First full season

[Cig_arello]

Greetings all. This will be the first full season for "our" pool. Bought the house at the end of last summer and the kids got about two weeks worth before it turned into a green monster. So after lurking and reading all winter the cover came off the other day and I registered on the site.

 

[BoDarville]

Welcome to the forum. You will be happy you joined.

The next step is to get a good test kit in order to take control of managing your pool water. Take a look here: http://www.troublefreepool.com/content/124-pool-test-kits-comparison

While you are waiting for the kit to come in, I would suggest removing leaves, twigs, and any other large debris from the pool. I would also stock up on lots of liquid bleach and have it ready to go before your test kit arrives. You will definitely need it. Once your kit arrives, run a full series of tests and post the results here. We will take it from there. If you follow our advice, your pool will turn from green to clean in short order.

 

[pwrstrk]

Welcome to TFP.
Also while your waiting for your test kit do some reading in pool school. Here are some good articles to start with.
http://www.troublefreepool.com/content/124-pool-test-kits-comparison
http://www.troublefreepool.com/content/142-how-to-chlorinate-your-pool
http://www.troublefreepool.com/threads/3913-Turning-Your-Green-Swamp-Back-into-a-Sparkling-Oasis

 

[Richard320]

Welcome!

That ain't so bad -- I can see shadows on the pool floor!

Step one: test kit. Bite the bullet, go to http://tftestkits.net and order up a TF100. You may as well get the XL option, since a SLAM is in your immediate future and the FAS-DPD reagent isn't easy to find in stores and you'll be using a lot of it. Also, no one who has bought a speedstire regrets it. It's a chunk o'change, but almost certainly cheaper than the first load of snake-oils the pool store would encourage you to buy.

While you await the kit's arrival, I see a leaf rake, a brush, and a lot of Motrin in your future.

 

[Charlie_R]

I am wondering about what looks like pieces of liner floating on the surface. Was that part of the cover? or is that some of the algae coating the floor peeling up?

 

[Richard320]

Here we go: plenty of people who've been where you are, or worse
First Time Shocking with Bleach
Pretty black pool
A little encouragement for those with algae and new to BBB
Frog Filled Green Swamp to Oasis---Work in Progress!!!
Before and After Pool Pics
Before and after!
A final picture set of how well the BBB method works!

 

[Cig_arello]

That was the algae sheet on the floor. The cover is a mesh safety cover. I'm a few days ahead of post so will try catching up. After raking and brushing it went the color of Godzilla. Decided to drain and flush to save on bleach $$$. Not ideal by TFPC but I am on a budget. First problem has showed up. I wasn't getting full draw from the main. I excavated the only available place and found 5-6 holes in the flex 40. $5 and a couple hours later section replaced and full pull from the main.

 

[Cig_arello]

So after 2 of drain and fill it's getting better. Last night took my first test readings. Using the 6 way HTH that was new in the shed till I can get the better kit.
FC 0
PH 7.2
TA 140
CYA 0

Dumped in 8 gallons of 8.25% and let it run.

 

[Cig_arello]

I can't upload any more pics for some reason right now but the main was visible this morning and retested with
FC 5+
PH 7.8
TA 140
CYA 30<
CH 250

I added 5 more gallons after backwashing the filter. Still some bits on the deep bottom I'm stirring up but they are light yellow to grey and not green anymore. Going to let it settle down for a few hours and test again tonight after sun goes down. I still need some stabilizer as super store did not have any yesterday.

 

[Cig_arello]

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=10202952107477285&id=1641519559

All done and ready.

 

[kodiak1120]

Very nice.

 

[Cig_arello]

108 days later and i am developing "sparkilingitis" as well.
FC 5
PH 7.5
TA 160
CH 250
CYA 40
82 degree water temp.

Besides dosings of bleach or liquid shock to-date all I have added was 7lbs of baking soda, 40lbs of salt, 4 boxes of Borax, 9lbs of stabilizer and 1 gallon of acid.

 

[northrn]

What a beautiful blue!