1st Time New Pool Owner ( Long time hot tub owner ) …GREEEEN 🤮

Leeboy20

Bronze Supporter
Jun 12, 2022
126
Canada
Hey Gang , glad I found this forum . So we bought a house with a 18x36 pool in the winter , so we have no idea how they closed it or who closed it. Few important parts were lying in the grass even , that we were lucky we found .
3 weeks ago my neighbour came over and helped pull the cover off and show us how the pumps and filters work . After the cover came off , we saw the pool was greener than antifreeze . All he did was do a test with the test strips , showed me the results , then proceeded to dump half a bucket of 70% calypso chlorine granules . He said just watch the chlorine and keep pucks in the skimmer and should clear up in a week.
Waited 2-3 days and took the water in for testing. They said the chlorine was at 2-3 , and couple other things were low like alkalinity and PH . Sold me some algicide, said pour that in , wait 12 hours , then shock it with half a bucket 4kg . Scrub the walls and bottom as much as I could . Then they sold me a “ crystal stick” , throw that in the skimmer , wait for 24 hours then backwash . They advised keep the chlorine at 10 in a week it should be clear . Almost 3 weeks in , still green as green can be. Only thing we notice is some algae is landing on the white stairs , so we think it’s dying. I think my first mistake , was we should have balanced it before my neighbour poured that cholorine shock in . With hot tubs , I know you balance ph, alkalinity then add the dichlor. I’m wondering if there is any saving it with a 2 1/2 month pool season left ? Thanks for any advice and teaching me to care for a pool . 578801A0-23F1-424E-807C-C730B49929BD.jpeg
 
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Welcome to TFP!!

I’m sorry you have a swamp. If you stick with us you will get a crystal clear pool.

You are going to need a good test kit. On Pool Test Kits - Further Reading you can get some tips on how to get a TF-100 in Canada.

Once you get your test kit post you results and folks here will help you out. You will need to follow the SLAM Process (to what you must be able to test your water on your own). It can take couple weeks or more to clear the water, but not 2 months.

While you wait for the test kit I recommend reading:

 
Thanks so much for the quick reply AK , you can get the 2006-c off Amazon and Walmart.ca I found out last week . So while I’m reading the links you sent me and researching , what should I do with the pool ? Add anything ? Leave it ?
 
Thanks so much for the quick reply AK , you can get the 2006-c off Amazon and Walmart.ca I found out last week . So while I’m reading the links you sent me and researching , what should I do with the pool ? Add anything ? Leave it ?
If your pool were showing early signs of algae I'd have said to add 5ppm worth of Liquid Chlorine every evening to prevent it getting much worst fast... but on a swamp like that I'm not sure if it gets any worst.
You probably better off waiting for the test kit... once you get it and know your number you can start the SLAM. Not required but just in case, I would stop by a pet store and get a ammonia test kit for aquariums and check if you have any ammonia in that water.
 
Hey 👋🏼 , me again . Serious question , we live in a community where water is a flat rate . I’d like to weigh the differences on draining the pool , and refilling vs the $ amount of chemicals used to clear it up . If the smarter choice is to keep the water we have and correct it , I’m all in that route also.
 
Hey Lee boy and Welcome !!!!

If you run into problems shipping up North, or it's stupid expensive to do so, try what post 12 suggests here :
I’d like to weigh the differences on draining the pool , and refilling vs the $ amount of chemicals used to clear it up
It takes some gallons of chlorine. No 2 battles are the same but 10-20 gallons is probably the average swamp's range.

The time and effort saved by draining is worth more than you can imagine. Some folks have very expensive water. Others have nowhere for the drain water to go. If you have cheap water and a place to put it, I'd vote for a drain everytime.
 
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Thanks for the welcoming AK and New Dude , not trying to come off harsh or anything , just looking to learn every angle of taking care of such a huge amount of water .That’s our main problem here , if I drain it with the pump , it goes close to the garden or probably in it . I’d rather slug it out in the trenches than mess with our garden .
 
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, not trying to come off harsh or anything , just looking to learn every angle of taking care of such a huge amount of after
Please ask away with anything. We are here to help you with every angle so you make your best choice.
That’s our main problem is , if I drain it with the pump , it goes close to the garden or probably in it . I’d rather slug it out in the trenches than mess with our garden .
You can only go so far with the pool pump and it looses prime. It's silly to risk a $1k+ pump doing a full drain. You can buy a submersible pump for $100 (1/3 HP or more) or rent a commercial pump which would do the job in an afternoon. Either of the other pumps get a hose to wherever works best for you.
 
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I checked Amazon this morning , my kit should be here possibly Friday or through the weekend . Liquid chlorine HTC 10.8% is $7 a gallon at Walmart or I can get Aquarius from Canadian tire for $5 I believe . Should I grab 20 jugs this week ? Anything else with my granular shock I should do this week in the RAIN all week . Keep 2 pucks still in the skimmer? 😪
 
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Should I grab 20 jugs this week ?
10-15 would be good start. Or buy the 20 and have 16 left over because the universe likes to play games with us. It will be equal parts fustrating and awesome if that happens because it was so easy. 😁

You can add 5ppm FC a day to help a little, or just wait for the kit.
 
10-15 would be good start. Or buy the 20 and have 16 left over because the universe likes to play games with us. It will be equal parts fustrating and awesome if that happens because it was so easy. 😁

You can add 5ppm FC a day to help a little, or just wait for the kit.
Thanks a lot …. I’m borrowing a ammonia test tomorrow off my coworker , I can report back those results
 
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Keep 2 pucks still in the skimmer?
Two things: 1. Never put chemicals in your skimmer except for diatomaceous earth. Doing so can cause all kinds of issues. In this case, the concentrated acid in the pucks is lowering the pH locally, and that's going straight into your pump and filter. 2. Don't add any more stabilizer to the pool until you know how much is in there already. Pucks are 50% stabilizer.

Congrats on the new kit. Looking forward to seeing the progress pics!
 
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Two things: 1. Never put chemicals in your skimmer except for diatomaceous earth. Doing so can cause all kinds of issues. In this case, the concentrated acid in the pucks is lowering the pH locally, and that's going straight into your pump and filter. 2. Don't add any more stabilizer to the pool until you know how much is in there already. Pucks are 50% stabilizer.

Congrats on the new kit. Looking forward to seeing the progress pics!
I actually bought a 2 pack of K2006 , was cheaper than buying 2 separate ones , I’m hoping I can help out a fellow Canadian struggling to get one and possibly save us each few bucks
 

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