- Jun 18, 2012
- 7
algae took over after our first use of the new pool (which was a great birthday party!) i had not done my homework and was unprepared to give my darling pool so much attention, after all,--it nearly killed me during the marathon 15 days of slaving to get and it's surrounding deck ready/safe for company-- i deserved a day's break from tending to it, right?? who knew it was going to need daily TLC not unlike a newborn.
so i ordered the TFTest 100 today and hope it comes quick! Between now and then I am relying on unreliable little strip kits. this morning one said my pH was very low, so i tried out the awesome POolMath magic tool and it said to add a box of borax, which i just happened to have in my pantry (it makes awesome gloopy stuff for kids) ... so i put that into the filter basket a bit at a time, and now 12hrs later, a second strip kit i went to buy so i could determine the CYA before adding gallons of bleach (per the PoolMath magic tool) tells me pH is 8.4.....
i am thinking that the test strips are quackery and i just want some advice on what to do until the TFTest 100 arrives---
what should i do to hold the algae at bay for next few days????
I don't want to start the SLAM until the real test kit arrives (i am too afraid to dedicate all those hours/$$ for nothing)
i have read the green monster article 3 times in preparation for the SLAM. i actually hand scrubbed/vacuumed 80% of the slimy algae film out of the pool yesterday, before i discovered the article... that process was about 6 hrs, which required backwashing no less than 10 times over course of the day. (i am finding it hard to stomach that my pump sucks... or rather doesn't suck well enough to keep my cute little AquaBug running, even when the pool was uber clean right before the party
TH 0
FC 0 (been running the BOOST cycle for about 4 days now, breaking only for backwashing.... afraid i'm going to burn up the pump and the SWG!)
pH 8.4
TA 120
CYA 30-50
salt is low today due to adding in a lot of water yesterday due to multiple backwashings. so i am prepared to put in 100lbs tomorrow.
i sure would like to make good on all the pool parties i've promised my kids all summer 7 days from the next planned event
Thanks is Advance for your time!
so i ordered the TFTest 100 today and hope it comes quick! Between now and then I am relying on unreliable little strip kits. this morning one said my pH was very low, so i tried out the awesome POolMath magic tool and it said to add a box of borax, which i just happened to have in my pantry (it makes awesome gloopy stuff for kids) ... so i put that into the filter basket a bit at a time, and now 12hrs later, a second strip kit i went to buy so i could determine the CYA before adding gallons of bleach (per the PoolMath magic tool) tells me pH is 8.4.....
i am thinking that the test strips are quackery and i just want some advice on what to do until the TFTest 100 arrives---
what should i do to hold the algae at bay for next few days????
I don't want to start the SLAM until the real test kit arrives (i am too afraid to dedicate all those hours/$$ for nothing)
i have read the green monster article 3 times in preparation for the SLAM. i actually hand scrubbed/vacuumed 80% of the slimy algae film out of the pool yesterday, before i discovered the article... that process was about 6 hrs, which required backwashing no less than 10 times over course of the day. (i am finding it hard to stomach that my pump sucks... or rather doesn't suck well enough to keep my cute little AquaBug running, even when the pool was uber clean right before the party
TH 0
FC 0 (been running the BOOST cycle for about 4 days now, breaking only for backwashing.... afraid i'm going to burn up the pump and the SWG!)
pH 8.4
TA 120
CYA 30-50
salt is low today due to adding in a lot of water yesterday due to multiple backwashings. so i am prepared to put in 100lbs tomorrow.
i sure would like to make good on all the pool parties i've promised my kids all summer 7 days from the next planned event
Thanks is Advance for your time!