New Pool Guy

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Nightray

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Jun 25, 2018
21
Longview/ WA
I moved into a home with a pool that hasn't been taken care of for a long time, and i know next to nothing about pool chemistry. I've been getting some help from the local pool company, but I suspect what they are telling me to do. basically hand me 2 bags of 1 pound of oxy brite and tell me to come back in a week with a sample. they did however test my levels for me.

FC 0.0
TC 8.8
CC 8.8
PH 7.9
Hard 20
Alkalinity 0
Cynanuric Acid 10
Copper 0.01
Iron 0

Its a vinal pool, Salt water. 21870 Gallons (18 x 36 feet, shallow end 3 ft, deep end 6 feet) After watching your pool school videos Im thinking im wasting my time trying to shock the pool at this point. I have to get the PH and the CYA in check first.. I could use some non critical Advise.. Im just now learning.
 
Hiya Nightray :)

Get outta that pool store, dude! They're in the market to sell you chemicals, and their testing leaves a LOT to be desired.

You *do* need a test kit though....your own. The TF-100 is available from www.tftestkits.net or the K-2006C on Amazon or tftestkits.net Of the two, I prefer the TF-100.
A SpeedStir device is never required, but seriously helpful when testing (swirling the vial while you add drops of reagent)

When you obtain your test kit tell us:
FC
CC
pH
TA
CH
CYA

In the mean time I'd just add a gallon of *plain, unscented, non-thickened, non-Cloramax tech bleach* from the market each day and brush. This will get you on the road to a clean, clear pool while you wait for your test kit.

How does the water look now? Your pH is easy to fix with Muriatic Acid. Use the PoolMath app (at top of page) to help you know how much to add. But wait until you test it yourself please.

Maddie :flower:
 
a little expensive for the kit.. but in truth, the pool store has already gotten me for that much. The TF-100 Test Kit is on the way, and bleach is going into the pool right now.. Cant tell you how much i appreciate the assistance. Looking over my first message, it looks like i didn't tell you that its a indoor in ground pool. Thanks again
 
The big question: how does the water look? Nobody but us and the pool store really care about chemical levels. The rest of the world cares about clear odorless water that doesn't dry skin or burn eyes. Tell us what the water looks like - clear, dull, cloudy, murky, green, black? Do you see any algae? Do you feel any slimy spots? That affects the advice we'll give.

Now, my interpretation of the results, if (big if) they're correct:
FC waaaaay too low. You knew that
CC is probably falsely high due to the Oxy-brite. That stuff is going to mess with the CC test for a while
pH is too high. That's easily fixed except..
TA can't be zero if pH is 7.9
CH (hardness) is probably much higher than 20, unless you've been filling that pool with nothing but rain, snowmelt, and softened water
CYA is probably higher than that -- most pools are, unless the CYA has degraded into Ammonia.
Copper and Iron: I don't trust those test results any more than the others, but it's probably a good sign that they're low.

We'll get you straightened out. You've invested in a good test kit, and you've got all the advice you'll ever need here, and you've got the right attitude. I predict a sparkling pool soon. Maybe not in time for a big party for Fourth of July, but not long after.
 
Ok, wow I must have screwed up almost every test :(

FC-still pink\ red after 50 drops When i do the Chlorine drop test (did 2 times) gathered water from 1 foor under water
Its orange when i do the daily test (k-1000)


CC Never got that far
pH 8.2 (k-1000)
TA 25 drops and still light blue
CH never turned red 10 drops R0010 \ 3 drops R-0011L
CYA 30
 
PH test isn't valid when the FC is over 10 - that needs to drop to get a good PH reading.

Are you using 25ml or 10ml as the sample size for the Free Chlorine Test? Go with 10ml water and only 1 scoop of DPD powder - then each drop equals .5 FC... *just ̶m̶u̶l̶t̶i̶p̶l̶y̶ your drops by 2 to get your FC result

edit: 2 drops = 1 ppm (so divide is correct not multiply)
 

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How long ago did you use the 'OxyBrite'? That is MPS (non chlorine 'shock') that messes with your chlorine readings.
 
That should be not effecting things by now I hope.

Wait until you test FC at 10 ppm or less to test pH.

Then adjust pH if necessary and SLAM Process.
 
What the pool store found was your MPS.

How much bleach have you added recently?

Normally MPS would show no FC, and you are stating your test is showing high FC.
 
I’m a newbie as well but I’ve quickly learned that this group is invaluable! You have an indoor pool so your FC gets eaten up a lot less quicker hence your high FC. Let us know when you’re able to get an accurate reading. Welcome to the newbie club!
 

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