Good idea to do both. Do NOT buy anything from them. Let us know what they suggest if anything. If you feel the urge to buy something get a cute float or pool toy.
Kim
Kim
Our Very Own CEMENT POND in the Concrete Jungle (Orlando area)!
- Thread starter ohana4
- Start date
Our pool chemistry is a bit screwy today. The guy hasn't been here since Friday, and I am pretty sure he is not planning to come today, as it is almost 3pm and he comes between 10am-1pm most days. My pH is WAY over 8 and my CYA is 120. The rest of the numbers aren't horrific, but for a brand new pool, I have learned on here that pH and CYA are the big things to look at. We still haven't been given the keys to the kingdom yet, so my hands are tied. Just getting a bit frustrated for my pool. There is only so much brushing that I can do, but that won't help my numbers. Not so patiently waiting for PB to tell me what he wants to do....With the huge assistance of Kim, I have been battling the pH game with my pool! And although pool school isn't until tomorrow, hubby and I just couldn't resist the gorgeous crystal blue that was our pool yesterday after the pH was brought to order for the second time in a week! We jumped in for the first time. We didn't stay in long because the water temp was only 66, but we stayed long enough to try all the water features, sit on all the ledges, and swim a full lap in the pool. Now, we can hold out until the weather gets better! Come on, Florida! You can do better than this!
Thank you for your help, Kim! I'm sure we will need you for a while still!
Thank you for your help, Kim! I'm sure we will need you for a while still!
Good idea to do both. Do NOT buy anything from them. Let us know what they suggest if anything. If you feel the urge to buy something get a cute float or pool toy.
Kim
I was able to get to Pinch-a-Penny today in search of things for my spa so I went and took some of my pool water to test it for iron and copper. The guy came up with 0.1 for both, which was the lowest level on his test. He tried to sell me a $27 bottle of stain preventer. But I did not buy any because I wanted to come here and see if 0.1 was anything to worry about, or will my pool indeed start staining in 3-5 years like the guy at the store told me. Is there anything else I can use to get rid of the 0.1 amount of metals or am I stuck getting that bottle?
He asked if I wanted him to check for all the other chemicals. I told him no, I had a Taylor kit at home and my pool is pretty stable.
My hot tub on the other hand......
I am going to call my metal person and get her take on it. Hold on a bit until she gets back with us.
Kim
Kim
Good morning, Ohana. The "stain" threshold is usually 3-5 times higher than your readings (eg .3-.5 ppm.)
Its a personal choice but with .1 levels of iron and copper I would personally not take any action. I would wait and see whether or not it builds up over the season and whether or not you get any faint/mild staining. Rain may dilute the level. If you did get mild staining later in the season, an application of metal sequestrant will likely take care of it pronto.
If there are trace amounts of iron in your source water, you might eventually need to sequester but it could literally take a few years to build up at that rate.
Its a personal choice but with .1 levels of iron and copper I would personally not take any action. I would wait and see whether or not it builds up over the season and whether or not you get any faint/mild staining. Rain may dilute the level. If you did get mild staining later in the season, an application of metal sequestrant will likely take care of it pronto.
If there are trace amounts of iron in your source water, you might eventually need to sequester but it could literally take a few years to build up at that rate.
THANKS! The above is who I turn to with questions like this. She has learned how to take care of metals in her pool water by the seat of her pants and doing much experimenting and using science to make sure it is a solid plan!
Kim
Kim
THANKS! The above is who I turn to with questions like this. She has learned how to take care of metals in her pool water by the seat of her pants and doing much experimenting and using science to make sure it is a solid plan!
Kim
Thank you to both of you! Where would I be without this great bunch of experts? This is my first pool ever, and I have no knowledge of anything. I would be using some pool guy who would probably charge me an arm and a leg to keep the pool at decent levels. But instead, I get to enjoy taking care of my own pool and using less caustic materials without bouncing around from one out-of-range number to another. AND my pool looks pretty darn nice!
I won't do anything about the metals, just watch and see.
I'll continue to wage my battles with the pH and my new plaster, and plan on winning that one. I am, however, a tad miffed at the pool builder, who just poured however much CYA into my skimmer, and I ended up with consistently high levels of about 100, and I know the only way to get rid of that is to replace my water. But my pool is too new to be emptying it at all. I've been relying on evaporation and then adding water, and rain. But I'm not sure evaporation gets rid of the CYA. It may just concentrate more. Maybe I'll dump a bucket a day out until I get the right levels?
I am SO glad you found us!! I love helping people like you who are SO willing to learn! 
It would take longer but you can lower over night to the bottom of the skimmer then refill. There are some other ways with a L.A.R.G.E. tarp if you are interested.
Just make sure you keep the FC up to your CYA level. Chart here: Pool School - Chlorine / CYA Chart
Are you SURE it is at 100 and not over 100? Here is something you can do to make sure:
"Add pool water to bottom of sticker.
Add tap water to top of sticker.
Shake.
Pour out half so mixture is to bottom of sticker.
Add reagent to top of sticker.
Shake.
Test outside with back to sun and tube at waist level.
Pour back and forth a few times to see if you get the same result.
Double the result. "
Kim
It would take longer but you can lower over night to the bottom of the skimmer then refill. There are some other ways with a L.A.R.G.E. tarp if you are interested.
Just make sure you keep the FC up to your CYA level. Chart here: Pool School - Chlorine / CYA Chart
Are you SURE it is at 100 and not over 100? Here is something you can do to make sure:
"Add pool water to bottom of sticker.
Add tap water to top of sticker.
Shake.
Pour out half so mixture is to bottom of sticker.
Add reagent to top of sticker.
Shake.
Test outside with back to sun and tube at waist level.
Pour back and forth a few times to see if you get the same result.
Double the result. "
Kim
Are you SURE it is at 100 and not over 100? Here is something you can do to make sure:
"Add pool water to bottom of sticker.
Add tap water to top of sticker.
Shake.
Pour out half so mixture is to bottom of sticker.
Add reagent to top of sticker.
Shake.
Test outside with back to sun and tube at waist level.
Pour back and forth a few times to see if you get the same result.
Double the result. "
Kim
Wow, I haven't tried it that way before. What does doing it that way tell me? I can't do it until probably Saturday because they came to put sealant on our pavers and travertine around the pool today and I can't walk on it for at least 24-48 hours! It's killing me not to be able to go outside and play with my pool. I can't even brush! I told my husband I'll go the 24 hours without brushing, but I'm going to HAVE TO go out tomorrow afternoon to brush the pool. It's too new not to brush everyday. Luckily, I brushed it later in the evening yesterday, so it'll only be about 36 hours total without getting brushed. But I can't do much else. Luckily, I put enough MA in there yesterday to keep the pH beast at bay for a couple of days before the plaster erupts again. My big problem is the hot tub, which I started to get into the TFP system yesterday, and now can't finish until Saturday! UGH! First world problems.
Think long and hard about what you wear on your feet when you go out to brush. I would do a "test" to make sure you will not leave footie prints!
OH NO on having the spa so close! At least you know what to do so.............
By pouring the pool water (has CYA in it) to the first line and tap water (does not have CYA in it) to the second line in the bottle and mixing it you are halving the CYA. You then pour half of that out and do the test as "normal". Once you have the results you will double it. This will show us IF your CYA is higher than 100.
Kim
OH NO on having the spa so close! At least you know what to do so.............
By pouring the pool water (has CYA in it) to the first line and tap water (does not have CYA in it) to the second line in the bottle and mixing it you are halving the CYA. You then pour half of that out and do the test as "normal". Once you have the results you will double it. This will show us IF your CYA is higher than 100.
Kim
Think long and hard about what you wear on your feet when you go out to brush. I would do a "test" to make sure you will not leave footie prints!
OH NO on having the spa so close! At least you know what to do so.............
By pouring the pool water (has CYA in it) to the first line and tap water (does not have CYA in it) to the second line in the bottle and mixing it you are halving the CYA. You then pour half of that out and do the test as "normal". Once you have the results you will double it. This will show us IF your CYA is higher than 100.
Kim
Oh my gosh, that makes so much sense! Thank you! Do you think I should wait the full 48 hours before going out there? The guys said at least 24 but better to wait 48. I opened the sliders this afternoon and touched it lightly. It was tacky, but didn’t leave any prints. Luckily, the rain is over for a few days here in FL so I don’t have to worry about that!. Anyway, if you think I can go 2 full days without brushing, I can wait until Saturday morning to go out there on my pretty pavers.
I would touch it again tomorrow after the sun has been on it for a while and make your decision then. I would HATE for you to have footie prints on it. The brushing or not brushing will be a lot easier to overcome then cute footie prints!
Kim
Kim
Hello again...I might adjust my advice slightly - I hadn't realized it was new plaster as it was verrrry early when I read in yesterday.
Since its new plaster, there is specifically a product that will both sequester mild metal AND help with the plaster dust...its not HEDP based like the usual sequestrants we recommend. Its called Jacks Magic Magenta (not pink or purple, they are different products.)
While you likely don't really need this given the extremely low level of metal, it still might be worth a single application to help collect the plaster dust and also help on the off chance that adding source water increases your metal level a bit. Preventative as opposed to active treatment
Since its new plaster, there is specifically a product that will both sequester mild metal AND help with the plaster dust...its not HEDP based like the usual sequestrants we recommend. Its called Jacks Magic Magenta (not pink or purple, they are different products.)
While you likely don't really need this given the extremely low level of metal, it still might be worth a single application to help collect the plaster dust and also help on the off chance that adding source water increases your metal level a bit. Preventative as opposed to active treatment
Hello again...I might adjust my advice slightly - I hadn't realized it was new plaster as it was verrrry early when I read in yesterday.
Since its new plaster, there is specifically a product that will both sequester mild metal AND help with the plaster dust...its not HEDP based like the usual sequestrants we recommend. Its called Jacks Magic Magenta (not pink or purple, they are different products.)
While you likely don't really need this given the extremely low level of metal, it still might be worth a single application to help collect the plaster dust and also help on the off chance that adding source water increases your metal level a bit. Preventative as opposed to active treatment
Ok, Thank you! I'll look into that. It's definitely better to prevent than to have to fix.
That was the longest 48 hours I've ever been through! To look at my beautiful pool from inside, looking through the glass and not being able to go outside in order to let the paver sealant dry!
This morning, I went out and while the pavers were still a little tacky to the feet here and there, I saw that the pool also got a good dose of sealant on the surface, so I spent an hour scooping the film off with my net. Poor pool!
Next job is a well-deserved brushing and a pool chem test so I can start adding what I'm sure will be another 32-40 oz of MA! And to try Kim's awesome way of checking my CYA! Can't wait to try that.
Happy to be back in pool land, and outside again in my additional "room", the screen!
This morning, I went out and while the pavers were still a little tacky to the feet here and there, I saw that the pool also got a good dose of sealant on the surface, so I spent an hour scooping the film off with my net. Poor pool!
Next job is a well-deserved brushing and a pool chem test so I can start adding what I'm sure will be another 32-40 oz of MA! And to try Kim's awesome way of checking my CYA! Can't wait to try that.
Happy to be back in pool land, and outside again in my additional "room", the screen!
When you have something like that on your water you can try putting a small t-shirt or such over the net to help catch it.
I can't wait to see if the GLANCE method works better for you. It saves my sanity so......it is all good!
Kim
I can't wait to see if the GLANCE method works better for you. It saves my sanity so......it is all good!
Kim
When you have something like that on your water you can try putting a small t-shirt or such over the net to help catch it.
I can't wait to see if the GLANCE method works better for you. It saves my sanity so......it is all good!
Kim
I tried putting one of my hospital hair nets that I use for the skimmer on the net, but the water took too long to drain from it so I got rid of it. It took a while to get rid of the film, but I think I got most of it.
Also did the 1/2 and 1/2 method with the CYA test and it looks like it’s truly sitting at 100. Will that go down with water evaporation, or does it just get more concentrated?
And my husband wanted me to ask on here how to get rid of sunscreen stuff from the water surface? I’m sorry for all the new questions. I seem to always find new ones when you answer one.
CYA-IF you do not use anything else with CYA aka stabilizer in it the CYA will go down as you add new water. It will take a while but it will happen. I am glad you did the 50/50. That gives you a solid number to work with.
Scum bugs for the oil and stuff https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=scum+bug They even have cute shapes LOL
Next question please!! I LOVE teaching and helping so keep on asking and learning!
Kim
Scum bugs for the oil and stuff https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=scum+bug They even have cute shapes LOL
Next question please!! I LOVE teaching and helping so keep on asking and learning!
Kim
I've also read that you.can float tennis balls in the pool to absorb some oil and sunscreen but I would defer to the experts as I am still in research mode.I tried putting one of my hospital hair nets that I use for the skimmer on the net, but the water took too long to drain from it so I got rid of it. It took a while to get rid of the film, but I think I got most of it.
Also did the 1/2 and 1/2 method with the CYA test and it looks like it’s truly sitting at 100. Will that go down with water evaporation, or does it just get more concentrated?
And my husband wanted me to ask on here how to get rid of sunscreen stuff from the water surface? I’m sorry for all the new questions. I seem to always find new ones when you answer one.