First time pool user

[firstpool15]

Hello I have been reading quite a bit on your forum but still have several questions and still fee "lost". we purchased a 12x30 metal frame intex pool and put it up this weekend, we intend to take it down at the end of each season. I went to the pool school tab and read about seasonal pools and tried to follow the directions as best I could but our local walmart did not have ANY of the items suggested to use except the 2 way tester which tests ph and chlorine.

I did my first test Sunday evening and the PH was high and chlorine at 0. I added PH increaser by Clorox pool and spa (only option at walmart) and added powdered chlorine (also by clorox) per directions to get levels where they need to be. I adjusted and re-tested and both levels were fine.

I re-tested last night and the chlorine level was bascially back to 0 and ph was good.

I am at a loss...can someone please help me get an idea of what I need to do? Where to start?

In the pool school it says to get CYA up to 40ppm...how do I continue to test this with a 2 way tester? Also is there something I can use besides CYA if not available around me or do I have to order online?

Also, how can I keep my chlorine level from being fine at night to dropping to zero, or is this due to lack of CYA?

I can retest again tonight if you need numbers. I can't afford to buy a very expensive tester right so I will have to make the 2 way work if I can!

Thank you!

 

[tim5055]

Welcome to TFP!!

If the pool is in the sun, you will loose all the chlorine every day until you get CYA in the water to protect it. But remember, even with CYA you will be adding some chlorine each day.

Until you get a test kit, you are going to have to keep track of what you add to the pool and calculate it via Pool Math. I'm not saying every WalMart has it, but most have a seasonal pool section, usually by the back door to the garden area. This is where you would find CYA if they have it.

If not, you are looking for any solid chlorine product (tabs or granules) that have Trichlor or Dichlor on the list of ingredients. Those both contain and add CYA to the pool. At the bottom of pool math there is a calculator to see what effects certain additions to the pool will have. If you use Trichlor or Dichlor you will have to track how much and calculate your CYA level that way. Not perfect, but as close as you are going to get without a test kit.

 

[Texas Splash]

Welcome! Most important and probably why you are confused ....The proper test kit is everything. Why? Because we've all learned (from personal experience) you cannot reply on pool store tests, test strips, or simple over-the-counter kits. They don't read Free Chlorine (FC) or Cyanuric Acid (CYA) levels accurately or to the high levels we need. We strongly urge that you order a recommended test kit like the TF-100 link below. It will save you a lot of time and headaches. Right now, any testing you are trying to do is really almost guessing with those test products. So lets do this for now assuming you get a real test kit ordered:
You need some CYA (stabilizer). It protects the good chlorine (FC). Suggest using the poolmath calculator link below, plug-in your pool volume, and CYA "NOW and TARGET" numbers. Since you already put some powdered chlorine in your pool, try a target CYA of 30 for now.

As for FC, it WILL disappear quickly because you have no CYA to protect it, but you need some. So again, using the poolmath calculator, try to put enough liquid bleach in your pool to start right around 2ppm. Later when you get CYA it will go slightly higher.

That's your biggest focus right now to prevent an algae outbreak. If you order the kit today, you might have it by the weekend.

This is just to get you started. Also take a moment to read the other links in my sig below. They are the foundation for everything you need to do. Welcome!

 

[Richard320]

Welcome!

Without any CYA to protect the chlorine from the sun, you will lose it all in a couple hours of daylight. There is no substitute for CYA. It is what it is. Walmarts generally sell it. So do Lowes and Home Depot, any pool store, and a lot of hardware stores. The other option is to chlorinate with dichlor or trichlor powders or pucks. They will slowly raise CYA levels. Can you check the label on that powdered clorox stuff and tell us what it is? If you bought dichlor or trichlor, we could figure this out.