Purchased home with a pool. Totally lost.

[RyanWendell]

Hello all!

I just moved into a home with a pool and am having a rough time trying to figure everything out. I've read over countless threads and the Pool School stuff but wanted some pointers on how to proceed.

Current pool supplies:

AquaChek Pro
Transchem Muriatic Acid
Yellow Treat
Leslie's 3 Inch Jumbo Tabs

The previous owner hired the pool guy for an additional month while we got settled in. As of today I am taking over the job so.. here I am lol.

A cap full of Yellow Treat and two Jumbo Tabs were added to the pool yesterday (per the pool guys instructions). Previously he was placing the Tabs in the skimmer basket but I purchased some floaters for the pool because I read putting them in the skimmer is not a good idea from the instructions on the bucket and here on the forums.

Readings from the Aquachek (image attached)

FC - 1-3 ppm?
TC - 1-3 ppm?
pH - 7.0 - 7.2?
TA - Less than or equal to 40
CH - ???
CYA - ???

I'll try to get a water test done later today from a pool store (bad words I know).

My first purchase is going to be a TF-100 Test Kit since I need more reliable readings before I start throwing more chemicals into the pool.

From what I've read baking soda should help with he TA being so low but I'm looking for any other suggestions or anything for what to do/how to do it/when to do it.

Also the weird discoloration that is in some of the pics I want to try and remove. Yesterday before putting the Yellow Treat in there was what looked like mustard algae starting to form. After Yellow Treat and a good scrubbing it looks much better. The pucks that I have is that was is recommended to place on the discolored places to see if it improves the color? Will also try Vitamin C.


I really appreciate it!!!

 

[mknauss]

Welcome to the forum!

Do not use any more of that Yellow Treat!!!!!! It is Sodium Bromide. If it has been used extensively your pool is now a Bromine pool. We will see how things go when you get your TF100, but, there is a chance a complete water exchange may be necessary to resolve that.

Discontinue the tabs now. Use liquid chlorine. I suspect in Florida you need ~2ppm FC per day right now. Use Poolmath to determine how much liquid chlorine to add each day. When you get your TF100, post up a full set of test results.

Can you get a simple drop test from Walmart or Home Depot? Need a good pH number. Strips are trash.

I suggest you read ABC's of Pool Water Chemistry and consider reviewing the entire Pool School eBook.

You may also want to get the Poolmath app.

 

[Texas Splash]

Lots to learn here, but we'll help you through it. Welcome to the forum.

 

[RyanWendell]

Welcome to the forum!

Do not use any more of that Yellow Treat!!!!!! It is Sodium Bromide. If it has been used extensively your pool is now a Bromine pool. We will see how things go when you get your TF100, but, there is a chance a complete water exchange may be necessary to resolve that.

Discontinue the tabs now. Use liquid chlorine. I suspect in Florida you need ~2ppm FC per day right now. Use Poolmath to determine how much liquid chlorine to add each day. When you get your TF100, post up a full set of test results.

Can you get a simple drop test from Walmart or Home Depot? Need a good pH number. Strips are trash.

I suggest you read ABC's of Pool Water Chemistry and consider reviewing the entire Pool School eBook.

You may also want to get the Poolmath app.

Wow you guys are fast!

I am going to Pinch-a-Penny later today to get a test done to see where I am at. Hopefully the amount of Yellow Treat was low enough to avoid that mess!

Am I fine to completely discontinue the tabs and start putting liquid chlorine in or anything special I need to do?

Yea the strips really are awful but should I start adding baking soda now to at least get closer to the general area it should be for pH or should I leave it as is until I get a real tester/water test done?

 

[Texas Splash]

Yea the strips really are awful but should I start adding baking soda now to at least get closer to the general area it should be for pH or should I leave it as is until I get a real tester/water test done?

Until you get a good test kit (i.e. TF-100), I would not add anything right now other than some regular bleach. About the only test I "might" feel comfortable wiht at the local stor is their pH test - or better yet, like Marty noted above you can gran a small HTH drop kit at Wal-Mart for now until your good kit arrives to confirm your pH. If it's over 8.0, lower it a bit to about 7.6~ish with muriatic acid. But don't go crazy with adding anything else until you know for sure where you stand. That's why the TF-100 or Taylor K-2006C are so important.

 

[Arizonarob]

Hi Ryan.

Don’t start adding anything except liquid chlorine until you have a proper test kit. Once you do, test and post up numbers and we’ll help you get that pool in shape!

 

[ajw22]

Regular bleach being bleach that has no scents or additives. Don't use Clorox bleach that says it has Cloromax Technology. Cloromax Technology has polymers that are not suitable for pools.

 

[kimkats]

Everyone else has you covered with getting the good test kit and adding only liquid chlorine right now. I wanted to jump in and tell you what a pretty pool and area you have!!! That is sweet looking! Did you buy the pool for the house or the house for the pool?

Once we get your water dialed in we can help you start working on those stains. Until then a brushing you shall go! Think of it as gym time for your arms and shoulders!

Kim

 

[YippeeSkippy]

How often has Yellow Treat been used do you think?? A bromine pool is entirely different from a chlorine pool, and if too much has been added your pool isn't really a chlorine pool at all anymore. Sure you may have added chlorine, but all its done is "re-energize" the bromine.
We never suggest using this product and I would question your pool guy asap on its use and did they not realize how it changes your pool chemistry entirely?

Maddie

 

[splashpad]

Wow you guys are fast!

I am going to Pinch-a-Penny later today to get a test done to see where I am at. Hopefully the amount of Yellow Treat was low enough to avoid that mess!

Am I fine to completely discontinue the tabs and start putting liquid chlorine in or anything special I need to do?

Yea the strips really are awful but should I start adding baking soda now to at least get closer to the general area it should be for pH or should I leave it as is until I get a real tester/water test done?

The drop tests are more accurate, as the strips have timing issues (the "results" change as time passes, some have to be "read" instantly and others need to develop).
Recommended test kit
Pinch a Penny has this BASIC drop test kit, that will get you starting results until the good test arrives

 

[RyanWendell]

Got a test done at Pinch-a-Penny yesterday.

TC: did not test
FC: 2.0
CC: did not test
pH: 7.8
Acid demand?: 2
Total alkalinity: 120
Calcium hardness: 250
Stabilizer: 70

Hope this helps. This was done yesterday and I ended up swimming in it last night so I’ll add some liquid chlorine.

 

[RyanWendell]

How often has Yellow Treat been used do you think?? A bromine pool is entirely different from a chlorine pool, and if too much has been added your pool isn't really a chlorine pool at all anymore. Sure you may have added chlorine, but all its done is "re-energize" the bromine.
We never suggest using this product and I would question your pool guy asap on its use and did they not realize how it changes your pool chemistry entirely?

Maddie

He used is occasionally I would say at most a capful at a time every few weeks if that. Is there an easy way to tell if it’s a bromine pool or do I need a specific test for that?

 

[RyanWendell]

Everyone else has you covered with getting the good test kit and adding only liquid chlorine right now. I wanted to jump in and tell you what a pretty pool and area you have!!! That is sweet looking! Did you buy the pool for the house or the house for the pool?

Once we get your water dialed in we can help you start working on those stains. Until then a brushing you shall go! Think of it as gym time for your arms and shoulders!

Kim

Aw thank you so much! It was both. The pool just added to the house and the house added to the pool. We’ve accepted that we’re going to be the party house.

I can’t wait to tackle the stains! Thank you so much!!

 

[mknauss]

Did you get the low cost drop test until your real test kit arrives? IF the pool store test is any where near accurate, you need chlorine. Follow the FC/CYA chart

Once you get your proper test kit post up the results you get and we can provide guidance, especially on the bromine issue.

 

[Mendy48]

Mmmmm.... We don't relay much on pool store results. They're not reliable. Get your test kit (TF-100 or Taylor K-2006C). We recommend the TF100 from TFTestKits.net or the Taylor K-2006C. Have you ordered your kit yet? I'm interested in knowing you CYA and your FC right now looks low. I'll let the experts chime in here shortly.

 

[kimkats]

Okay here is your game plan for now:
-order good test kit
-Add pool kind (plaster or vinyl) and size in gals to your siggy (need to know this info to tell you how much chlorine to add each day for now.
-Brush each day!

Kim

 

[RyanWendell]

Did you get the low cost drop test until your real test kit arrives? IF the pool store test is any where near accurate, you need chlorine. Follow the FC/CYA chart

Once you get your proper test kit post up the results you get and we can provide guidance, especially on the bromine issue.

I did not get a drop test kit. My TF-100 should be here Monday. I’ll update again once I have a real test kit and results.

 

[RyanWendell]

Okay here is your game plan for now:
-order good test kit
-Add pool kind (plaster or vinyl) and size in gals to your siggy (need to know this info to tell you how much chlorine to add each day for now.
-Brush each day!

Kim

TF-100 on its way! I’ll update that info right now. Thanks again!

 

[mknauss]

I did not get a drop test kit. My TF-100 should be here Monday. I’ll update again once I have a real test kit and results.

Great. Be sure you do the CC test when you do your chlorine test.
Some help on testing -- TF100 YouTube

 

[setsailsoon]

Ryan,

We live a couple of hours south of you on I 95. I've found the best price locally for liquid chlorine is at Leslie's using their 2.5 gal reusable yellow jugs. They often run coupons in your mail (sign up online also) at $7.98 for two. Pinch a penny also refills the same jugs for "half price" on sale but Pinch a Penny is 10%, Leslies ins 10.5% in Stuart. The jugs are about $5 but seem to last forever... well worth it compared to other chlorine available. When you go to the pool store don't let them draw you into a "free test" or discussion about your pool. There are very few trained people in there and they are all conflicted so they tend to sell you stuff you don't need. The only thing I do there is buy liquid chlorine, pool noodles and the occasional part that I might need urgently. I've also had the occasional rude idiot tell me "liquid chlorine is 90% water, why would you buy that". If they say something like that it confirms they are dumb as a bag of hammers, ignore them and move on.

I started TFP 3+ years ago and haven't looked back! They will help you get stabilized (no pun intended) with the basic TFP method then tackle your stains and any other problem. After that it will be smooth sailing. Just keep it up. We're lucky that in Florida we use the pool year round. I just do the wall scrubbing when I'm in the pool... good exercise and I let my suction scrubber do the work between scrubbing Easy peasy and my neighbors moan about the high cost of their pool service but mine looks better for $10/mo in chems. Now my monthly cost is even lower with the recent salt conversion (experts here talked me through this). My wife loves the spa-like feel. I like that and the new jug-free life style!

Good luck to you!

Chris