New Guy with pool problems

[OrlandoTreeVictim]

Hello,

I've had my pool about a year now here in Central Florida. The pool is located under a large oak tree in the back yard and doesn't get much sun.

I'm continually fighting it turning green and turned to the forums. I got a K2006 and here are my readings:

FC: 15.6
CC: .6
PH: 7.4
TA: 75
CH: 225
CYA: 100-120


Based on my reading of the forum, my first problem to fix is draining and re-filling the pool to get the CYA down?

 

[YippeeSkippy]

Welcome to TFP and you're right....CYA being too high is your biggest problem. You chlorine can't overcome that high CYA so its totally ineffective.
I'd start by draining half and then refill. Test that CYA again, and if still higher than 40ish, I'd drain and refill again.

I guess you're using pucks, huh?? Those are the often the source of too high CYA. We prefer liquid chlorine or a salt water chlorine generators to provide our chlorine needs. That way we don't have the CYA problems.

FC/CYA Levels
SLAM Process

Maddie

 

[Texas Splash]

Stick around for a while. We'll get you through this. Welcome!

 

[jimmythegreek]

You got the right plan. Drain as Yippee recommended and test from there. It will get much easier

 

[OrlandoTreeVictim]

Welcome to TFP and you're right....CYA being too high is your biggest problem. You chlorine can't overcome that high CYA so its totally ineffective.
I'd start by draining half and then refill. Test that CYA again, and if still higher than 40ish, I'd drain and refill again.

I guess you're using pucks, huh?? Those are the often the source of too high CYA. We prefer liquid chlorine or a salt water chlorine generators to provide our chlorine needs. That way we don't have the CYA problems.

FC/CYA Levels
SLAM Process

Maddie

Perfect, thanks! And yes, on my Dad's advice I was using picks. Definitely not anymore!

 

[OrlandoTreeVictim]

Two follow up questions:

1. I'm draining my pool today using my waste line, however I don't have a separate return line to shut off. I have a ball valve to just open that line. Is there an issue with draining while the returns are open?

2. Should I be doing any shocking, or anything like that yet?

 

[OrlandoTreeVictim]

Here's a photo for reference

 

[kimkats]

So long as there is water going out it does not matter where it is coming from. Make sure your main drain is open as well.

I would wait until you have drained as much as Pool Math tells you to drain PoolMath Refill and run the pump for about an hour and re-test for CYA and see where you are at. That way you are not pushing chlorine out to where ever you waste water goes.

 

[mknauss]

Be aware draining a pool comes with risks. What is the water table in your area.

See Draining - Further Reading

 

[OrlandoTreeVictim]

So long as there is water going out it does not matter where it is coming from. Make sure your main drain is open as well.

I would wait until you have drained as much as Pool Math tells you to drain PoolMath Refill and run the pump for about an hour and re-test for CYA and see where you are at. That way you are not pushing chlorine out to where ever you waste water goes.

Right now based in calculations I'm going to drain about half, refill, and should land in a better situation. I really wish rainy season was here already.

Also my main drain is open, I closed off the skimmer intake, but it seems to still be pulling air in from there. Do I need to worry about airlock even on waste setting?

 

[mknauss]

Much safer to use a submersible pump to drain/exchange. You are risking destroying your pool pump.

 

[Katodude]

Not 100% sure on central Florida, but Florida in general has been very dry. Water table in south Florida is way down. Good time to be doing a partial drain.

 

[YippeeSkippy]

I would not go down lower than halfway, just to be safe. Home Depot rents sump pumps , I believe?

 

[OrlandoTreeVictim]

Much safer to use a submersible pump to drain/exchange. You are risking destroying your pool pump.

Okay, that's what I had figured.

Not 100% sure on central Florida, but Florida in general has been very dry. Water table in south Florida is way down. Good time to be doing a partial drain.

Yeah, we have been dry for weeks now, and nothing I see on the horizon.

I would not go down lower than halfway, just to be safe. Home Depot rents sump pumps , I believe?

Yes, my local place didn't have any available so I decided to buy a smaller one and just be patient. We are stuck here so I've got nothing to do but watch!


Just to get ahead, once I've drained it about half and refilled, should I test then?

 

[YippeeSkippy]

yup!

 

[kimkats]

AFTER you have run the pump for about an hour to make sure the water is mixed up good. You can also brush the pool to help it mix up.