Please help ( long story )

[Lemonhead]

I’ve had a pool for 3 years now. Above ground “24” 52 high. The first year I followed the wisdom here and had zero problems . Pool was always crystal clear. I had some marital issues and was home that past 2 summers . I stopped using the tf test kit and began using chlorine tabs from samscub. I had algae a couple times on the floor or pool. I also noticed this summer that the chlorine level stays high and never lowers. So the good news is my dw and I are back together and I’m back in my home .
I just ordered my tf test kit today and also ordered the ph meter they sell because I want a precise reading that being said the pool store gave me these results . I know their not the most accurate but the chlorine level never lowering and the algae concerns me . Plus my phosphate is high. So my questions would be this
1. Should I buy phos remover
2. Let’s say for argument sake if my cya level is indeed what it says it is can I just wait it out . I don’t want to drain my pool ( I live on well water ) and I bought liquid shock and will never throw a puck in again .
3 . Please give me advice and my tf100 is on the way. But here’s my results from pool store

Fc 7.99
Tc 9.27
Cc 1.28
Ph 8.5
Hardness 159 ppm
Alkalinity w/ stabilizer correction 78 ppm
Cya acid 102
Copper 0.4
Iron 0.1
Phosphate 1189 ppb recommend 0-500

Thanks for any help .

 

[TampaKathy]

Since your CC's are over 1 you should probably do an Overnight Chlorine Loss Test Perform the Overnight FC Loss Test (OCLT). If you fail that and need to SLAM, it's going to take a lot of chlorine with a CYA of 100.

 

[Lemonhead]

Can I back wash and fill a few times to get the cya down ?

 

[mknauss]

Can I back wash and fill a few times to get the cya down ?

IF the CYA level you post is correct, and we do not trust pool store tests, you need to drain/exchange at least 50% of your pool volume.

 

[TampaKathy]

Also see this chart Chlorine / CYA Chart. You'll need to get the FC up if the CYA is correct. Best bet is probably to increase FC and wait for tf100...usually doesn't take too long to get. Then go from there

 

[mknauss]

Be careful raising FC levels, the copper you have put in the water with the Trichlor tablets (that have copper in them) will stain, if it has not all ready.

 

[Newdude]

Here's to rooting for you that the pool store is wrong for the bazillionth time.

 

[Lemonhead]

IF the CYA level you post is correct, and we do not trust pool store tests, you need to drain/exchange at least 50% of your pool volume.

Can i do this multiple times to achieve this or all at once ? Plus the Kit was just ordered today. I can’t wait to get it

 

[mknauss]

You will use many times more water if you do it in small amounts. It can be done, just takes a lot more water and time.

 

[wireform]

Don't do anything till the kit arrives since you're going at this blindly in my opinion.

 

[Lemonhead]

You will use many times more water if you do it in small amounts. It can be done, just takes a lot more water and time.

I know . But I can’t afford a truck of water right now . I heard cya goes down over the winter . Any truth to that ?

 

[mknauss]

I heard cya goes down over the winter . Any truth to that ?

You will drain to winterize so that will help.

 

[Lemonhead]

You will drain to winterize so that will help.

When I get the kit I will repost my results . Ty to you and everyone else that got back .

 

[Lemonhead]

You will drain to winterize so that will help.

I bit the bullet and ordered a tank of water to be delivered. It comes Saturday morning. My tf100 comes Monday . This being said I’m quite positive my cya was too high . I drained the pool to this level. For argument sake if my cya was 100 is this enough water drain to correct the issue ?

 

[mknauss]

How much water versus total volume? I cannot tell from a picture.

 

[Lemonhead]

How much water versus total volume? I cannot tell from a picture.

It’s roughly half the pools water

 

[mknauss]

Then the CYA should be half of what it was.

 

[Lemonhead]

So my issue was first of all I wasn’t using the guidelines here for a while . Problems began . The chlorine was always reading through the roof. According to dis sticks and the yellow drops. It would decrease very slowly. I was getting green algae spots on bottom of vinyl liner . Water was always clear though luckily. Constantly getting algae though with extremely high chlorine that never seemed to dissipate.
The pool store test said my cya was 102. And phosphate of 1189. Ph 8.5 . Well I did close to half a drain and got it filled with a truck which guy said is spring and well water combination.
Got my tf100 kit and it was exciting to do the tests. I let pool circulate with filter on ( sand filter ) for 5 hours before testing after the water was filled .
Fc: 5
Cc: 0
Tc: 5
Ph: 7.4 used a meter I orders with kit
Ch: 200
Ta: 100
Cya seemed like 55 so I assume just say 60
Questions.
1. The ch test said it will turn red . It looked pink to me. Not sure if that’s a question or a statement lol.
2. I added the recommended bleach to bring the fc to 7 . My father in law says we can’t swim in it at that level that it’s too high. But that’s what the pool
Math calculator wants it at with a cya of 60. Is their any truth to his claim ?
3. Should I correct any of the other levels ? Their all so close to being in range but their off a little . If so which order would be the smartest to start ?
4. To lower my ta . It says to drop my ph to 7.2. It’s at 7.4 . If I aerate at 7.4 would my ta not go down ? Aerate means point the eye of return up in the air to cause some bubbles correct ? Or is that not enough .
5. Lastly if my cc is 0. Theirs no need to do a slam correct ?

I know that’s alot of questions.
I’m just super excited to have a clean pool again and hopefully get rid of the algae spots that keep appearing on floor of pool. Thanks for any feedback

 

[mknauss]

The ch test said it will turn red . It looked pink to me.

Red, pink, same thing.

I added the recommended bleach to bring the fc to 7 .

Good, you need to do that every day. Follow FC/CYA Levels. If you still have algae showing up, then follow the SLAM Process

My father in law says we can’t swim in it at that level that it’s too high.

Based on what? Have him read Pool Water Chemistry

Should I correct any of the other levels ?

Looks good. No need to lower TA. Manage pH in the 7's. When it gets to 8, lower it to 7.6.

 

[Mdragger88]

1. The exact shade is not important- pink/red indicates calcium hardness
2. For a cya of 60, target fc level is 7-9ppm, skirting minimum is asking for algae/nasties. It is safe to swim with fc levels anywhere between minimum & slam level for your cya. FC/CYA Levels
As for your father in law- the opposite is true - Tell him that your pool was actually less safe to swim in before (if u weren’t maintaining above 8ppm fc minimum as it was under chlorinated for your cya of 100+)

CYA Chlorine Relationship - Further Reading

www.troublefreepool.com

3. Everything else is fine.
4. Your ta is fine- when your ph rises to 8, lower it with acid & this will lower ta. No need now.
5. 0 cc’s is good news but that doesn’t mean u are in the clear. You need to do an Overnight Chlorine Loss Test to determine if u need to do the SLAM Process unless u are seeing visible algae in which case - do not pass go or collect $200 —> go straight to SLAM.