hey everyone, i just bought a house with a pool and have been religiously reading this forum after an algae out break and me spending $150 for a pool service to clean it up. I've The water has been clear and i've been trying to keep the chlorine level up with pucks and occasional liquid chlorine. I know pucks raise CYA, but my CYA level was pretty low (15) when i started (2 weeks ago), so i figure i can raise the CYA level and keep the chlorine high, win/win until i move in (2 weeks from now). The good news is the water remained clear during this time, but every time i test the FC level remained very low (near 0), even a day after dumping a gallon of 10% chlorine i got from home depot. Here are some details about my pool:
22k gallons, fiberglass.
FC: 0
CC: 0
CYA: ~30 now
ph: 7.7 ?
i am about to order a good test kit, since the above numbers were from deduced from test strips and leslie pool (combination). I figure i need to SLAM the pool since it's not maintaining the FC level, so i'm in the process of doing that now (just dumped 2 gallons of 10% liquid chlorine, and brushed and vacuumed). But there's just so many questions and concerns i have:
1) I *think* i have black algae in my pool. I see a lot of black dots around stairs and in the middle of the pool. but i also read that with fiberglass pools it's hard to get black algae (although my FC level was pretty low for a couple weeks). I tried brushing it off with nylon brush but it didn't come off. I'm scared to use a metal brush because the local pool guy said it will damage the fiberglass. I'm also scared to rub trichlor pucks on it for the same reason. For fiberglass pools, what's the recommended solution? I just finished brushing/vacuum and adding chlorine for the night to keep SLAMing it, but will that help? how else can i treat this?
2) I'm going to buy a liquidator to keep the chlorine levels steady, but with all the moving i don't have time to install that yet for another 2 weeks. I stop by the place everyday just for the pool, but it feels like i'm seeing more and more black spots. I'm hoping this SLAM will help prevent that? Should i keep using the pucks to maintain chlorine? i figure i still have some buffer room before going all BBB, since my CYA is technically still low (~30)...
3) I'm also seeing stains on the bottom of the pool. I just read a couple threads that it might be the metal level, but it doesn't seem like the k2006 test kit tests for metal? How do i know if it is? I will try rubbing vitamin C tablets on it or trichlore pucks, but will it damage the fiberglass? If it is metal stains, what's the easiest why to get rid of it?
I just have a ton of questions and i'm getting a little overwhelmed and considering just shelling out the monthly fee to hire a pool guy. I read almost every article in pool school. But reading and doing seems so far apart, and there's all the other stuff beyond the basics. This forum gave me the initial courage to try doing it myself (bought vacuum hose, test kits etc, and was about to buy the LQ). i'm hoping you guys will be able to help sustain my courage to continue on. Please help!
22k gallons, fiberglass.
FC: 0
CC: 0
CYA: ~30 now
ph: 7.7 ?
i am about to order a good test kit, since the above numbers were from deduced from test strips and leslie pool (combination). I figure i need to SLAM the pool since it's not maintaining the FC level, so i'm in the process of doing that now (just dumped 2 gallons of 10% liquid chlorine, and brushed and vacuumed). But there's just so many questions and concerns i have:
1) I *think* i have black algae in my pool. I see a lot of black dots around stairs and in the middle of the pool. but i also read that with fiberglass pools it's hard to get black algae (although my FC level was pretty low for a couple weeks). I tried brushing it off with nylon brush but it didn't come off. I'm scared to use a metal brush because the local pool guy said it will damage the fiberglass. I'm also scared to rub trichlor pucks on it for the same reason. For fiberglass pools, what's the recommended solution? I just finished brushing/vacuum and adding chlorine for the night to keep SLAMing it, but will that help? how else can i treat this?
2) I'm going to buy a liquidator to keep the chlorine levels steady, but with all the moving i don't have time to install that yet for another 2 weeks. I stop by the place everyday just for the pool, but it feels like i'm seeing more and more black spots. I'm hoping this SLAM will help prevent that? Should i keep using the pucks to maintain chlorine? i figure i still have some buffer room before going all BBB, since my CYA is technically still low (~30)...
3) I'm also seeing stains on the bottom of the pool. I just read a couple threads that it might be the metal level, but it doesn't seem like the k2006 test kit tests for metal? How do i know if it is? I will try rubbing vitamin C tablets on it or trichlore pucks, but will it damage the fiberglass? If it is metal stains, what's the easiest why to get rid of it?
I just have a ton of questions and i'm getting a little overwhelmed and considering just shelling out the monthly fee to hire a pool guy. I read almost every article in pool school. But reading and doing seems so far apart, and there's all the other stuff beyond the basics. This forum gave me the initial courage to try doing it myself (bought vacuum hose, test kits etc, and was about to buy the LQ). i'm hoping you guys will be able to help sustain my courage to continue on. Please help!