Any possibility of a robot in your future? If yes, maybe now would be the time. Run that a few times and the dust will be knocked way back.
So many issues! Test results, questions and more.
- Thread starter Plazaglass
- Start date
We thought about a robot, but the pool is really small and we actually kind of enjoy spiffing up with the vacuum ourselves 
After some time goes by, though, we may tire of that and change our minds!
After some time goes by, though, we may tire of that and change our minds!
When you are ready for a robot this is the one, First Robotic Cleaner, Doheny's Discovery
As for floccing, I have no experience with it. But, there are occasions where it can help clump up debris for easier vacuuming and this might be one of them. But, if it is settling overnight and you are able to vacuum then skipping the floc is ok.
Now, where is needsajet??? We need talk!
As for floccing, I have no experience with it. But, there are occasions where it can help clump up debris for easier vacuuming and this might be one of them. But, if it is settling overnight and you are able to vacuum then skipping the floc is ok.
Now, where is needsajet??? We need talk!
Vacuuming now in progress. Thought I'd put up a couple of photos for entertainment.
Don't get much in way of snow in these parts
The stuff is heavily piled up in spots, so the husband is going after those first. Crazy how much there is!
We'll probably have many rounds of vacuuming, letting it settle again, then back to vacuuming. Have to go really slowly, since even the slightest bit of movement stirs it up. Amazing how fine it is.
The stuff is heavily piled up in spots, so the husband is going after those first. Crazy how much there is!
We'll probably have many rounds of vacuuming, letting it settle again, then back to vacuuming. Have to go really slowly, since even the slightest bit of movement stirs it up. Amazing how fine it is.
- Jan 4, 2016
- 5,298
- Pool Size
- 44000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
Fast asleep and dreaming of floc.
I haven't needed floc for my pool either, but the idea is to make larger particles that sink better and don't dust up as much. The only negative I'm aware of is the dent in your pocketbook.
If it's already fully settled by morning, that's the main thing floc is going to do anyway, so that suggests just keep doing what you're doing. The manual vacuum is likely to get the most each morning, because you can go slow and disturb it the least. I think you'll see the most improvement after you have more fresh water.
pooldv, can I pay the ticket right away to get the early-bird rate?
I haven't needed floc for my pool either, but the idea is to make larger particles that sink better and don't dust up as much. The only negative I'm aware of is the dent in your pocketbook.
If it's already fully settled by morning, that's the main thing floc is going to do anyway, so that suggests just keep doing what you're doing. The manual vacuum is likely to get the most each morning, because you can go slow and disturb it the least. I think you'll see the most improvement after you have more fresh water.
pooldv, can I pay the ticket right away to get the early-bird rate?
Checking in.
We've had two more rounds of vacuuming, letting stuff settle, then vacuuming again. Water looks better and better, but still has a haze.
We will start our next partial drain later today or tomorrow.
I just ran the tests to get a new benchmark. Do you see any urgent issues in these numbers that would need to be addressed prior to the drain/refill, or are we okay to wait?
FC - 3
CC - 0
pH - 7.5
TA - 100
CH - 1100 (either that's up a tad from 950 or it's within the margin of error for testing ...)
CYA - less than 20
Water temp 72
We've had two more rounds of vacuuming, letting stuff settle, then vacuuming again. Water looks better and better, but still has a haze.
We will start our next partial drain later today or tomorrow.
I just ran the tests to get a new benchmark. Do you see any urgent issues in these numbers that would need to be addressed prior to the drain/refill, or are we okay to wait?
FC - 3
CC - 0
pH - 7.5
TA - 100
CH - 1100 (either that's up a tad from 950 or it's within the margin of error for testing ...)
CYA - less than 20
Water temp 72
- Jan 4, 2016
- 5,298
- Pool Size
- 44000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
For those results, I wouldn't change anything if it was mine and I was about to exchange water.
Thanks, pooldv and needsajet!
Just did one last vacuum before starting the drain. Focus now is on getting that CH down while continuing to monitor all of the numbers.
Just did one last vacuum before starting the drain. Focus now is on getting that CH down while continuing to monitor all of the numbers.
Progress! The water is no longer cloudy and the CH is getting under control.
Latest numbers:
FC - 4
CC - 0
pH - 7.8
TA - 100
CH - 650
CYA - 0
Looks like it's time to add some stabilizer.
Question: Should I be concerned about the zero reading on combined chlorine?
Latest numbers:
FC - 4
CC - 0
pH - 7.8
TA - 100
CH - 650
CYA - 0
Looks like it's time to add some stabilizer.
Question: Should I be concerned about the zero reading on combined chlorine?
0 CC is great. We want it to be 0.5 or lower. Nice CH number. Congrats! Yes, time for some CYA, in a sock or knee high. More here on how to add chems to your pool, Pool School - Recommended Pool Chemicals
Thanks, pooldv! Good to know that about CC.
Do you think we can live awhile with that CH number if we keep everything else tightly controlled?
Also, here's another pic of the happy pool.
Do you think we can live awhile with that CH number if we keep everything else tightly controlled?
Also, here's another pic of the happy pool.
That pool looks great! Nice work! Yes, CH at 650 is manageable. Enter all your test results into PoolMath and it will give you a CSI number. Keep that number between -0.3 and 0 to prevent scale. You are going to want your TA to enpventually end up between 50 and 60 and your pH around 7.6-7.8. Adding muriatic acid to lower your pH will slowly lower your TA over time. Or you can lower it faster following this process, Pool School - Lower Total Alkalinity.
PoolMath says my CSI is 0.52.
Do I understand you correctly, that it's the high TA that affects CSI?
- - - Updated - - -
Cancel my last question. I went and read the link you gave me, got my answer
THANKS again for all of your help!
Do I understand you correctly, that it's the high TA that affects CSI?
- - - Updated - - -
Cancel my last question. I went and read the link you gave me, got my answer
THANKS again for all of your help!
Today's question
In the info you linked to, pooldv, about adding chemicals, it says this about adding stabilizer:
"After adding CYA you should leave the pump running for 24 hours and not backwash/clean the filter for a week."
We have a cartridge filter -- does the part of that statement about not cleaning the filter for a week apply to us, or only to systems that allow for backwashing capabilities (which we don't have)?
In the info you linked to, pooldv, about adding chemicals, it says this about adding stabilizer:
"After adding CYA you should leave the pump running for 24 hours and not backwash/clean the filter for a week."
We have a cartridge filter -- does the part of that statement about not cleaning the filter for a week apply to us, or only to systems that allow for backwashing capabilities (which we don't have)?
It is best not to clean the filter until after the CYA is dissolved from the sock and you test the CYA. Just to be on the safe side. The reason is that CYA can take some time to fully dissolve and you don't want to wash the CYA out of the filter before it is fully dissolved into the water.