Somebody please tell me this is worth it....

[kelemvor]

Here's my before and after. Took less than a week in my case, following directions from this site. http://www.flickr.com/photos/14865808@N00/4857680807 Lots of chlorine bleach, a gallon or so of muriatic, some stabilizer, salt, and viola. I think I added some ployquat as well, but I've since stopped using it on a regular basis.

I scooped and vacuumed all the junk I could (maybe 4 hours or so the first day). Then let the chemicals do most of the rest of the work (along with daily filter washes). I was sure I would have had to drain/refill when I bought the house too; but that was not necessary!