New Pool - First Test

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awstevens

awstevens

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Aug 18, 2016
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Our pool was installed in the fall but never opened and equipment never turned on. We just opened it for the spring yesterday so I am getting started today. The builder said they added some salt and chlorine and I did my first run of tests today. Just looking for some support as I work through this. I'm cleaning out the remainder of leaves and vacuuming this afternoon then plan to add chemicals.

Here are my test results:

FC: 0 (i'm guessing the PB didn't add much or was all used up by sun/leaves/junk in the pool.
CC: 0 (didn't test as FC was 0)
pH: 7.5
TA: 140 (not 100% sure I did this correct. Do I keep adding R-0009 until I see a flash of red? Until it turns pinkish and stays that color? Or until it turns red and stays red? I based my results on the latter)
CH: 400 (Do I keep adding R-0012 when the color is purplish or wait until it's definitely blue? I based my results on the latter)
CYA: 0
Salt: 2000 (tested using Taylor K-1766)
Water temp: 58 degrees

Not sure what order I should tackle adding the chemicals or if I should just add them all at once. If I add them this afternoon, how long do I need to wait before re-testing?
 
Hey there! I do as you did... use the “red” value for TA.

I’d use Pool Math to get some chlorine in there. Did you let your water warm to room temp before doing the CYA test?
 
For the reagent drop tests what you are looking for is when one more drop no longer changes the color. Subtract the last drop that no longer made a color shift in your count.

Example ---sample looks pink on drop 9. Drop 10 turns it redder and drop 11 shows no color change. Count 10 drops.
 
kellyfair said:
Hey there! I do as you did... use the “red” value for TA.

I’d use Pool Math to get some chlorine in there. Did you let your water warm to room temp before doing the CYA test?
Click to expand...

Thanks. Should I do anything to adjust TA or don't worry about it for now?

I did warm the water to room temp before testing CYA. This was a fresh fill last fall and we didn't add any chemicals so I expected it to be 0.
 
Ok, you need some CYA as well. Do you know about the sock method?

After you get chlorine and CYA sorted, you can take your time getting your TA adjusted. Your Ph looks good, but as it starts to rise you’ll use muriatic acid to lower, and that will lower TA too.

Have you read through Pool School? Highly recommended! It explains how to add stuff to your pool and when.
 
Right now, I would leave TA alone. As an FYI, chasing any particular TA target isn't necessary if your PH stays in line. The measure of TA is the waters ability to buffer PH changes. If you end up with a problem with PH swings, then you might want to target a change in TA and if that happens, feel free to come back with those questions. But in general if PH stays good, don't mess with TA.
 
kellyfair said:
Ok, you need some CYA as well. Do you know about the sock method?

After you get chlorine and CYA sorted, you can take your time getting your TA adjusted. Your Ph looks good, but as it starts to rise you’ll use muriatic acid to lower, and that will lower TA too.

Have you read through Pool School? Highly recommended! It explains how to add stuff to your pool and when.
Click to expand...

Thanks, I am currently adding 4lbs of CYA with socks in each skimmer. I know I need more but that's all I could fit in the sock I had. I'm also not 100% sure on the size of the pool and I've seen it recommended to creep up on the target CYA vs adding it all at once and risk going over the target. I also added chlorine and will add more chlorine, CYA and salt tomorrow.
 
That is exactly right... always better to add more later than to overshoot!
 
Welcome to TFP,

Yep, Yep, Yep, Great Job, Yep and Yep.

Sounds like you are all squared and centered! Congrats on your Pool Opening! Just let us know how things are going, feel free to post pics of that Beautiful New Pool!! Lots of friendly folks will be glad to help out when you need us!
 
I added 4lbs of cya split between two socks, one in each skimmer basket. I squeezed them a few times last night and left the pump running on a low speed overnight. The socks still had quite a bit in them this morning. Anything else I should do or just be patient? I'm not home to regularly squeeze them today.

Also I have a stupid question on the drop based tests. For the tests that ask you to swirl after each drop can I just leave the speedstir on?
 

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Yes, Let the speedstir run and drop at a decent pace.. dont have to wait too long until you start seeing the color change, I found my cadence is 1 drop per second and I slow down to about 1 drop per 2 seconds when I start seeing the sample react.
 
awstevens said:
CH: 400 (Do I keep adding R-0012 when the color is purplish or wait until it's definitely blue? I based my results on the latter)
Click to expand...

I'm pretty sure it's the purplish. Otherwise I somehow magically went from 325 to infinite CH when I did a 2/3 drain and refill, because after 60 drops mine stayed purple and I gave up. The change to purple gives me a much more plausible result of 100. If blue was it, then that would mean my tapwater's CH is somewhere well north of 2100, which would literally be off the charts, close to 20x the definition of "hard water", and pretty close to seawater.
 
geko29 said:
I'm pretty sure it's the purplish. Otherwise I somehow magically went from 325 to infinite CH when I did a 2/3 drain and refill, because after 60 drops mine stayed purple and I gave up. The change to purple gives me a much more plausible result of 100. If blue was it, then that would mean my tapwater's CH is somewhere well north of 750, which would literally be off the charts.
Click to expand...


All you can do is make sure you are adding the right numbered bottle and adding the right number of drops to set the test up.

Also take a look at any left over chemicals from last year, was one a Calcium/Hypo? That will raise CH.
 
funandsun said:
All you can do is make sure you are adding the right numbered bottle and adding the right number of drops to set the test up.

Also take a look at any left over chemicals from last year, was one a Calcium/Hypo? That will raise CH.
Click to expand...

No I've never used Cal-Hypo, and I've certainly never added anything other than Bleach and Borax since the drain/fill, so there's no reason for replacing 2/3 of the water to cause a 1500%+ increase in CH (note I re-did the calcs since you quoted me, was using 10x as the drop multiplier instead of 25x). Definitely using the correct reagents and drop counts.

Sorry, not trying to derail the thread.
 
I still have some more vacuuming to do on the deep end but the water definitely looks better today than when it was first opened.

Saturday:
VLEbEpF.jpg


Today:
eP0Dfhe.jpg
 
CYA is still dissolving. Going to spend some time squeezing the socks this evening but wondering what my target FC should be in the interim... 3-5? It's at 2 right now with 0 CC.
 
Also, after adding salt today the SWG kicked on. The PB had it set for 70% and told me to add the salt so I assume he intended that to happen. Any reason I shouldn't leave it on at this point? I plan on leaving the pump running at 35% overnight to mix in the CYA, which I just finished squeezing. I'm going to test tomorrow after it's had a chance to circulate but I would only expect my CYA to be about 20 with what I've added so far so I'll need at least two more doses.
 

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