Need advice after "opening" pool

[tech_east]

Hey all...need advice after "opening" pool. I put opening in quotes because technically I did not cover over the winter so it really did not need opened I drained the water down to about half way or a little less during the winter and added a few gallons of bleach. As you can imagine by now the water is pretty green / cloudy / nasty with algae I would imagine all over. So I took the first steps a few days ago and drained out most of the water only leaving about 1/4 left in it. Then I refilled with my garden hose over the next few days which brings me to yesterday.

Yesterday I got the pump up and running and added a gallon (121 oz) of the Clorox concentrated bleach (I believe it has 8.25% in it). I left the pump on overnight last night and this am the water is no longer as bright green and somewhat turning blue so I believe it is or did something. I checked chemical levels this am as well just to see where I was and chlorine did not even register on the one test (yellow solution) so I did the FC drop test with R-0870 and it was clear after adding the scoop so that pretty much confirms no chlorine in the pool. I also did a PH test and I got various results with my digital meter as compared to the standard test (pink solution). My digital meter settled in on 7.4 or so I believe but the manual test was yellow...so def at 6.8 or lower since that is the bottom color of that particular test.

So since the chlorine was low I went ahead and added another 121 oz of the concentrated bleach and currently have the pump on. I am just trying to figure out next steps? I assume I will want to add some stabilizer as well to bring up the CYA since I most likely have none in there since I filled it with tap water (same as what the situation was last year). Does anyone have any idea for my size pool how many gallons of bleach I will need to add to really SLAM or shock it so I can start with a good "base" water consistency? I tried using the pool math calculator but it keeps telling me "your target is outside the recommended range!" Well I slid the slider bar over for SLAM and listed current level as basically 0 and SLAM target of 10 but for some reason its a no go.

Any assistance on how to continue proceeding would be greatly appreciated...first time opening from over winter and dealing with the green slime deal

 

[mknauss]

Run a full set of tests and post them.

Poolmath tells you that the SLAM FC is out of range, because it is out of the normal range. But ignore that as you know you need to follow the SLAM Process

Get at least 10 gallons of 10% liquid chlorine to start.

 

[tech_east]

@mknauss Thanks for the assistance once again...you helped me a lot last year as well

I ran a complete test as you requested:

FC= 0.5
CC= 0.5
TC= 1.0
CH= 125
TA= 30
CYA= 0

Also you mentioned getting 10 gallons of LC....I assume you are suggesting that because it is stronger than reg bleach so I would have to add 20 gallons of bleach or something? Also...any suggestions for brand or where to buy the LC....maybe a box store like Walmart / Lowes / etc?

Thanks for all your assistance!

 

[clambert1273]

@mknauss Thanks for the assistance once again...you helped me a lot last year as well

I ran a complete test as you requested:

FC= 0.5
CC= 0.5
TC= 1.0
CH= 125
TA= 30
CYA= 0

Also you mentioned getting 10 gallons of LC....I assume you are suggesting that because it is stronger than reg bleach so I would have to add 20 gallons of bleach or something? Also...any suggestions for brand or where to buy the LC....maybe a box store like Walmart / Lowes / etc?

Thanks for all your assistance!

Walmart has pool essentials 10%

 

[tech_east]

Cheapest I found LC is 6.99 at pool store a few mins up the road...so I guess I will be going to pick some up. The strength is 12.5% I believe the lady said....

@mknauss I will be leaving in a little bit to go pick it up...just to confirm....you think I will need 10 gallons of LC correct?

 

[mknauss]

You do not have a Walmart, HD, Lowes. Ocean State Job Lot, etc in your area?

At that price, only get 5. You should be able to get it lower somewhere else.

 

[mknauss]

Get your CYA to 30 ppm. And test pH to be sure it is around 7.2

 

[tech_east]

You do not have a Walmart, HD, Lowes. Ocean State Job Lot, etc in your area?

At that price, only get 5. You should be able to get it lower somewhere else.

Yes, I have a Walmart and Lowes within 10 mins....but they only carry the Clorox stuff with algaecide + clarifier and its like 9.98 and 12.97 a gallon at those stores. So believe it or not the pool store for this liquid shock I am planning on getting is the cheapest at 6.99.

​

 

[mknauss]

Bummer. I see an Ocean State Job Lots about 30 miles from you. But that might not be worth it to you.

 

[BowserB]

Liquid chlorine is a funny market right now. One week Walmart had a lot; next week empty shelves, and the week after lots of liquid chlorine again. Pool stores have raised prices. Walmart got a batch in at regular price 3.74 for 10%, so I bought 8 gallons while waiting for my SWCG to be installed. Walmart today local has -0- liquid chlorine and -0- tabs. This was the final push for me to go SWCG.

 

[tech_east]

Get your CYA to 30 ppm. And test pH to be sure it is around 7.2

Ok...just got back from the pool supply store and bought 5 gallons of shock. I already have my cya sock in the pool floating away Guess I am ready to add the shock at this point...or do I wait until sun goes down? Not sure what next steps are?

Thanks!

 

[mknauss]

Test your pH. Be sure it is around 7.2

Start the SLAM Process. No reason to wait. If you targeted CYA of 30 ppm, SLAM FC level is 12 ppm.

 

[tech_east]

Test your pH. Be sure it is around 7.2

Start the SLAM Process. No reason to wait. If you targeted CYA of 30 ppm, SLAM FC level is 12 ppm.

Just tested pH with both K-1000 and digital meter...coming in at around 6.6 ish....

So according to Pool Math I can add Arm & Hammer super washing soda (which I have on hand) to get up to the necessary 7.2 level. Looks like I should add about 5.5 ounces. Do I just sprinkle that in and how long after do I wait to test?

 

[mknauss]

I would suggest you add 40 ppm TA worth of baking soda instead of washing soda. Soda Ash is a big hammer.

 

[tech_east]

I would suggest you add 40 ppm TA worth of baking soda instead of washing soda. Soda Ash is a big hammer.

Sorry to be dense here...just making sure I am understanding correctly...you are saying to avoid doing the washing soda and instead just do baking soda? And you are getting the 40 ppm because my current level is 30 ppm and 70 ppm is ideal anyway...

If I am understanding correctly, pool math says add 3lbs 8oz of baking soda to bring me up 40 ppm to a total of 70 ppm.

 

[mknauss]

I just find that using baking soda is an easier way to deal with your type situation. Soda ash tends to overdo TA. Poolmath estimates when dealing with pH outside of normal is not that accurate.

 

[BenB]

For discussion purposes, I'm curious about what the consensus is on the 'break even point' that we would consider when advising a small pool owner about water that will require an extensive SLAM. For a 6,423 gallon pool not in a hot climate, I imagine the cost of the liquid chlorine will significantly exceed the cost to refill or water exchange the entire pool (I recently did 15,000 gallons and it was around $100 extra on the water bill). At $3.99/gallon, that's 25 jugs of chlorine. For a 6,000 gallon pool, that would be 8-10.

I suspect that a SLAM would likely still be needed either way to deal with what's left on the walls / floor etc., but probably significantly less chlorine to get there if starting fresh?

Thanks for humoring me.

 

[mknauss]

You are right. As long as the pool can be drained safely. Most above ground pools can only be drained so far before they are damaged.

 

[BenB]

Ah yes of course - the sides! I knew for in-ground there's the 'floating' worry around drains.

I guess another consideration is that above-grounds would then be limited to water exchange, but I bet the smaller physical size would make that a far less efficient process as compared to a large in ground pool simply as there is significantly less horizontal distance and water depth between the fill / pump locations, so mixing would happen much more quickly.

 

[tech_east]

BenB... that was an interesting point of view that does seem to make sense for people like myself with small pools. I was able to drain down to about a quarter left in it and then I was starting to feel uncomfortable with the possibility of the sides sucking in too much. At that point it would require a lot more babysitting on my part to ensure all the sides filled up equally. Any how moving on...

I put in a little over 3lbs of baking soda to hopefully bring up the pH so I can get started with the LC / shock and get to the SLAM process. How long does it take to bring up pH and when should I measure it again?