Need help clearing up a swamp!

[TurboMatt]

I'm just starting on getting my pool opened up for the year (I just bought the house). It has been sitting under a cover since 2016. There were a few things I did before starting the steps to get this mess cleaned up.

1.) Had electrician come out and check all of the wiring, timer, pump etc.
2.) Installed new backflush hose (old was broken)
3.) Installed new pressure gauge on sand filter valve
4.) Removed all of the plugs from the pool closing years ago
5.) Removed as much debris as I could from the pool, which there has been a lot!
6.) Cleaned and installed pool skimmer baskets
7.) Backflushed hayward sand filter for 120 seconds.

After all of this was done, I added 2 cups of muriatic liquid acid. After that circulated for an hour, I mixed up 4 bags of granular pool shock to 'triple' shock level. At this point, I assume I should have possibly started off with liquid pool shock or bleach? But I bought the granular stuff before finding this forum.

I did test the water prior with the Taylor kit before I made any changes to the pool water
PH - Above 8.0
FC - 0
TA - 7 ppm
CYA - less than 30
Calcium - 5 ppm

So now the water has been circulating for a bit over 24 hours. I tested only FC and CC this morning.

FC = 3 ppm
CC = 4 ppm

I would like to know what to do next? Would it be worthwhile to use a clarifier to help clean up the cloudiness?
After the cover came off.





2 hours after the shock was added



~24 hours after the pump has been circulating

 

[mknauss]

Read and follow the SLAM Process process.
Some of your test data from your Taylor kit do not appear possible. A TA of 7 is not measurable.. Neither is a CH of 5. What kit are you using.
TFP does not recommend the use of any clarifier or floc. Both will gum up your filter system and create more problems than they solve.

 

[TurboMatt]

Ok, it could definitely make sense if I didn't test the water correctly. It was the first time I used the test. I'll test again later this evening and see what the results are.

What should I do about the cloudy water for now? Should I assume that the sand filter is going to eventually filter it all out?

 

[mknauss]

You SLAM Process. During a SLAM your pump is running 24/7 and the filter removes the solids over time.

Once you get a complete set of test results, post them here and we can provide you some guidance.

 

[TurboMatt]

Ok sounds great. I'll test the water as soon as I get home and post the results before making any further changes.

Thanks!

 

[Msch99]

If you have trouble or are insecure about your testing abilities, you can buy standard solutions to check yourself against. I did this for cya and ta. For example a solution with a labeled cya of say 40. Then you test it yourself to see what you come up with. (I skipped over the TA instructions to wipe the tip between each drop and had skewed results from the standard.) I forget what they cost, but for me it was comforting to know.

 

[TurboMatt]

Just tested the water myself and had a sample tested at the local pool supply place.

My results with the Taylor kit
FC = 1.5 ppm (used the 10 ml line)
CC = 1 ppm
TA = 80 ppm
CH = 80 ppm
CYA = less than 30
PH = 7.4

Print out from the pool supply store. The water was in the container for roughly 15 minutes before being tested.

 

[mknauss]

Great.
The granular 'shock' you used, was it dichlor or cal hypo? If dichlor, use PoolMath to determine how much CYA you added with it. Then add enough CYA powder using the sock method to get to 30 ppm CYA. Once that starts dissolving, add liquid chlorine to get to 12 ppm FC (shock level) as shown on FC/CYA Levels. Maintain that FC every few hours until your pool passes the three criteria shown in the SLAM Process article.

 

[TurboMatt]

The shock I used was the calcium hypochlorite type.

When I checked the Pool Math calculator, it says to add 31 lbs of Calcium Chloride to get Calcium hardness into check. Is that correct?

I'm not sure what the sock method is for adding CYA. I'll take a look unless someone has a link?

Any idea how long I should wait to test CYA after adding it to the pool?

 

[mknauss]

What type of pool surface do you have? Can you fill out your signature?
You will only need to add calcium if your pool is a plaster pool.
Once the CYA is dissolved from the sock, you can test for it after 24 hours. But assume it is there. Only variable is pool volume.
Solid/granular cyanuric acid (CYA) should be placed in a sock and the sock put in the skimmer basket or suspended in front of a pool return. After adding CYA you should leave the pump running for 24 hours and not backwash/clean the filter for a week. Squeezing the sock periodically will help it to dissolve faster. Test and dose chemicals in your pool assuming the amount of CYA added is in the pool according to Poolmath. CYA can be tested the day after it is fully dissolved from the sock.

 

[TurboMatt]

The pool is a rectangle plaster pool. Based on the measurements I provided to the local pool store, it's roughly 15,000 gallons. I will add what I know to the signature here.

So CYA will typically be sold as "pool stabilizer"? According to the Pool Math calculator, I need to add 5lbs 11 ounces to achieve 30 ppm.

Now, should I skip adding any more shock/chlorine until CYA reaches the correct level?

 

[mknauss]

Now, should I skip adding any more shock/chlorine until CYA reaches the correct level?

Test and dose chemicals in your pool assuming the amount of CYA added is in the pool according to Poolmath.

 

[TurboMatt]

Thanks! I'll report back in a few days with how things are moving along.