Hack My Pool

I taught my son how to do the FC test. He was AMAZED “mom! That’s the color of your fingernails! Why is it clear?!”

I also showed him Pool Math and how we calculate what to put into the pool to get from 15 >> 16. He did great!

He collected the chlorine sample too (pic)
 

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Was finally able to see I had a “rust pile” in the very middle of the bottom of the pool. I thought I was doing a good job of sweeping - but now I’m taking it to a whole new level. Got that all cleared out and stirred up. Found some debris at the bottom too that I was able to drum up to the surface. This thing looks like a real pool!
 
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If you can see well enough to rescue him if he bonked his head and went under, slam is safe to swim.

The Ph might sting his eyes a little, but probably less than most pools he's ever been in. Lol.
 
For the rust - we just stay patient and vigilant on the bucket doing its job 🙌🏼 and hope that stupid thing doesn’t fall into the pool again.

Yes, and...

You have iron in your water that hasn't been oxidized to become rust yet. Rust (iron oxides) are easier to remove from water than soluble iron. Part of the reason that you want to keep your chlorine high is that chlorine oxidizes iron relatively fast. It makes the soluble iron rust, and then your bucket filter can remove it. So you're slamming with dual purposes: (1) kill the nasties, (2) make the soluble iron rust so you can remove it. Maybe that makes what you're doing more understandable. Maybe I made it worse, I don't know.

As a sidenote, for the same reasons, your pool water will rust any rustable tools that you get wet working on your pool. Chlorine doesn't distinguish between the soluble iron you want out of your water and your $70 Knipex pliers. It will happily rust both of them rapidly. Where appropriate, you should rinse any such tool with fresh water and dry it after it's been used in pool water. Letting chlorinated water dry on most tools is a bad time.
 
Luckily the only things to go into the pool so far (besides my son) are scrub brushes and a broom.

We are super close to Bermuda Blue… and now I see the darn wrinkles! Will know better next season!

I am actually glad we got in the pool - sloshing around the bottom kicked up some funk that we’re seeing come through the filters.

One more FC test tonight! Should I also check my CC while I’m at it?
 

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6 AM… on a Monday… 😴

FC held at 16 overnight
OCLT - no drops… put one drop of solution in just to make sure but there was no change in color to CC
The water is more clear today than I have ever seen!!!

I think we can say, I have a TROUBLE FREE POOL! 🙌🏼🙌🏼

I’m going to let the poly bucket run a little longer - it’s not hurting anything at this point.
 
Happy Lets Go GIF by Kamie Crawford
 
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Sorry I missed all the action...had to go out of town to launch some big rockets.

Congrats on the progress!

Are you still catching anything in the poly fill bucket? If you are, I'd keep your FC up and continue to filter through polyfill.

If not, then post up a full set of results and we'll help you balance.
 
Now that we've achieved the ultimate goal... is the next step to start balancing the chemicals to their appropriate range?
Yes, the main one is ph, which you will need to wait to adjust after fc falls to 10ppm or below.
The others shouldn’t have changed much.
So likely no tinkering needed.
Going forward-
Keep fc above min for your cya at all times (target range is preferable)
FC/CYA Levels
& ph in the 7’s 👍🏻
 
Sorry I missed all the action...had to go out of town to launch some big rockets.

Congrats on the progress!

Are you still catching anything in the poly fill bucket? If you are, I'd keep your FC up and continue to filter through polyfill.

If not, then post up a full set of results and we'll help you balance.
You missed a lot of excitement! But honestly thanks for getting me to a HUGE hurdle... and for everyone for jumping in to get me over the hurdle! 🙌

It's not catching much of anything at all - the lid isn't even rusty anymore! I am letting it run throughout the rest of today and then to prevent rust from happening when I have to fill, I am building a polyfil cannister to attach at the spigot.

I'll run a full panel today and see what it looks like!

I also do have a rust line - and someone in this thread recommended AA and a word that sounds like succulent... - when is it safe to work on that?
 
I am building a polyfil cannister to attach at the spigot.
That may get some.

I also do have a rust line - and someone in this thread recommended AA and a word that sounds like succulent... - when is it safe to work on that?
Not sure you need to do that treatment. You got a lot out. Get some vitamin C tablets, put them in a sock, and just rub the rust line. Likely get the line off the liner.
 

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