What am I doing??

[elainemeowz]

Hi everyone!

A friend sent my toddler a pool. We're all very excited and she is looking forward to swimming. It is a 12' x 30" (holds about 24" of water) Intex frame pool. It is currently filling, and the box says it's just over 1,700 gallons.

I've read this forum for an hour and I realize I should probably test the water. That said, the only test kit my local Walmart has is a Clorox one and it has terrible reviews... SO. I guess I'll order one on pay day. Until then just to get started. can I just add some chlorine? We were also sent a container of Kem Tek 1" Chlorinating tablets and a slow floating feeder. So can I just fill er' up and let it go? Do I need to buy one of those little bags of shock from Walmart and toss it in? I have a cover for it too if that makes a difference, and it'll stay covered unless we're in it.

I had a pool about 7 years ago but I remember NOTHING about how I cared for it. I want to ensure it's safe for our 2 year old. Thank you!

 

[jblizzle]

Welcome to TFP!!!

For that pool, you really only need a simple pH & chlorine test. Walmart should have some HTH that works. Just make sure it is drops and not strips.

Follow this: Pool School - Guide for Seasonal/Temporary Pools

You can start with the floater of tablets, but you need to determine how many to use before the CYA hits about 30ppm and then switch to liquid chlorine.

 

[rj2222]

If Walmart has a 6 way or at minimum the 3 way HTH kit that would work for your pool. Are you tablets chlorine only, or do they also contain cya/stabilizer to help the chlorine last longer? But yeah definitely start with the floater with tablets in it, then go get that kit.

 

[jblizzle]

If Walmart has a 6 way or at minimum the 3 way HTH kit that would work for your pool. Are you tablets chlorine only, or do they also contain cya/stabilizer to help the chlorine last longer? But yeah definitely start with the floater with tablets in it, then go get that kit.

There is no such thing as a chlorine only tablet. Most are trichlor and add stabilizer. There are very few that are Cal hypo and add calcium

 

[elainemeowz]

Welcome to TFP!!!

For that pool, you really only need a simple pH & chlorine test. Walmart should have some HTH that works. Just make sure it is drops and not strips.

Follow this: Pool School - Guide for Seasonal/Temporary Pools

You can start with the floater of tablets, but you need to determine how many to use before the CYA hits about 30ppm and then switch to liquid chlorine.

Oh I didn't even know they sold liquid chlorine. So I really shouldn't use the tablets for long? I recall always having a floater in my old pool, but of course that was years ago so I'm sure things have changed. I'll go read the article. Thank you.

 

[jblizzle]

Liquid chlorine AKA bleach.

There are some other good articles that might be worth reading up front in pool school:

The ABCs
Recommended pool chemicals
How to chlorinate your pool

 

[elainemeowz]

If Walmart has a 6 way or at minimum the 3 way HTH kit that would work for your pool. Are you tablets chlorine only, or do they also contain cya/stabilizer to help the chlorine last longer? But yeah definitely start with the floater with tablets in it, then go get that kit.

I think I attached a photo. You're right, I didn't notice but it does say includes "chloriniating sanitizer and algaecide" whatever that means.

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I don't see the photo attached. Does this link work? https://www.amazon.com/Kem-Tek-Chlorinating-Tablets-Chemicals-1-5-Pound/dp/B0030BEI4A/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1527990637&sr=8-2&keywords=kemtek+1+inch+chlorinating+tablets

 

[zea3]

If you use dry chlorine (often sold as shock) please keep in mind they are sized to provide a dose of chlorine for a 10,000 gallon pool. A whole packet in a little pool like yours would raise the chlorine and CYA way too high. You might look for the dry chlorine packaged in small canisters where you can measure it with a measuring cup or scoop, or stick with liquid chlorine and use a little bit every day. PoolMath will help you figure out how much you need.

You need to be carefull with a floater if your little one is likely to see it as a toy. The water inside the chlorinator will have very high levels of chlorine so you won't want them picking it up and splashing it in their face.

 

[elainemeowz]

Liquid chlorine AKA bleach.

There are some other good articles that might be worth reading up front in pool school:

The ABCs
Recommended pool chemicals
How to chlorinate your pool

Thank you! Is Cyanuric Acid actually called Cyanuric Acid? I'll have to go look for some. My husband keeps telling me we need to put shock in it but I don't think so since it's a new pool. I thought shock was only for algae blooms or slimy-ness.

 

[elainemeowz]

If you use dry chlorine (often sold as shock) please keep in mind they are sized to provide a dose of chlorine for a 10,000 gallon pool. A whole packet in a little pool like yours would raise the chlorine and CYA way too high. You might look for the dry chlorine packaged in small canisters where you can measure it with a measuring cup or scoop, or stick with liquid chlorine and use a little bit every day. PoolMath will help you figure out how much you need.

You need to be carefull with a floater if your little one is likely to see it as a toy. The water inside the chlorinator will have very high levels of chlorine so you won't want them picking it up and splashing it in their face.

I posted a link to the chlorine tablets I have. It says it also includes "chlorinating sanitizer and algaecide". The instructions say to put it in a feeder, but I don't want to over chlorinate. This is all so confusing.

Since my little girl won't be able to touch the bottom yet, she'll be in a life jacket and I'll be sure to keep her away from the floater. If she shows interest, we can figure out another solution. Bleach was mentioned but that's a whole new world to me. I can always give it a shot though.

 

[zea3]

Cyanuric Acid is the official name, but you will see it refered to as CYA, pool conditioner, or stabilizer. We developed a super chlorination method called SLAM Process which takes care of algae and slimminess when they happen. If a pool is correctly maintained you won't ever have to do a slam. Shock is the dry chlorine sold in 1 pound packages and most people refer to its use as shocking the pool. The pool industry wants you to shock your pool weekly, but it isn't necessary in a properly maintained pool. With a pool as small as yours I would probably drain and refill instead if I did develop an algae problem.

 

[elainemeowz]

Cyanuric Acid is the official name, but you will see it refered to as CYA, pool conditioner, or stabilizer. We developed a super chlorination method called SLAM Process which takes care of algae and slimminess when they happen. If a pool is correctly maintained you won't ever have to do a slam. Shock is the dry chlorine sold in 1 pound packages and most people refer to its use as shocking the pool. The pool industry wants you to shock your pool weekly, but it isn't necessary in a properly maintained pool. With a pool as small as yours I would probably drain and refill instead if I did develop an algae problem.

Okay that makes sense. So no shock. Since these tablets have "Chlorinating Sanitizer and Algaecide" in them, I wonder if that is classified as CYA? I just put 5 of the little tablets in the feeder, opened it to halfway, and dropped it in the pool. I guess I'll see how it looks/smells in the morning.

 

[elainemeowz]

Okay so I got some HTH test strips which I know drops are better, but it’s all I could find locally.
FC: is between the 2 and 3
PH: 7.5
Alkalinity: 0
Hardness: 0
CYA: 0

So do I need to add more chlorine or open the feeder a little more? It’s only at half right now.
And I need to buy “stabilizer” for the CYA right? Our store only has the Clorox brand.
Is that okay?

 

[mknauss]

Sadly, test strips are worthless. No Walmart near you? All you need is a simple two way tester for CL and pH.

Also, do not use the tablets much longer. They have copper in them. That will turn blonde hair green.

Hopefully you know how many of the tablets you have used. That way you can see how much CYA you have added. Then to get to 30 ppm CYA you should use powdered stabilizer. The Clorox brand is fine.

You should then use liquid chlorine daily.

Take care.

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Please read through the link on Post #2.

 

[pabeader]

 

[elainemeowz]

Sadly, test strips are worthless. No Walmart near you? All you need is a simple two way tester for CL and pH.

Also, do not use the tablets much longer. They have copper in them. That will turn blonde hair green.

Hopefully you know how many of the tablets you have used. That way you can see how much CYA you have added. Then to get to 30 ppm CYA you should use powdered stabilizer. The Clorox brand is fine.

You should then use liquid chlorine daily.

Take care.

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Please read through the link on Post #2.

I got the strips at Walmart. Our Walmart is very small. They just did add groceries a few years ago. We don’t really have any other option... Aside from ordering.

I put 5 1” Kem Tek chlorinating tablets (with Chloriniating sanitizer and algaecide) in my feeder and opened it halfway night before last. There are still some in there so they haven’t all dissolved. I’ve read and read. I’m just a little nervous about pouring bleach in the pool. I don’t even own bleach. I’d like to at least use up the tablets first though. I read the ingredients and it didn’t mention copper. Just Tricholor. Also, no blondes here.

i wasnt sure if the tablets included CYA. It doesn’t mention it on the bottle. But I’ll go buy some of the Clorox as soon as I get paid! Thanks for the info!

 

[pabeader]

The tablets are trichlor which is chlorine and CYA combined

 

[jblizzle]

Stabilizer will not be listed it is inherently part of the chemical structure of trichlor.

Be careful buying Clorox bleach. Do not buy any that has cloromax technology or is splashless or has scents

 

[elainemeowz]

Stabilizer will not be listed it is inherently part of the chemical structure of trichlor.

Be careful buying Clorox bleach. Do not buy any that has cloromax technology or is splashless or has scents

i was referring to buying the Clorox brand pool stabilizer CYA. I can’t get a photo to post, but Walmart sells it. I’m not sure about pouring bleach into the pool, but if I do decide to go that route when my tablets run out I will check this site to see what the best bleach option is.

 

[pabeader]

Just a note. Pouring bleach is what a large number of us do. Some have a SWCG that does it for us, but many do not. If it helps, you can call it liquid chlorine.

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Some of us, like me, do both. I have a SWG and I use bleach when I need to bump the FC after a party or heavier than normal use.