New Pool Need Guidance with chemicals

[SunnyP2000]

It might be time to clean your filter cartridges, especially with all the patio work being done. TFP recommends
cleaning them before the pressure rises by 25% above clean pressure.

For example:

• 10 PSI Clean Filter pressure -> Clean filter when pressure rises to 12-13 PSI
• 15 PSI Clean Filter pressure -> Clean filter when pressure rises to 18-19 PSI
• 20 PSI Clean Filter pressure -> Clean filter when pressure rises to 25 PSI

I have skimmer sock that’s been catching everything and robot has been doing great job with floors . I have been keeping an eye on filter pressure which has been on 20psi from day one. It hasn’t moved.

 

[SunnyP2000]

Sounds good.

I Have been maintaining my FC levels however water still seems little cloudy. i just redid all my test again , you can also view my POOLMATH logs. not sure what's going on I am not sure if this is related to another issue i am having with bubbles in pool pump. i did have lot of rain and my water level seems very high . i did drain little bit but i think i have to drain more . I still have a month or so before anyone goes in so i am trying to learn as much as i can and get it right before anyone uses the pool. Patio work has been completed as of yesterday and i have been running the robot few times a day so it can get any sand or dirt from bottom. i have been brushing the walls everyday and getting and big debris. One thing i Like to mention i haven't vacuum the floor with the hose and vacuum that builder left me, i didn't feel the need. i think robot a good job. do you think i should vacuum the floor ? IMY results:

FC: 8.5
CC= 0
PH = 7.5
CYA = 45
TA = 110
SALT = 4000
CH = 50
temp 56
I am running the pump 8hrs a day on Med with SWG on (58%) but i don't think SWG is running most of the time because water temp is too cold. sometime it will say "chlorinating " and sometimes it wont.

 

[SunnyP2000]

Just did another OCLT and no loss. Do you think i need to bring my FC level even higher? or something else causing this slight cloudiness ?

 

[poolnoobgrandma]

I'm not one of the pros here, but I'd bump it up. Imagine that you have algae, and your FC is just barely keeping it in control. There could be dead algae causing the cloudiness, and it continues because your FC isn't killing it ALL. you could do a SLAM, but when my water just doesn't look right and the numbers are OK, I have had success with just raising the FC to 12 or so (with CYA similar to yours).
I'd clean the filter, too. Can't hurt, and even with skimmer socks and robot vacuuming, you'd be surprised at how dirty it can get.
Good luck!

 

[Newdude]

Hey sonup !!!

quick thought, what does your yard look like ? I ask because pollen season officially started here and while it isn’t heavy enough to blanket everything (cars/decks/driveways) yet, it surely is enough to make the pool loose some of its sparkle. If it isn’t the trees it could also be dust from the farmers plowing their fields in overdrive (if applicable by you).

We trust the testing and if your OCLT passed, then it’s a filtering issue which would be par for the course right now. Unfortunately it takes time and every year my reward for opening early was to end up cloudy for a few weeks anyway. Rest assured yours will be ALOT easier than all those that wait until Labor Day like everybody likes to do by us.

A dirty filter will clean better than a fresh one to a point because all the crud will help trap more crud, but you’ll also be crating a ‘tea’ of sorts with it in the meantime. I’d suggest cleaning the filters once a week and keeping tabs on the testing like you’ve done. (Well done !!).

My property was heavily wooded with oaks and this was what I sucked out each year. It took 5 or so years to just trust my testing and know it was the pollen and not the water.

 

[Lilypad]

I have been keeping an eye on filter pressure which has been on 20psi from day one. It hasn’t moved.

Double check that your pressure gauge is working correctly. When you turn off the pump,
does it go to zero? If not, it's time to replace.

 

[SunnyP2000]

Double check that your pressure gauge is working correctly. When you turn off the pump,
does it go to zero? If not, it's time to replace.

Here are pic of my pressure gauge with and without pump running

 

[mknauss]

The picture on the left shows 6 psi. The one on the right is 0

 

[SunnyP2000]

Hey sonup !!!

quick thought, what does your yard look like ? I ask because pollen season officially started here and while it isn’t heavy enough to blanket everything (cars/decks/driveways) yet, it surely is enough to make the pool loose some of its sparkle. If it isn’t the trees it could also be dust from the farmers plowing their fields in overdrive (if applicable by you).

We trust the testing and if your OCLT passed, then it’s a filtering issue which would be par for the course right now. Unfortunately it takes time and every year my reward for opening early was to end up cloudy for a few weeks anyway. Rest assured yours will be ALOT easier than all those that wait until Labor Day like everybody likes to do by us.

A dirty filter will clean better than a fresh one to a point because all the crud will help trap more crud, but you’ll also be crating a ‘tea’ of sorts with it in the meantime. I’d suggest cleaning the filters once a week and keeping tabs on the testing like you’ve done. (Well done !!).

My property was heavily wooded with oaks and this was what I sucked out each year. It took 5 or so years to just trust my testing and know it was the pollen and not the water. View attachment 324351View attachment 324352

No pollen yet I have a sock connected to skimmer that’s catching everything.. just getting frustrated . My neighbor has a pool company doing it and it’s crystal clear. Not that that would ever hire anyone but just want to get to that point already..

 

[SunnyP2000]

The picture on the left shows 6 psi. The one on the right is 0

Left is with pump on and right is with pump off

 

[SunnyP2000]

Hey sonup !!!

quick thought, what does your yard look like ? I ask because pollen season officially started here and while it isn’t heavy enough to blanket everything (cars/decks/driveways) yet, it surely is enough to make the pool loose some of its sparkle. If it isn’t the trees it could also be dust from the farmers plowing their fields in overdrive (if applicable by you).

We trust the testing and if your OCLT passed, then it’s a filtering issue which would be par for the course right now. Unfortunately it takes time and every year my reward for opening early was to end up cloudy for a few weeks anyway. Rest assured yours will be ALOT easier than all those that wait until Labor Day like everybody likes to do by us.

A dirty filter will clean better than a fresh one to a point because all the crud will help trap more crud, but you’ll also be crating a ‘tea’ of sorts with it in the meantime. I’d suggest cleaning the filters once a week and keeping tabs on the testing like you’ve done. (Well done !!).

My property was heavily wooded with oaks and this was what I sucked out each year. It took 5 or so years to just trust my testing and know it was the pollen and not the water.

The picture on the left shows 6 psi. The one on the right is 0

do you guys think it makes sense to SLAM even though i am not seeing and FC loss overnight?

 

[mknauss]

Up to you. If you believe the water is not as clear as it should be, there is no harm in raising FC to SLAM level for a day or two and see if it changes it.

 

[SunnyP2000]

Up to you. If you believe the water is not as clear as it should be, there is no harm in raising FC to SLAM level for a day or two and see if it changes it.

its no harm in trying i guess. i will turn the swg off and add bleach now.

 

[Newdude]

Sometimes removing the doubt is the best way to sleep better. Feel free here.

And for what ??? $10-$20 in bleach on a ridiculously expensive pool ?? Yeah. Add away and sleep like a baby.

 

[CrystalRiver]

Given that you believed your starting pressure was 20 and now it's 6, that deserves some time spent this bling about that. Do you have a variable speed pump, that is running slower than when you read 20? Any other changes to the plumbing you can think of? Something has to have changed, and if it's not elsewhere, then it's the gauge - as in, the gauge has gone bad.

Open up your filter and take a peek. See if it looks clean or not.

 

[SunnyP2000]

Given that you believed your starting pressure was 20 and now it's 6, that deserves some time spent this bling about that. Do you have a variable speed pump, that is running slower than when you read 20? Any other changes to the plumbing you can think of? Something has to have changed, and if it's not elsewhere, then it's the gauge - as in, the gauge has gone bad.

Open up your filter and take a peek. See if it looks clean or not.

I think thats a mistake its was never at 20 i was looking at green needle and never saw the actual needle. i think it has been always at 6.

 

[SunnyP2000]

Sometimes removing the doubt is the best way to sleep better. Feel free here.

And for what ??? $10-$20 in bleach on a ridiculously expensive pool ?? Yeah. Add away and sleep like a baby.

so i have some older bleach from home depot you think its ok to use for now and check level in few hrs . then i can add frech batch as needed . it says i have to run pump all night but at what speed low, med or high?

 

[mknauss]

so i have some older bleach from home depot you think its ok to use for now and check level in few hrs . then i can add frech batch as needed . it says i have to run pump all night but at what speed low, med or high?

Sure. Use up the bleach. Just test FC after 30 minutes or so to see what it added. Low speed on the pump is fine.

 

[SunnyP2000]

Sure. Use up the bleach. Just test FC after 30 minutes or so to see what it added. Low speed on the pump is fine.

thank you

 

[SunnyP2000]

Sure. Use up the bleach. Just test FC after 30 minutes or so to see what it added. Low speed on the pump is fine.

my PH is at 7.8 should i get it lowered to 7.2 first by adding acid and then wait? check again and then add bleach?