WOW What a learning experience... so far.

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edif30

edif30

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Gold Supporter
Jun 16, 2017
53
Thorofare, NJ
So I start this post off with a disclaimer, I should have educated myself. I trusted the wrong people and never questioned anything. When I ran into issues, I used their advice and while it seemed like it worked, it really didn't. I also think that some luck was involved as well as environmental factors. When I bought my previous house it came with a pool. The previous owner showed me how the pump and filter worked. All was great. Gave me some stuff to read (manufacturer info and recommendations). I also spoke with other buddies who were pool owners and we shared similar methods/ideas on how to care for a pool.

I eventually got rid of that pool (15x30 above) and moved 2 years ago. We bought another house with same sized and type of pool. I ended up getting all brand new equipment such as the pump, filter, hoses, chlorinator, etc. First year was great, all seemed well. Last year was ok, started to have algae issues and seemed to combat it pretty well. Didn't know about the SLAM method or anything. Just shocked the mess out of it until the algae was gone. That was about it. But... it kept coming back. I fought it off and I thought it was pretty good so I closed the pool. Opened this year and the pool was sparkling clear! SUCCESS!!! So I thought...

Mind you this entire time I am using test strips. Never knew how this would be a problem for me.

This year... Since the first week of the season I was battling algae. I cannot and won't be able to tell you how much I was battling because it was nearly every 3-4 days. Shock, more shock, brushing, more brushing, etc. Mind you the chlorine levels on the strip always showed pretty high. Other chemicals were balanced. CYA always showed around 30-40. ON THE STRIP!

I need to close the pool and I of course want to close it properly with no algae or issues and have it be a problem next year.

Now comes the point where I start reading on this forum. And man... Am I shocked (no pun intended) to learn how bad I have been doing things. Yesterday I ordered a K-2006 kit. I wanted to validate where I was and figured I'll take my water to a pool store. They told me the following...

Total Chlorine - 10+
Free Chlorine - 10+
PH - 6.8 (I ended up adding 5lbs of PH up after this)
TA - 100
CYA - 50
CH - 200

So, I honestly thought that isn't too too bad. Now, the shape the pool is in is the water is crystal clear. I mean it looks like purified water. But you'd see small specks on the walls of pin head sized algae spots. Not many, few here and there. And dark green. I shocked the pool with 4lbs last night and this morning I figured to get the new test kit and test again. By this time the FC should be well above 10.

Well.... here is the results...

FC - 8ppm
CC - 2ppm
PH - 6.8
CYA - CANT EVEN GET A READING! ITS OVER 100!!!

Another bit of info, I have been using stabilized pucks in my chlorinator.

What this told me was I have been dumping chlorine in this pool and it is not making a difference. Thats why the algae is coming back. I can't get the FC high enough to do its job!

I tested the CYA twice to be sure. Man this is a blow. Currently I am wasting out water and pumping it out as well. The mission is to drain it about half way and then refill. The hope is the CYA is at 50ish or so. Then I can start from scratch. Which I guess isn't too bad. The pool as far as algae wise isn't bad (That you can see visually). I've apparently been holding it at bay before it starts showing up.. So, since theres still enough hours in the day to get the water level back up and running the filter again I am crossing my fingers that I can wake up to a very high FC and keep it there for a few days to pass the OCLT test and finally be able to close it.

Just the little bit of reading on here has enlightened my perspective. So, thank you to all who have provided all the info and experience. I just wish I found it sooner!

I'll post an update as I get em.

Note: I apparently was signed up for this forum a while ago and never remembered. LOL.
 
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Welcome to the forum!
100 is the limit of the CYA test, so you have to do a diluted test. Mix 50% pool water with 50% tap water. Use this mixed sample as your test water. Multiply the result by 2 for your CYA level.
You may need to drain a lot more water than you think.
Please fill out your signature. It really helps us help you.
I suggest you read ABC's of Pool Water Chemistry.
 
Interesting... So the fill line of the test bottle is 7ml. You're saying to mix pool water and tap water together for example in a cup. Then fill up to the 7ml. Add the reagent and test that way? Sig filled out. Thanks again!
 
Correct. Equal parts pool water and tap water. Mix well. Use that for your water sample to test CYA.
 
Just completed the diluted test. Worse than I thought... 200. I filled out my signature and although I know its a 15x30 and 48" high, I cannot tell if its 10k or 12k gal. Not sure wasting out half the water is gonna cut it.
 
So you are well above 200 ppm CYA. With an ABG pool, you can drain until you have 12-18" of water in it and refill. Then test again.
 
Well, the drain is in progress. I'm having anxiety over how much this pool has costed this year due to not being educated. Hopefully after closing this year when things are in great shape I will know exactly how to deal with things next year. Thank you for the assist! I will post updates as I have them.
 

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JoeSelf said:
Jump in with both feet. Don't look back. You're not far from me.
Click to expand...

Thats the plan! And perfect! We can trade info on local places. After all this I really want to invest in doing things right. I am considering a SWG. However I am unsure of the drawbacks of the water hitting the grass. If not SWG, I definitely want to look at my setup and see about doing chlorine injection.

What setup do you have?
 
Turn your phone sideways to see my sig. Jug dumper, but i get 12 1/2% from pool store across from target in mantua. Owners kid complains all I buy is Chlorine. Tell him that's all I need.

Get some stuff from there, hoses, parts, my last pump (at discount).

Budds put in the pool so when I need something very specific I go there. Things have changes there in the past couple of years so I try to stay out of there. I still get my cover there every year.

Owners kid complains all I buy is Chlorine. Tell him that's all I need.
 
edif30 said:
However I am unsure of the drawbacks of the water hitting the grass.
Click to expand...

I've heard that some grasses dont like it in certain agricultural zones. I'm in NY and we are probably using the same fescue/rye/kentucky bluegrass mixes. Anywhere my drain puddle flows has the greenest grass in my yard. I'm no scientist but im guessing it has more to do with the balanced water and the right ph for the grass. The salt in the air/humidity has 10X the salt in the pool water. Even if you are somewhat inland by you the Atlantic isnt far away.
 
Newdude said:
I've heard that some grasses dont like it in certain agricultural zones. I'm in NY and we are probably using the same fescue/rye/kentucky bluegrass mixes. Anywhere my drain puddle flows has the greenest grass in my yard. I'm no scientist but im guessing it has more to do with the balanced water and the right ph for the grass. The salt in the air/humidity has 10X the salt in the pool water. Even if you are somewhat inland by you the Atlantic isnt far away.
Click to expand...

Good to know. Yes I have the same mix. It's actually called Northeast Mix! I assume it's all of the above.
 
Matter of fact it caused a (good) dispute with my neighbor. My pool floods some of my backyard and 30 ft worth of the 2 neighbors behind me. I have 35k gallons so if i need to drain a foot it makes quite the puddle. Well one of the backyard neighbors caught me one time and raised concerns about his grass and flowerbeds. I assured him it would only help and not hurt. The next time he came over it was to complain that that area looked nicer than the rest of his yard. I built a curb like dam to funnel the water from my drain pipe to an area that didnt get alot of water. I cant mow the dam so i have to use the weedwhacker. The grass is so thick there it bogs down the weedwhacker and takes several passes to cut. I have inground sprinklers on an acre. Nowhere else in my yard is it that thick and green so it has to be from the pool water.
 
JoeSelf said:
Turn your phone sideways to see my sig. Jug dumper, but i get 12 1/2% from pool store across from target in mantua. Owners kid complains all I buy is Chlorine. Tell him that's all I need.

Get some stuff from there, hoses, parts, my last pump (at discount).

Budds put in the pool so when I need something very specific I go there. Things have changes there in the past couple of years so I try to stay out of there. I still get my cover there every year.

Owners kid complains all I buy is Chlorine. Tell him that's all I need.
Click to expand...

Ah I see the sig now. I'll check that place out across from Target. I have been going to Sparkle to get shock bags. Agree on Budds. I also go to Anchor Pools in Blackwood. Good prices and the owners are nice. Nice staff and helpful. Only problem is they use test strips to do in store testing. Maybe they do droplet testing if you ask, IDK honestly. I was a bit taken back by that. When I went there the other day they said my CYA was 50. Per my OP, that's obviously not the case. However, again can't really say anything bad. I'll still go there to get supplies if no other store around me has it.
 
Newdude said:
Matter of fact it caused a (good) dispute with my neighbor. My pool floods some of my backyard and 30 ft worth of the 2 neighbors behind me. I have 35k gallons so if i need to drain a foot it makes quite the puddle. Well one of the backyard neighbors caught me one time and raised concerns about his grass and flowerbeds. I assured him it would only help and not hurt. The next time he came over it was to complain that that area looked nicer than the rest of his yard. I built a curb like dam to funnel the water from my drain pipe to an area that didnt get alot of water. I cant mow the dam so i have to use the weedwhacker. The grass is so thick there it bogs down the weedwhacker and takes several passes to cut. I have inground sprinklers on an acre. Nowhere else in my yard is it that thick and green so it has to be from the pool water.
Click to expand...

HAHA complained that it looked nicer! LOL
 
edif30 said:
Ah I see the sig now. I'll check that place out across from Target. I have been going to Sparkle to get shock bags. Agree on Budds. I also go to Anchor Pools in Blackwood. Good prices and the owners are nice. Nice staff and helpful. Only problem is they use test strips to do in store testing. Maybe they do droplet testing if you ask, IDK honestly. I was a bit taken back by that. When I went there the other day they said my CYA was 50. Per my OP, that's obviously not the case. However, again can't really say anything bad. I'll still go there to get supplies if no other store around me has it.
Click to expand...

They do strip testing in the mantua store. I've never been in the main store, I think the have computer testing. Just pick up LC from there. The main guy is really knowledgeable about pumps and equipment. Just don't get your water tested. I tell him "I test @ home."
 

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