Hello all, new to the forum but long-time reader. I have spent three years with my first pool trying to get my hands around managing it. I've gone through over a dozen pool companies and have resigned to the fact that I will need to manage it myself.
I've had some limited success with limited knowledge to get me through last summer (what little I have is thanks to you fine folks). Now I need to fully educate myself and really get my pool trouble-free.
Prepare Yourself...the SLAM is coming!
As you can see from the picture below, half-measures haven't worked. (the spa is clear because I drained/refilled it)
Current specs are... (provided by pool store, self-test kit has been ordered but not here yet)
FC: 10+ (max for store test)
TC: 10+ (max for store test)
pH: ~8.0 (max for store test, was 7.8 yesterday)
TA: 0, or close enough to 0 that it didn't register on store test three days in a row.
CH: 500 (local water is a base of 250 from the hose)
CYA: 125
Pretty clear I need to replace most of my water but daily temperatures are already in the 90s. I have started partially draining and refilling about 20% at a time (using my spa as the replacement reservoir) at night when temperatures dip into the 70s.
Once I can get the CYA down to acceptable levels from cycling out water over the next two or three nights, I plan to use 10% liquid chlorine to SLAM the pool into submission.
My main question before starting the SLAM is what about that Total Alkalinity being near 0? Do I need to address that before I try to balance down my pH? I know that adding the acid to bring the pH down would also drop my TA, but if that's already almost gone, do I need to bring the TA back up with.....37 lbs of baking soda?!?!....before starting the SLAM process (or before using acid to bring down the pH)?
Thanks in advance and appreciate all your help so far.
I've had some limited success with limited knowledge to get me through last summer (what little I have is thanks to you fine folks). Now I need to fully educate myself and really get my pool trouble-free.
Prepare Yourself...the SLAM is coming!
As you can see from the picture below, half-measures haven't worked. (the spa is clear because I drained/refilled it)
Current specs are... (provided by pool store, self-test kit has been ordered but not here yet)
FC: 10+ (max for store test)
TC: 10+ (max for store test)
pH: ~8.0 (max for store test, was 7.8 yesterday)
TA: 0, or close enough to 0 that it didn't register on store test three days in a row.
CH: 500 (local water is a base of 250 from the hose)
CYA: 125
Pretty clear I need to replace most of my water but daily temperatures are already in the 90s. I have started partially draining and refilling about 20% at a time (using my spa as the replacement reservoir) at night when temperatures dip into the 70s.
Once I can get the CYA down to acceptable levels from cycling out water over the next two or three nights, I plan to use 10% liquid chlorine to SLAM the pool into submission.
My main question before starting the SLAM is what about that Total Alkalinity being near 0? Do I need to address that before I try to balance down my pH? I know that adding the acid to bring the pH down would also drop my TA, but if that's already almost gone, do I need to bring the TA back up with.....37 lbs of baking soda?!?!....before starting the SLAM process (or before using acid to bring down the pH)?
Thanks in advance and appreciate all your help so far.
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