First time pool owner, older pool

[Djjones]

Bought a property in Brooks Ga that just happens to have a 20x40 inground pool. Never owned a pool, but we figured what the heck, it would at least be a grandbaby magnet, lol. Pool had a safety cover on it and had not been opened in 2-3 years. Filter was busted and looked someone had ran into it with a lawnmower. Long story short we got it open, scooped out as much algae as possible, and had the new filter and an aquarite 900 swg installed. Have not put the salt in yet. Before we had any circulation we added a bottle of algaecide (which I understand now might have been a no no, but it’s done now.) We also used granular shock, the pool store recommended amount, and stirred that sucker like a watched pot of prize winning chilI! It went milky blue for a couple days and then the equipment was delayed. Rather than continue to put chem in it we continued to stir and scoop and wait.
Now that system running we’ve been running 24/7 backwashing a couple of times a day, and letting water out as waste, refilling with hose. We‘ve been keeping the bottom drain closed, unless we run to waste because we can’t see the bottom (it’s about 8-9 feet deep). Who knows what may be lurking down there!
I‘ve got a test kit on the way but I picked up a small one at the pool store.
chlorine 0.5
ph less than 6.8
I couldn’t get the cya to match the ph color even after 15 drops of reagent (maybe I did that part wrong)
Husband is headed to pool store after work for 4 Gallons of liquid chlorine. They are only allowing one case per customer. We wanted to see the bottom before we put the salt in, but we don’t know if that will happen.
Looking for encouragement and advise. Pleas be kind. Lol I’ve read so many articles and watched so many videos it’s all a blur. Kinda like the pool water.

 

[HermanTX]

I would focus on using liquid chlorine (LC) to up your FC level. Ensure you continue to circulate your pool. I only see 1 skimmer in the picture. Is that accurate? Ensure you clean the skimmer basket and keep the water at proper level to ensure good suction to the pump. You will need to open up the bottom drain to ensure to clean that plumbing with chlorinated water, so just plan for that when you feel comfortable in doing that. Do you have a manual vacuum that you can use to pick up any bottom debris?

I would continue to use LC until the pool is clear then switch over to salt system.

Maybe post a picture of your equipment pad.

You may have done your CYA test incorrectly. Have you viewed this video? This will guide you how to test all for your TF-100 kit.

https://www.youtube.com/user/tf100testkit

 

[YippeeSkippy]

Oh what a wonderfully huge old pool! (except for the ugly fence). And a DIVING BOARD!! You have a beautiful yard and I'm quite jealous.

First thing you need to do is get out all the solid debris you can. Scoop it out gently if that's vinyl lined (I can't tell?) so you don't damage the bottom if vinyl.
Please go to <Settings> and <Signature> and describe the pool as best you can- size, type, equipment in use, how you want to chlorinate it, test it etc.
Order up the TF-100 XL test kit from www.tftestkits.net That kit will save you a TON of money because you won't put in the wrong chemical or too little or too much. You'll have exact numbers of your water chemistry for:
FC
CC
pH
TA
CH
CYA
Salt if applicable.

Those are the "recipe" for a healthy, sanitized pool.

Do not put anything in your pool that contains copper, or "minerals".

Only use Liquid Chlorine or plain generic household bleach. No Clorox brand, no thickened, scented, "laundry technology" junk...only plain bleach. You can find Liquid Chlorine (10-12% strength) at Lowes, Home Depot, Pool stores etc.

Until you get your test kit add one gallon of liquid chlorine in a day and brush it around. After you get the test kit run the full set of test and let us know what the findings are.

Do you have city or well water?

Maddie

 

[Djjones]

I would focus on using liquid chlorine (LC) to up your FC level. Ensure you continue to circulate your pool. I only see 1 skimmer in the picture. Is that accurate? Ensure you clean the skimmer basket and keep the water at proper level to ensure good suction to the pump. You will need to open up the bottom drain to ensure to clean that plumbing with chlorinated water, so just plan for that when you feel comfortable in doing that. Do you have a manual vacuum that you can use to pick up any bottom debris?

I would continue to use LC until the pool is clear then switch over to salt system.

Maybe post a picture of your equipment pad.

You may have done your CYA test incorrectly. Have you viewed this video? This will guide you how to test all for your TF-100 kit.

https://www.youtube.com/user/tf100testkit

Thank you Herman, there are two skimmers and we do have a manual vac. We will try our hand at that this weekend. Thanks for the video link for using the test kit, I’m sure it will be useful.

 

[Djjones]

Oh what a wonderfully huge old pool! (except for the ugly fence). And a DIVING BOARD!! You have a beautiful yard and I'm quite jealous.

First thing you need to do is get out all the solid debris you can. Scoop it out gently if that's vinyl lined (I can't tell?) so you don't damage the bottom if vinyl.
Please go to <Settings> and <Signature> and describe the pool as best you can- size, type, equipment in use, how you want to chlorinate it, test it etc.
Order up the TF-100 XL test kit from www.tftestkits.net That kit will save you a TON of money because you won't put in the wrong chemical or too little or too much. You'll have exact numbers of your water chemistry for:
FC
CC
pH
TA
CH
CYA
Salt if applicable.

Those are the "recipe" for a healthy, sanitized pool.

Do not put anything in your pool that contains copper, or "minerals".

Only use Liquid Chlorine or plain generic household bleach. No Clorox brand, no thickened, scented, "laundry technology" junk...only plain bleach. You can find Liquid Chlorine (10-12% strength) at Lowes, Home Depot, Pool stores etc.

Until you get your test kit add one gallon of liquid chlorine in a day and brush it around. After you get the test kit run the full set of test and let us know what the findings are.

Do you have city or well water?

Maddie

Thanks for the feedback! The store would only allow 4 Gallons of liquid chlorine per day per customer, so I’m going back for more today. We don’t live on the property yet and we’re meeting with the design build team next Wednesday for our reno plan, which will include removal of the prison fence and building some sort of pool shelter. In the meantime we’re driving over three times a day for monitoring (it’s only three miles from our current home). I will post the levels again soon. County water is our source, but there is also a well on the property should we ever need it during an apocalypse or something like that, lol. I’ve had the most success with my brush in bringing up the clumps of algae.

 

[cowboycasey]

What a great place to buy.. You will love the pool and it will get there in no time... Pour a gallon of liquid chlorine in per day and stir it in or run the pump.. That will stop more green growing and start to kill what you have.. Whne you get your kit in and have a chance to get on cleaning the pool you will start your SLAM Process. Just get a case of chlorine a day for the next week or go with both of you and get 2 cases a day

 

[YippeeSkippy]

we’re meeting with the design build team next Wednesday for our reno plan, which will include removal of the prison fence

OMG did you take down the concertina wire?!

Your county codes may require some sort of fence, either around the entire back yard or just the pool. Those black aluminum fences that mimic iron can look nice.

Maddie

 

[DorsalSpine]

The black aluminum fences do look nice. At least mine does. No prison yard look at all.

 

[PoolStored]

You can use any Bleach. Make sure it is just bleach, no splashless, no "flavor."

You can get 10% at Lowe's in Fayetteville. Chlorine at Lowe's

HomeDepot, Aldi, other big outlets have it cheap. I bought 40 gallons and cleaned out the local Walmart and Aldi when I did my slam. Look around. I found that I can get 12.5% at a store called Menards (not in GA) for 3.89. That is my go to now. You will find a local place. You can use pool math "Bleach $ Calculator" to compare price / volume / % and get the best price.

 

[V___25]

Welcome, you've come to the right place! Your pool, equipment and set up look similar to mine just larger. I don't have any great advice, just came to say you can definitely do this!!
Liquid chlorine is going to be your most valuable commodity right now so try some of the other options people have recommended.

 

[Djjones]

8/7 update - we added 5 lbs of cya in socks to the pool. Shaking and squeezing to dissolve. We don’t live on the property yet so we’ve been going over twice a day. My test kit came so I’ll check the levels this evening. On a positive note our local Home Depot had plenty of LC so we purchased 16 gallons In anticipation of our SLAM. We have more cya as needed but this appears to be a slow process. Running the pump 24/7. Pool appears bluer but still cannot see bottom.

 

[Djjones]

OMG did you take down the concertina wire?!

Your county codes may require some sort of fence, either around the entire back yard or just the pool. Those black aluminum fences that mimic iron can look nice.

Maddie

Lol, Definitely have a new fence in the plans, we have a pooch that loves to go outside. As much as I would love to have the black aluminum (it does look super nice) with as much area we would like to cover we will most likely go with black chain link. $$$$ everything is so expensive right now. County code requires a min of four feet tall.

 

[PoolStored]

Are there a large amount of leaves, twigs etc. in the pool, or is everything small particle suspended in the pool? You will have a looooong SLAM if you don't get everything out.

I also have 30K+ pool. I only had cloudy water, not what you are dealing with, and it took me 30 gallons of LC to slam. Be ready to buy more! It also may take a while to clean the pool out, but no fears, you can get this pool back.

For inspiration --> TFP Clear - Let's see PICs!

Good luck! I'm really interested to see this slam and a gorgeous sparkling pool at the end! Keep the pics up, we love them!

 

[YippeeSkippy]

Hey... black chain link is fine.. something about black fencing just disappears from view. So much nicer when looking at a nice view.

 

[Bperry]

8/7 update - we added 5 lbs of cya in socks to the pool. Shaking and squeezing to dissolve. We don’t live on the property yet so we’ve been going over twice a day. My test kit came so I’ll check the levels this evening. On a positive note our local Home Depot had plenty of LC so we purchased 16 gallons In anticipation of our SLAM. We have more cya as needed but this appears to be a slow process. Running the pump 24/7. Pool appears bluer but still cannot see bottom.

Be careful on CYA you don’t want too much until it’s clear. It needs chlorine in there bad though.

 

[DorsalSpine]

Chain link is fine for a fence but may not meet local codes for a fence that encloses a pool. There might be different codes for "fence" and "pool fence". Don't ask how I know it's a sore subject.

 

[dianedebuda]

My pool was a swamp last year; needed 60 gal LC and took 15 days of intense activity after most of bottom crud scooped out. If it'd be any help to see what you're going to go through, my SLAM start. Nice to have a clear pool this year.

Good luck!

 

[Djjones]

Chain link is fine for a fence but may not meet local codes for a fence that encloses a pool. There might be different codes for "fence" and "pool fence". Don't ask how I know it's a sore subject.

Thanks for the heads up, we will be sure to check the local ordinances. I definitely won’t be taking the fence guys word for it.

 

[Djjones]

My pool was a swamp last year; needed 60 gal LC and took 15 days of intense activity after most of bottom crud scooped out. If it'd be any help to see what you're going to go through, my SLAM start. Nice to have a clear pool this year.

Good luck!

Oh wow! Thanks for the link, I feel some comradery here. We’ve got a long way to go.

 

[Djjones]

Are there a large amount of leaves, twigs etc. in the pool, or is everything small particle suspended in the pool? You will have a looooong SLAM if you don't get everything out.

I also have 30K+ pool. I only had cloudy water, not what you are dealing with, and it took me 30 gallons of LC to slam. Be ready to buy more! It also may take a while to clean the pool out, but no fears, you can get this pool back.

For inspiration --> TFP Clear - Let's see PICs!

Good luck! I'm really interested to see this slam and a gorgeous sparkling pool at the end! Keep the pics up, we love them!

No leaves or twigs, mostly green seaweed looking stuff. We’ve gotten a lot of the big stuff out and now we’re left with the muck. It seems to just slip through the skimmer.