Hello all! I am new here so a quick hello to everyone.
I was a little late getting our pool open this year. Usually have it for people to swim on Memorial Day but not this year.
Anyway, to get it in shape for the season, I did the following. And just so you know, have a 22,500 inground pool with vinyl liner in NJ. Pool was filled from well water but have always had no problems with getting everything in check for the season.
Anyway, this is the second year I have been using items other than from the pool place except for the chlorine shock.
Brought the water to be tested at local pool place.
PH 6.9
TA 0
CYA 18
CH 49
Total & Free Chl 0
I am using a strip test kit.
So, most of everything was not that far off when I opened pool on Saturday. I put in 18lbs.(Two batches of 9lbs. about 6 hrs. apart) of Baking Soda to bring the TA up to par. It did the trick and also brought the PH right were it needed to be because that was not far off. The only thing I had left to adjust was my Hardness. I looked everywhere for the Calcium Chloride but could not find it. I ran across a guy at Ace Hardware that said he uses the regular salt that is used for a in home water softner and has had great success with it. After talking to him at length about it, I finally made the decision to get it. It was a 2 bags of 40lbs. for $11 or $75 for 50lbs. of the calcium chloride from the pool place. Pretty easy decision.
Anyway, I added about 25lbs. last night. Put in about another 20 to 25lbs. early this morning. Let it circulate threw my sand filter for about 3 to 4 hours. Tested again. Everything was right on the money. So I then waited till just about 1 hour ago when there was no direct sunlight. I put in 4 bags of chlorinated shock per the pool places suggestion. It had 78% of chlorine in it. I waited about an hour and went out and tested. Everything looked good except for the TA. The Alkalinity went down considerably. About 6.8 right now. I am trying to figure out what the heck happened. Why would that have decreased so dramatically. Any suggestions appreciated. Thanks
I was a little late getting our pool open this year. Usually have it for people to swim on Memorial Day but not this year.
Anyway, to get it in shape for the season, I did the following. And just so you know, have a 22,500 inground pool with vinyl liner in NJ. Pool was filled from well water but have always had no problems with getting everything in check for the season.
Anyway, this is the second year I have been using items other than from the pool place except for the chlorine shock.
Brought the water to be tested at local pool place.
PH 6.9
TA 0
CYA 18
CH 49
Total & Free Chl 0
I am using a strip test kit.
So, most of everything was not that far off when I opened pool on Saturday. I put in 18lbs.(Two batches of 9lbs. about 6 hrs. apart) of Baking Soda to bring the TA up to par. It did the trick and also brought the PH right were it needed to be because that was not far off. The only thing I had left to adjust was my Hardness. I looked everywhere for the Calcium Chloride but could not find it. I ran across a guy at Ace Hardware that said he uses the regular salt that is used for a in home water softner and has had great success with it. After talking to him at length about it, I finally made the decision to get it. It was a 2 bags of 40lbs. for $11 or $75 for 50lbs. of the calcium chloride from the pool place. Pretty easy decision.
Anyway, I added about 25lbs. last night. Put in about another 20 to 25lbs. early this morning. Let it circulate threw my sand filter for about 3 to 4 hours. Tested again. Everything was right on the money. So I then waited till just about 1 hour ago when there was no direct sunlight. I put in 4 bags of chlorinated shock per the pool places suggestion. It had 78% of chlorine in it. I waited about an hour and went out and tested. Everything looked good except for the TA. The Alkalinity went down considerably. About 6.8 right now. I am trying to figure out what the heck happened. Why would that have decreased so dramatically. Any suggestions appreciated. Thanks