Brand New Pool - So many questions

[HouseofHiggis]

You're great in that we can work on it all without dumping most the pool first.

I wanted to confirm it was well mixed prior to testing. (15 mins is plenty).

My buddy @Jimrahbe likes to say that having a little algae is like being a little pregnant.

Read up on the SLAM Process. With clear and cool water, it'll be 1000X easier than a June swamp. So you have that going for you, which is nice.

First confirm everything is good and mixed. Then we'll raise TA (to 60 with baking soda) and PH (to 7.2 with borax) and commence slam.

I’ve been reading/following the SLAM method. That’s how I got it as blue as it is now. It was pretty green.

I don’t understand your question about it being mixed up?

What is supposed to be mixed up?

 

[Bperry]

Ok guys. Got my test kit today and tested.

In full transparency, I did take my water on Friday and Saturday to the hardware store and had it tested mostly to see what my CYA numbers were.

But here are my results from my Taylor Kit today.

I THINK I’m good for now. But there is still a SMIDGE of algae on the floor in the deep end.

So I keep these levels until all that is up?

Do the CYA test with your own kit. The kit reports values in decade numbers, ie 20, 30, 40ppm.

 

[HouseofHiggis]

Do the CYA test with your own kit. The kit reports values in decade numbers, ie 20, 30, 40ppm.

Yes. It was 30. Not 32 with my own kit.

 

[Bperry]

Yes. It was 30. Not 32 with my own kit.

How did you get 22 for calcium hardness?

 

[HouseofHiggis]

How did you get 22 for calcium hardness?

I did not test that today. That number is from yesterday at the pool store.

 

[Bperry]

I did not test that today. That number is from yesterday at the pool store.

Ok, remove any pool store test results from the post. It sounds weird but we’ve just learned to never trust them. Which makes sense in this case because it’d be near impossible to have a CH of 22.

 

[HouseofHiggis]

Ok, remove any pool store test results from the post. It sounds weird but we’ve just learned to never trust them. Which makes sense in this case because it’d be near impossible to have a CH of 22.

I don’t know how to remove that from the pool math app.


I can’t even change the cya to 30.

 

[Bperry]

I don’t know how to remove that from the pool math app.


I can’t even change the cya to 30.

Click the timeline tab, then click the test log you want to edit and it’ll open a window to edit the results.

 

[HouseofHiggis]

It still showed yesterday’s results for calcium hardness so I just shopped the photo.

This is what I have. It’s seems my CYA and FC levels are at SLAM levels. I should correct my post and say there is only a little DEAD algae in the bottom of the deep end.

So - my question remains : do I keep these levels until I get the rest of the dead algae vacuumed?

 

[Bperry]

It still showed yesterday’s results for calcium hardness so I just shopped the photo.

This is what I have. It’s seems my CYA and FC levels are at SLAM levels. I should correct my post and say there is only a little DEAD algae in the bottom of the deep end.

So - my question remains : do I keep these levels until I get the rest of the dead algae vacuumed?

Before you start the SLAM process, the pH is supposed to be brought to 7.2. Your TA is pretty low as well. I’ll let someone else comment on whether you should fix those before continuing, but yes normally you continue the SLAM until there is zero evidence of algae dead or alive, and you pass an OCLT, AND you test CC at 0.5ppm or less.

 

[wireform]

I wouldn't raise the PH on the pool store findings. We need all testing to be your own. Mix means the pump was running for a time period before the water sample was drawn.

 

[Newdude]

do I keep these levels until I get the rest of the dead algae vacuumed?

Yes. Slam is 12 FC for 30 CYA (40%). Replenish the FC whenever it dips. As the process plays out, it holds longer per dose. Sounds like it is probably holding pretty well already.

Brush and vac at least once a day.

Scrub every hidden area like light niches, inside ladder rails or all up in the skimmer.

We'll worry about TA and PH after.

 

[HouseofHiggis]

I wouldn't raise the PH on the pool store findings. We need all testing to be your own. Mix means the pump was running for a time period before the water sample was drawn.

Good morning. Thank you for your response. All of the results that I’ve hosted last night are from my testing. Minus the calcium hardness which I later deleted. And yes, the pump has been running since Wednesday 24 seven.

 

[HouseofHiggis]

Yes. Slam is 12 FC for 30 CYA (40%). Replenish the FC whenever it dips. As the process plays out, it holds longer per dose. Sounds like it is probably holding pretty well already.

Brush and vac at least once a day.

Scrub every hidden area like light niches, inside ladder rails or all up in the skimmer.

We'll worry about TA and PH after.

Good morning. Thank you for your response. I thought that should be the plan of action, but I wanted to make sure. I will get my free chlorine up to 12 and report back.

I have been brushing and vacuuming every single day

 

[Newdude]

And yes, the pump has been running since Wednesday 24 seven.

We hadn't heard from you in a few days (understandably). You might have ran out there with the fancy new kit when the pool had been off for days and had skewed test results.

SLAM on.

 

[sande005]

And a bit of maintenance for you too -

1. Consider paying the $8 per year subscription to the Pool Math app. You can save your entries as a series of logs, and view your history of testing and what was added when. Helps a lot in helping to remember how good/bad things are progressing.

2. Use the same username and password for PoolMath as you use for posting on this site. In the setup section, you can then allow sharing of all your readings/history here. We can easily see it all, and you don't have to fuss with screen shots or retyping! Click on my user name for this post, and then the "Pool Math Logs" button for an example - although being the depths of winter all my entries are pretty old.

 

[HouseofHiggis]

And a bit of maintenance for you too -

1. Consider paying the $8 per year subscription to the Pool Math app. You can save your entries as a series of logs, and view your history of testing and what was added when. Helps a lot in helping to remember how good/bad things are progressing.

2. Use the same username and password for PoolMath as you use for posting on this site. In the setup section, you can then allow sharing of all your readings/history here. We can easily see it all, and you don't have to fuss with screen shots or retyping! Click on my user name for this post, and then the "Pool Math Logs" button for an example - although being the depths of winter all my entries are pretty old.

Thank you for your response. I did do the paid version. But I’m not 100% sure if my username is the same because I think I logged in there with Facebook. I wonder if I can change that? I will look further when I am on a real computer.

 

[Newdude]

. I wonder if I can change that

Click the upper left hamburger in poolmath. Sign out, close, open, sign in with TFP creds.

Then click settings cog in upper right, and scroll down to enable sharing to tfp profile.

 

[HouseofHiggis]

Click the upper left hamburger in poolmath. Sign out, close, open, sign in with TFP creds.

Then click settings cog in upper right, and scroll down to enable sharing to tfp profile.

Done! Thank you for your help.

 

[HouseofHiggis]

I have done badly…….. I will reprimand myself.

I think I was unclear how to read the CYA test results last night when I did it the first time. I read the instructions here earlier today. And I am guessing this is bad????

I tried uploading pics but it wouldn’t let me bc they are too large. But it only took 5-6 drops to make the dot unseen. So that’s more than 100 ppm for CYA????