Hi everyone...
I recently bought a house in New Jersey with an in-ground pool. Here are the stats:
1) Size of pool: 20,000 Gallons
2) Filter: Hayward DE 4820 Filter & pool heater
3) In Ground Pool
4) Vinyl
5) Hayward Super Pump...Don't know flow rate...
6) Approx. 5 years old (installed and lined by previous owners)
Here's my problem: I can't seem to balance the pool and I have no idea if what I'm doing is right. For the past 3 weeks I've been going to Leslies and employing all their recommendations, which have cost me hundreds of dollars but the pool is still not balanced properly. The pool looks clear, but when we swim it really stings our eyes and I can't even smell the chlorine. I feel like I'm being scammed by leslies.
Here's the test info Leslies gave me (I just ordered my own test kit today...)
FAC = 0
TAC = 0
Total Bromine = (they just put a slash...?)
Water PH = 7.0
TA = 70
CYA = 0
CH = (they just put a slash...?)
TDS = 700
Salt = (they just put a slash...?)
Copper/Iron = (they just put a slash...?)
Phosphates = (they just put a slash...?)
They recommended I add 6 lbs of Alkalinity Up & Wait 4 hours.
Then add 1-1/2 lbs of soda ash (after mixing in bucket of water) & Wait 4 hours.
Then add 3 lbs of Chlorobrite & Wait 4 hours.
Then add 4 lbs of conditioner through the skimmer.
All this didn't do anything to help balance the pool...right now I only have basic test strips, and they show both my free chlorine and PH are very low. I realize I need to boost my CYA if I want the chlorine to be replenished and long-lasting, but adding the conditioner didn't work.
My typical maintenance regime is as follows (as prescribed by the previous owner):
Vacuum every couple of days and regularly clean out skimmers.
Add 4 puck-sized chlorine tablets into the chlorine canister weekly
Add 2 bags of Chlor Brite Granular Chlorine around pool weekly
Add 6 oz of Algaecide weekly
Backwash DE filter if gauge gets up to 25.
After backwashing, add 6 scoops of D.E.
What could I be doing wrong? Should I stop trusting Leslies? I've been reading through this site and the pool school maintenance suggestions but I have no idea if those recommendations (like using bleach, etc) is compatible with my filter system. Do you have any suggestions or ideas about what I'm doing wrong? Is there a more earth-friendly and natural way to keep my pool sanitary and balanced? I feel like a fish out of water!
Any help or suggestions would be appreciated!
I recently bought a house in New Jersey with an in-ground pool. Here are the stats:
1) Size of pool: 20,000 Gallons
2) Filter: Hayward DE 4820 Filter & pool heater
3) In Ground Pool
4) Vinyl
5) Hayward Super Pump...Don't know flow rate...
6) Approx. 5 years old (installed and lined by previous owners)
Here's my problem: I can't seem to balance the pool and I have no idea if what I'm doing is right. For the past 3 weeks I've been going to Leslies and employing all their recommendations, which have cost me hundreds of dollars but the pool is still not balanced properly. The pool looks clear, but when we swim it really stings our eyes and I can't even smell the chlorine. I feel like I'm being scammed by leslies.
Here's the test info Leslies gave me (I just ordered my own test kit today...)
FAC = 0
TAC = 0
Total Bromine = (they just put a slash...?)
Water PH = 7.0
TA = 70
CYA = 0
CH = (they just put a slash...?)
TDS = 700
Salt = (they just put a slash...?)
Copper/Iron = (they just put a slash...?)
Phosphates = (they just put a slash...?)
They recommended I add 6 lbs of Alkalinity Up & Wait 4 hours.
Then add 1-1/2 lbs of soda ash (after mixing in bucket of water) & Wait 4 hours.
Then add 3 lbs of Chlorobrite & Wait 4 hours.
Then add 4 lbs of conditioner through the skimmer.
All this didn't do anything to help balance the pool...right now I only have basic test strips, and they show both my free chlorine and PH are very low. I realize I need to boost my CYA if I want the chlorine to be replenished and long-lasting, but adding the conditioner didn't work.
My typical maintenance regime is as follows (as prescribed by the previous owner):
Vacuum every couple of days and regularly clean out skimmers.
Add 4 puck-sized chlorine tablets into the chlorine canister weekly
Add 2 bags of Chlor Brite Granular Chlorine around pool weekly
Add 6 oz of Algaecide weekly
Backwash DE filter if gauge gets up to 25.
After backwashing, add 6 scoops of D.E.
What could I be doing wrong? Should I stop trusting Leslies? I've been reading through this site and the pool school maintenance suggestions but I have no idea if those recommendations (like using bleach, etc) is compatible with my filter system. Do you have any suggestions or ideas about what I'm doing wrong? Is there a more earth-friendly and natural way to keep my pool sanitary and balanced? I feel like a fish out of water!
Any help or suggestions would be appreciated!