just make sure to get the right type of
I hate to break it to you guys, but as someone who has reared a turtle from the size of a small cookie to the size of a large dinner plate, and was the responsible party for his weekly tank cleanings, Splurtle will be making substantial daily nutrient deposits in the pool. I think any more turtle pals for him would threaten to overcome your biological filtration system in little time.
Now that the pool is drained, how about going all-in (sorry) and build cement block reed boxes along two sides? I know its a big undertaking, but then it's done and dusted.
Hi Luke and Julie go as natural as you can have fun swimming