A little overwhelmed with new pool start up

[brimorga]

Just filled the pool on Thursday, started up the equipment and water balancing on Friday.

Instructions say the TA should be 80, the pH should be 7.2 to 7.6 and CH should be a minimum of 150 trending towards 200 and as of today I should get chlorine up to 1.5 to 3ppm. Tomorrow I can start to add CYA. All of these measurements are with the TF-100.

10/29. 10/30. 10/31.
pH 9.2 8.2 7.8
CH 175 150 200
TA 100 90 80
FC 0
CC .5 (this could be lower)

Using pool math, so far I've added basically just used MA to get the pH down, added CH and last night I added chlorine. I'm not sure what to do next.

1). It seems like I still need to get my pH down but then my TA will go under 80 if I add more MA. Not sure of the best way to balance these 2 and which I should prioritize.

2). Should I just dump chlorine in per pool math to get the FC up?

3). Is that all I need to worry about until tomorrow when I add CYA?

4). Results from pool store also say I have high prosphates, I don't have my own test for that, not clear if I need to worry about that or not?

To add to all of this, I wasn't sure if I should use Sequestrant so I have also had Kellie's testing my water because I don't have a metals test. I've been relying on TFT and pool math results for chemical adds beyond the Sequestrant add. It does seem like it worked because my metals are now non-existent. Below are the Kellie's result which tells a slightly different story for TA and CH, both say they are lower than the TFT results.

10/29. 10/31
FC .15 .06
TC .95. .76
pH 8.6. 7.8
TA 88. 75
CH 77. 123
CYA 5. 5
Iron .1. 0
Cu .3. .1
Phos 1195. 943
TDS 400. 400

 

[Bperry]

Just filled the pool on Thursday, started up the equipment and water balancing on Friday.

Instructions say the TA should be 80, the pH should be 7.2 to 7.6 and CH should be a minimum of 150 trending towards 200 and as of today I should get chlorine up to 1.5 to 3ppm. Tomorrow I can start to add CYA. All of these measurements are with the TF-100.

10/29. 10/30. 10/31.
pH 9.2 8.2 7.8
CH 175 150 200
TA 100 90 80
FC 0
CC .5 (this could be lower)

Using pool math, so far I've added basically just used MA to get the pH down, added CH and last night I added chlorine. I'm not sure what to do next.

1). It seems like I still need to get my pH down but then my TA will go under 80 if I add more MA. Not sure of the best way to balance these 2 and which I should prioritize.

2). Should I just dump chlorine in per pool math to get the FC up?

3). Is that all I need to worry about until tomorrow when I add CYA?

4). Results from pool store also say I have high prosphates, I don't have my own test for that, not clear if I need to worry about that or not?

To add to all of this, I wasn't sure if I should use Sequestrant so I have also had Kellie's testing my water because I don't have a metals test. I've been relying on TFT and pool math results for chemical adds beyond the Sequestrant add. It does seem like it worked because my metals are now non-existent. Below are the Kellie's result which tells a slightly different story for TA and CH, both say they are lower than the TFT results.

10/29. 10/31
FC .15 .06
TC .95. .76
pH 8.6. 7.8
TA 88. 75
CH 77. 123
CYA 5. 5
Iron .1. 0
Cu .3. .1
Phos 1195. 943
TDS 400. 400

You need chlorine in there fast. Your pH is fine.

 

[Texas Splash]

Ignore the pool store testing. It will just frustrate and confuse you. There is no reason to doubt your own testing with the TF Pro. Focusing on the pH and adding that CH was good. Your hands were tied by the 3-day start up rules, but tomorrow you can add the CYA and begin to balance the FC to that CYA as noted on the FC/CYA Levels. After tomorrow once you add the stabilizer, focus on the FC and pH. Those will be most important for the next few days.

 

[ajw22]

What startup guide are you following and what does it say about how much FC when?

It usually says to keep the FC around 3ppm to not bleach the color from the curing plaster.

 

[brimorga]

You need chlorine in there fast. Your pH is fine.

Thank you! I skipped everything else and just put in chlorine and scrubbed the pool. I swear, I've got to be the worst pool boy ever. Getting those random leaves off the bottom of the pool is maddeningly frustrating.

Ignore the pool store testing. It will just frustrate and confuse you. There is no reason to doubt your own testing with the TF Pro. Focusing on the pH and adding that CH was good. Your hands were tied by the 3-day start up rules, but tomorrow you can add the CYA and begin to balance the FC to that CYA as noted on the FC/CYA Levels. After tomorrow once you add the stabilizer, focus on the FC and pH. Those will be most important for the next few days.

Thank you for the reassurance and advice! I'm questioning everything, so it's one less thing to worry about if I just stick with the basics and focus on a few things like chlorine and cya today and tomorrow and then worry about perfecting the pH after.

What startup guide are you following and what does it say about how much FC when?

It usually says to keep the FC around 3ppm to not bleach the color from the curing plaster.

My pool company gave me a couple of them put I'm primarily following this one. You are right, it says 1.5-3.0ppm on the FC initially.

National Plasterers Council

They also gave me another one for pebble finish but it basically says the same thing as the NPC one except for only brushing 1x a day instead of 2. I can't wait until the autocover is installed, the SWG can be turned on and I can let loose the robot! It seems like pool startup is intentionally painful so you really appreciate these things later!

 

[aussieta]

how do you have high phosphates with a fresh fill ???

 

[brimorga]

Just when I think I have things figured out a little, the numbers shift on me and I feel like I'm going the wrong direction, but not sure why. Yesterday all I did was put in 10% chlorine as instructed by pool math. Today the chlorine levels are non-existent. I get I want to put CYA in the water to stabilize the chlorine levels.

Test	10/29	10/30	10/31	11/1
Ph	9.2	8.2	7.8	8.2
CH	175	150	200	225
TA	100	90	80	70
CL			.5	0

Start up instructions say pH should be 7.2-7.6, CH 150-200, TA 80, CL 1.5-3 and CYA 30-50. So pH is too high, CH a little high, TA too low and CL low.

Should I just focus on getting some CYA in the pool and get my chlorine levels up for today and ignore the PH, CH and TA for now? Adding to all this, the forecast calls for some rain today.

 

[Texas Splash]

Now that you are at day 3, you need stabilizer (CYA). Without CYA, your FC will disappear very fast. With a salt pool, we recommend a min (summer) CYA of 70, but you might try for about 50 - 60 at first so that you don't over-shoot your target. You can always add more later. Keep the FC elevated to about 3 - 5 pm with liquid chlorine until the stabilizer is in the water to assist the SWG. (EDIT - see next post)

The TA is fine, and the CH, while a bit low, is okay. If you have soft water, you might add another 50 ppm of CH. Just continue to monitor the pH and keep it in the 7.8 - 8.0 range for the first 30 days which should help the plaster cure.

See next post!

 

[Texas Splash]

Disregard the CYA 70 comment for a salt pool. You can't start the SWG until 30 days anyways. So only increase the CYA to about 40 ppm for now then balance with liquid chlorine as noted on the FC/CYA Levels. You are managing your pool as a non-salt pool until you pass day 30.

 

[ajw22]

You will; need to add chlorine every day to replenish what the suns UV rays degrade until you get your SWG going in about 30 days.

Your water chmistry is all going in the right direction. Nothing surprising.