Need Guidance!!

[Sophrita]

Hello everyone!
I take care of an above ground pool at my parents house. It’s about 10,000 gallons and we’re in our 4th year.
We’ve always had trouble with algae. I’ve been slowly learning about chemicals and levels and we were doing well this year! But I got distracted and let the chlorine drop to 0.
We’ve now got a pea green pool, very sad. I quadruple shocked it and was sad to see little change today. The ph had lowered so I added some ph raiser and phosphate killer.

Now I found this website and see I need better chemical tester and liquid bleach.

What I’d love to know is if I should order anything else from the th store when I order the test kit? Also, as my chlorine is currently very high, where do I start with the SLAM method? I’m going to do some learning in the pool school, but was hoping for some answers to these questions so I can get my order placed.
Thank you so much, really hoping for success!

 

[Newdude]

Hey Sophrita and Welcome !!!

What I’d love to know is if I should order anything else from the th store when I order the test kit?

The SLAM option because newbs and folks with swamps will be testing alot more than usual and you check both boxes.

If you're buying the TF100, add a smart stir.
The TFpro comes with it.

Either kit comes in a salt option (if applicable) for $20, which is $10 cheaper than buying the salt kit seperate somewhere else.

Also, as my chlorine is currently very high, where do I start with the SLAM method?

We can't tell you a thing until the kit arrives, because we need reliable data.

Download PoolMath and set up your details. Add 5ppm of FC a day until the kit arrives.

really hoping for success!

We got you now. This is what our pools look like. We'll guide you there too.
How Clear is TFP Clear?

 

[Sophrita]

Thank you so much! Got my order placed!

I’ll keep shocking it until my order arrives to try and keep it from getting more swampy

 

[Newdude]

I’ll keep shocking it until my order arrives to try and keep it from getting more swampy

5ppm, daily, per PoolMath is good enough for that.

Blind shocking risks bleaching your liner, or further jacking your CYA/CH levels. Those 2 only come out quickly by draining and many new members we meet have elevated levels from the pool store methods.

 

[Sophrita]

Thanks for the warning. I will keep it there while I wait for my kit!

 

[Sophrita]

Got my kit!

Build Type: Vinyl
Volume: 7947 gallons
------------------------------------------
Latest Test Result Summary:
FC: 1.5 (an hour ago)
CC: 0.5 (a minute ago)
pH: 7.8 (an hour ago)
TA: 120 (an hour ago)
CYA: 50 (an hour ago)

Added dry acid according to poolmath. About .16 oz (although I don’t know how to safely measure so it was a guess)

After 30 minutes no change to alkalinity or ph.

Can I start on the chlorine now or do I need to wait on the alkalinity?

 

[Hootz]

First priority is fc level! Fc at 7 never below 4 at 50 cya level

The Free Chlorine and Cyanuric Acid Relationship

Managing your cyanuric acid and Free Chlorine levels is key to stabilizing your pool. Learn how these two items affect each other.

www.troublefreepool.com

 

[Sophrita]

First priority is fc level! Fc at 7 never below 4 at 50 cya level

The Free Chlorine and Cyanuric Acid Relationship

Managing your cyanuric acid and Free Chlorine levels is key to stabilizing your pool. Learn how these two items affect each other.

www.troublefreepool.com

Thank you! Headed to the stores for bleach!

 

[Newdude]

+1. The TA is close enough and will fall on its own as you manage the PH. When the PH hits an 8, lower it to a low 7.

FC per your CYA level is king and we have time to mess with anything else.

 

[Sophrita]

I’m doing a SLAM. Is 7 my fc goal?

 

[Newdude]

SLAM is 40% of your CYA. It needs babysitting at first, every 2 hours is best. The name of the game is to (M)aintain that SLAM level as often as it drops. You'll find it holding longer as the process plays out. You can always dose early and buy yourself the next block of time away. Of course life gets in the way, it just takes longer when it does. Do the best you can.

 

[jimbethesda]

I’m doing a SLAM. Is 7 my fc goal?

20

SLAM - Shock Level and Maintain

We’ve all had to deal with a green pool. Clear algae from your pool with a SLAM! Read here to use shock level and maintain to clear your pool.

www.troublefreepool.com

 

[Sophrita]

Thank you!

 

[Hootz]

First priority is fc level! Fc at 7 never below 4 at 50 cya level

The Free Chlorine and Cyanuric Acid Relationship

Managing your cyanuric acid and Free Chlorine levels is key to stabilizing your pool. Learn how these two items affect each other.

www.troublefreepool.com

Sorry, I didn’t realize you were slamming..the levels I quoted were for a normal situation

 

[Sophrita]

Sorry, I didn’t realize you were slamming..the levels I quoted were for a normal situation

No worries, even though I’ve read the pool school articles I’m struggling to understand the ratios so it was helpful information so hopefully I will ‘get it’ soon!!

 

[Sophrita]

Does the yellow show my fc? Or is it my tc?

 

[BDY]

If you are slamming you will have to use the FAs-DPd powder test. The OTO test doesn’t go above 5.0 on the scale

Really the powder test is what you will use 99% or the time —- the OTO test is more of a “do i have chlorine” test

And it’s the yellow side for chlorine, red for pH (which is not accurate during slam because of high chlorine so ignore the red side too until done slamming)

 

[Sophrita]

Ok great! And should I test the cc each time I test the fc? Or just the cc every now and then?

 

[Newdude]

Ccs don't matter until the very end when you need them for the 3rd criteria to pass.

Feel free to practice until then.

 

[Sophrita]

Awesome! You are all great!!