Hi. I am tennisluv33 and I have owned and loved a 17,000 gal above ground SofPool for 10 years. I took the cover off yesterday and it is totally black!!!!!!!!!!! The winterizing process must not have worked. I am devastated! Help! I know I will enjoy reading other posts and look forward to this summer.
Introducing myself.
- Thread starter tennisluv33
- Start date
Seems like everyone on these here forums loves pics of the process, so, please oblige!
You're 3/4 of the way there, you came to the right place.
Best wishes
You're 3/4 of the way there, you came to the right place.
Best wishes
Welcome to the forum. :lol:
We love the pics but the most essential item to get you started is good test results. Can you post those?
We love the pics but the most essential item to get you started is good test results. Can you post those?
Sat. Idx: 0.2
TDS: 900
CYA: 90
Tot. Chl. 0
Free Chl. 0
pH: 7.8
Tot. Alk 90.
Adj. Tot. Alk 63.
Tot. Hdn 268
Swampy YES!
Black Algae Light
My pool dealer did this test. Rec. and I did: 3 lbs. Burn Out3
26 oz. Banish
Then: 12 lbs. Balance Pak 100
Then: 2.75 lbs. Lo'N Slo
Pool went from dark, dark, dark green to milky aqua. Can see about 2 ft. down. Will have water tested again tomorrow.
What do you think? Now I am reading online that I 'should have' drained pool 50% first.
I have an above ground SofPool and I can't backwash or easily vacuum to waste.
If my cover is swept and dry is it safe for next winter????
Thank you, thank you!!! I'm 80 years old and not so savy about posting pictures.
TDS: 900
CYA: 90
Tot. Chl. 0
Free Chl. 0
pH: 7.8
Tot. Alk 90.
Adj. Tot. Alk 63.
Tot. Hdn 268
Swampy YES!
Black Algae Light
My pool dealer did this test. Rec. and I did: 3 lbs. Burn Out3
26 oz. Banish
Then: 12 lbs. Balance Pak 100
Then: 2.75 lbs. Lo'N Slo
Pool went from dark, dark, dark green to milky aqua. Can see about 2 ft. down. Will have water tested again tomorrow.
What do you think? Now I am reading online that I 'should have' drained pool 50% first.
I have an above ground SofPool and I can't backwash or easily vacuum to waste.
If my cover is swept and dry is it safe for next winter????
Thank you, thank you!!! I'm 80 years old and not so savy about posting pictures.
Welcome to tfp, tennisluv33 
The best thing you can do for your pool (and your checkbook) is to get your own appropriate test kit and stop buying all of the expensive stuff the pool store wants to sell you. The test kit will allow you to know what your pool needs and only put in what it needs (with our help). See this pool school link that discusses appropriate test links: http://www.troublefreepool.com/pool-school/pool_test_kit_comparison. Many of us have the tf-100 since that gives the most bang for buck.
Since your cya level is high, we would recommend a partial/drain refill. Our recommended level is 30-50 ppm cya. Much higher than that and fighting algae becomes very difficult. So a 50% drain/refill will get you to about ~90 ppm. Watch out though, cya testing is the one that pool stores most often get wrong...it would no be fun if you drained just to find that you didn't need to.tennisluv33 said:
The best thing you can do for your pool (and your checkbook) is to get your own appropriate test kit and stop buying all of the expensive stuff the pool store wants to sell you. The test kit will allow you to know what your pool needs and only put in what it needs (with our help). See this pool school link that discusses appropriate test links: http://www.troublefreepool.com/pool-school/pool_test_kit_comparison. Many of us have the tf-100 since that gives the most bang for buck.
PS.
This morning, as I said, water is better looking, whitish/aqua. Chlorine is 0. What next?
This morning, as I said, water is better looking, whitish/aqua. Chlorine is 0. What next?
Thank you for any help. Where and how do I buy the test kit? When I try to go to TFP store, all I get it the logo store. Where is the TF 100 kit sold?
I would still do a drain/refill of about 50% to get your cya level down first.tennisluv33 said:
OMG! I drain/refilled about 50% and today I received my test kit. I looked inside and closed it quickly. There is no way I will understand any of it. Help. I'm not kidding. I don't have that kind of mind. I am a counselor and am right brained. I fear I have wasted $60.
tennisluv33:
Welcome to the forum
Dave will take care of you.
You can do this! Seriously! It's just new right now, but you will get it. You also have the entire forum community as close as your keyboard to help you through it.
Welcome to the forum
:calm:tennisluv33 said:
Dave will take care of you.
You can do this! Seriously! It's just new right now, but you will get it. You also have the entire forum community as close as your keyboard to help you through it.
I love your calming words but I don't even know how to use this website! I may have said earlier that I am 80 years old and am not an expert on the computer. I only know how to post right here and read whatever replies are here. Didn't even know how to post a pic of my pool water. Woke up today believing I need to go back to the pool store and then try to sell my test kit on CL. Do you really believe I can use it correctly? The first few pages say that it is difficult!!!!
If you can read and follow directions and count, you can do it.
In about a week you'll remember this thread and have a good laugh at yourself.
In about a week you'll remember this thread and have a good laugh at yourself.
Perhaps you could venture down to your local High School and find a Science Teacher willing to show you how to perform the tests, after all how long have you been paying taxes where you live!?!
Welcome aboard TFP
Nothing to it you'll get the hang of it. You got this far at 80 didn't you, says a lot about your tenacity... 
Nothing to it
you'll get the hang of it. You got this far at 80 didn't you, says a lot about your tenacity... 
ian81
LifeTime Supporter
The kit is very easy! I actually find it fun! Just follow the steps word for word and you got this!
Dont buy any more of that balance pak stuff, or any junk the pool place wants to sell you =)
bleach, baking soda, and borax will pretty much replace all of that 'fancy worded' stuff!
Before I found this site, I would take my water to 2 diff pool stores who would always tell me to buy & add different things every time! It's an endless cycle with them!
category.php?c=getting_started
Good luck!!!!!
Dont buy any more of that balance pak stuff, or any junk the pool place wants to sell you =)
bleach, baking soda, and borax will pretty much replace all of that 'fancy worded' stuff!
Before I found this site, I would take my water to 2 diff pool stores who would always tell me to buy & add different things every time! It's an endless cycle with them!
category.php?c=getting_started
Good luck!!!!!