New owner, pool turned green... test kit on the way, what can I do in the meanwhile?

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O

onilink763

Member
Aug 4, 2021
20
San Jose, CA
Pool Size
20000
Surface
Plaster
I moved into my new house about 3 weeks ago... The water was clear blue when I first moved in, being so busy with the move and work, I didn't get a chance to properly take care of the pool, I was running the filter pump and vacuum but I woke up today and it's turned green.
https://imgur.com/a/tR0SnIc

You can't see the bottom in the deep end (about 9 feet) but the bottom is still visible on the shallow end. I also attached pics of all the machinery.... just because I was told to clean the filter but I'm not even sure which one is which.

I ordered the recommended saltwater test kit earlier this week but it's not coming in until next week.

Can I proceed with shocking the pool without proper testing? Any specific brands? I wanted to get started on the process today so the Clorox one at Target looked good to me.

I'm running the filter and vacuum right now... anything else I should do until the test kit comes in and I can properly balance it? I saw a recommendation online for a telescope brush to remove algea, is that necessary as well?

I know I have a lot of tasks ahead of me but I hope that I can learn from y'all and make sure that I keep things in balance! I have a pool cover so I didn't think things could turn dire so quickly as long as I let the filter pump do its thing.
 
Welcome to the forum!
Change your test kit order if you can. You need the K2006C -- the one you ordered does not have the FC test you need.
While you are waiting on your test kit, add 5 ppm FC worth of liquid chlorine / plain bleach to your pool each evening with the pump running. This will replenish the FC lost each day to the sun and also inhibit any algae in the water from growing further.
Do NOT use that product you linked. Liquid chlorine. Home Depot, Walmart, etc carries it. Or Plain bleach. No additives.
I suggest you read ABC's of Pool Water Chemistry.
 
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mknauss said:
Welcome to the forum!
Change your test kit order if you can. You need the K2006C -- the one you ordered does not have the FC test you need.
While you are waiting on your test kit, add 5 ppm FC worth of liquid chlorine / plain bleach to your pool each evening with the pump running. This will replenish the FC lost each day to the sun and also inhibit any algae in the water from growing further.
Do NOT use that product you linked. Liquid chlorine. Home Depot, Walmart, etc carries it. Or Plain bleach. No additives.
I suggest you read ABC's of Pool Water Chemistry.
Click to expand...

Thank you for the response, I will change it to the Liquid Chlorine, any brand ok? Also, I have a salt water pool, should I still switch to the K2006C? I thought the one I ordered was for saltwater pools.
 
You should get a K1766 salinity kit too, but the K2005 you linked does NOT have the FAS-DPD FC/CC test needed for TFPC.

Any brand liquid chlorine is fine. Pool Essentials, HDX, etc are at either Walmart or Home Depot.
 

Amazon.com : Taylor Service Complete Pool Water Test Kit K-2006C : Swimming Pool Liquid Test Kits : Garden & Outdoor

Amazon.com : Taylor Service Complete Pool Water Test Kit K-2006C : Swimming Pool Liquid Test Kits : Garden & Outdoor
www.amazon.com

Amazon.com : TAYLOR TECHNOLOGIES INC K-1766 DROP TEST CHLORIDE SALT WATER : Swimming Pool Liquid Test Kits : Garden & Outdoor

Amazon.com : TAYLOR TECHNOLOGIES INC K-1766 DROP TEST CHLORIDE SALT WATER : Swimming Pool Liquid Test Kits : Garden & Outdoor
www.amazon.com

Better deal is at TFTestkits.net. TF100, plus salt kit and SmartStir. SmartStir has been back ordered though.
 
mknauss said:

Amazon.com : Taylor Service Complete Pool Water Test Kit K-2006C : Swimming Pool Liquid Test Kits : Garden & Outdoor

Amazon.com : Taylor Service Complete Pool Water Test Kit K-2006C : Swimming Pool Liquid Test Kits : Garden & Outdoor
www.amazon.com

Amazon.com : TAYLOR TECHNOLOGIES INC K-1766 DROP TEST CHLORIDE SALT WATER : Swimming Pool Liquid Test Kits : Garden & Outdoor

Amazon.com : TAYLOR TECHNOLOGIES INC K-1766 DROP TEST CHLORIDE SALT WATER : Swimming Pool Liquid Test Kits : Garden & Outdoor
www.amazon.com

Better deal is at TFTestkits.net. TF100, plus salt kit and SmartStir. SmartStir has been back ordered though.
Click to expand...

Awesome, I just ordered both from Amazon, can't afford to wait.
 

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I wouldn't do anything based upon those test results. Just keep adding 5 ppm of liquid chlorine daily until your test kit arrives.

Then post the test results for FC, CC, CYA and pH and we'll take it from there. Don't worry about TA or calcium for now. That can wait.
 
Thanks for all the help.. one more Q, I have my liquid chlorine ready to go, looking at online calculators I think the pool is about ~20k gallons, its about 8 feet long, 32 feet wide and 9 feet deep at the deepest end... how many gallons would 5ppms be?

I know I'll have to make an additional trip to home depot, trying to make sure I stock up and buy enough...

Also, any chance this process cleans up the pool before the tests come?
 
This depends upon the strength of your liquid chlorine. It can range anywhere from 6.5% to 10%. Use the Pool Math app for 20k gallons and just set your FC at 0 and desired level of 5 and see what it says.

If your CYA level really is 90 like that test result says, then the FC required to SLAM your pool would be 36 ppm. So no, this probably won't be enough to clear it up. But since CYA is the parameter that pool stores seem to be the absolute worst at reading, we won't really know for sure until you test it yourself.

Adding 5 ppm per day is simply enough to replace burnoff due to sunlight and keep things from getting any worse.
 
Ok more Q, receiving some mixed info after reading some other threads?
  • Polaris cleaner, safe to say I should remove it before shocking so it doesn't get damaged correct?
  • I have a solar cover, do I leave it on or off after I pour the HDX?
  • Just to confirm, I pour the HDX once the sun sets, and then run the filter for 24 hours. Rinse and repeat tomorrow correct?
  • Some folks it's best to pour it in the deep end, some say to spread it around, any general advice here?
 
onilink763 said:
Ok more Q, receiving some mixed info after reading some other threads?
  • Polaris cleaner, safe to say I should remove it before shocking so it doesn't get damaged correct?
  • I have a solar cover, do I leave it on or off after I pour the HDX?
  • Just to confirm, I pour the HDX once the sun sets, and then run the filter for 24 hours. Rinse and repeat tomorrow correct?
  • Some folks it's best to pour it in the deep end, some say to spread it around, any general advice here?
Click to expand...
The cleaner will not be an issue. Once you actually start the SLAM Process, you should not leave it in all the time. Just to confirm, is this a robot or pressure side cleaner.
You can leave the solar cover on most of the time. You will want it off for several hours each day to let the sun shine on the pool surface to burn off the CC
Add the chlorine right now in the evening. In front of a return, pump running. Pencil size stream. 1-2 minutes to add the entire gallon. Add every day. Brush after adding. When you get your kit, the plan will change.
See above.
 
mknauss said:
The cleaner will not be an issue. Once you actually start the SLAM Process, you should not leave it in all the time. Just to confirm, is this a robot or pressure side cleaner.
You can leave the solar cover on most of the time. You will want it off for several hours each day to let the sun shine on the pool surface to burn off the CC
Add the chlorine right now in the evening. In front of a return, pump running. Pencil size stream. 1-2 minutes to add the entire gallon. Add every day. Brush after adding. When you get your kit, the plan will change.
See above.
Click to expand...
I believe it's a robot, it looks like this: Polaris 380 Pressure Side Automatic Pool Cleaner | In The Swim

I just got from home depot with a pool brush, funnel and a couple more gallons of chlorine, about to start the shocking process!

I wonder if leaving the cover on contributed to the problem, it was on 24/7 the last 5 days.
 
That is not a robot. That is a pressure side cleaner. Later we can talk about robots.

If the cleaner was running, I doubt the cover caused the issue. I suspect no chlorine or not sufficient chlorine for your CYA level is what caused the issue.

Post a few pictures of your equipment pad if you want some guidance on what you have. We need you to fill out your signature.
See Create Your Signature - Further Reading
 

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