Opening pool this week and want to commit to TFPC method. Advice?

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Last night I added 363 oz. of 3% bleach to try to get to an FC reading of 5. This morning, the FC reading was 0 so I added enough bleach (727 oz.) to get to FC reading of 10. I did this at 6:00am.

I periodically tested the FC and by 8:30am, the FC level was 10. My CC test showed 0.

pH is around 6.8. I might have added a bit too much acid.

I suspect the high use of bleach is due to the amount of organic matter in the water. Attached is a photo of what's on the bottom of the pool after about 30 minutes of manually sweeping with a leaf net. Also attached is a photo of the water now.

Next steps? Add stabilizer and SLAM?

IMG_20180523_073145.jpg
IMG_20180523_073208.jpg
 
I would suggest aerating to get your pH into the 7's. You do not want to harm your heater.

Have you received a proper test kit to be able to SLAM? If so, please add to signature.

Take care.
 
I have the TF-100 test kit. Added to my signature.

I don't doubt that my pH will rise in the next few days. My pool has chronically high pH, probably due to the limestone coping and concrete decking. I'll test tomorrow and I do have some pH increaser if I have to manually raise it.
 
Yes, add stabilizer to get to 30ppm. Best method was mentioned previously (sock method).
Use aeration to raise the pH. If you can, adjust the return nozzle so it points toward the surface and rolls the water. No chems needed.
You can and should test and add chlorine during the day as often as practical. The more consistent you keep the FC at SLAM level, the quicker this will go. Continue to scoop out the organic stuff and brush often, at least daily.
 

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Mmmmmmm. I didn't know that. I honestly thought that the process of slamming your pool ... when green and filthy and all was to:


Clear you pool of debris using pool tools such as a brush, vacuum, pool net, etc

Test your pH before you start the SLAM process

Test for ammonia

Test FC

Once you see that you don’t have ammonia in your pool, test for CYA (Cyanuric Acid - Stabilizer); regardless of whether or not the pool is murky and green.

SLAM accordingly


What am I missing...
splashpad said:
I don't think you want to add stabilizer while the pool is still murky green, UNLESS it is in FULL direct sunlight for most (or all) of the day?
Click to expand...
 
As far as I know, ammonia is okay. If I had an ammonia problem, I understand that it would be depleting the FC quickly and that isn't the case.

It's warm (77F) and sunny today and the FC is holding up. I just tested it and it's at 5. So that's 10ppm to 5ppm in 7 hours in full sun. Does that sound good? I have my stabilizer dissolving (slowly) in suspended socks. I am aerating the water by sending more than usual amount over the spillover spa.

The water is far less murky. It's kind of a green/blue colour now instead of swampy green/black. I will hit it with another 727oz. dose of bleach tonight before I go to bed.

Thanks everyone for the help. It's going well so far!

Photo below shows 7:30AM (left) and 3:30pm (right).

View attachment 78299
 
If you have addressed your low pH than it is time to follow the SLAM Process process.

Use SLAM level FC based on [FC/CYA][/FC/CYA].

Test FC and dose with LC every few hours. Run your pump 24/7. Backwash your sand filter when the pressure rises by 25% over clean pressure. Brush the pool often.

Take care.
 
The reason you test for ammonia with 0 cya is because ammonia feeds on cya making more ammonia

You definitely want 30 ppm cya, the half life of FC in the sun is around 45 mins roughly, so you will lose more FC to the sun then you do to fighting algae.
 
coilerman said:
As far as I know, ammonia is okay. If I had an ammonia problem, I understand that it would be depleting the FC quickly and that isn't the case.

It's warm (77F) and sunny today and the FC is holding up. I just tested it and it's at 5. So that's 10ppm to 5ppm in 7 hours in full sun. Does that sound good? I have my stabilizer dissolving (slowly) in suspended socks. I am aerating the water by sending more than usual amount over the spillover spa.

The water is far less murky. It's kind of a green/blue colour now instead of swampy green/black. I will hit it with another 727oz. dose of bleach tonight before I go to bed.

Thanks everyone for the help. It's going well so far!

Photo below shows 7:30AM (left) and 3:30pm (right).
Click to expand...

It's good to see the water is improving.
If you can hold FC, then you don't have an ammonia issue. The FC consumption is working to kill the algae and oxidize the organic stuff in your water. A 5ppm loss isn't too bad and it seems like you have some CYA helping to protect the chlorine.
You should measure the FC before each dose and only add what it takes to get FC back up to SLAM levels. So at this point, you don't know how much you will need to add before you go to bed. ;) I hope you added more chlorine after you tested at 5ppm. Don't wait for dark, add it now. Then retest at bedtime and add again. I don't know your intended CYA target, but for CYA of 30, your target FC would be 12ppm.
Run the pH test before you add the chlorine so you can see if the aeration is helping raise the pH.
 
Today, pH is still at 6.8 so I added 14 oz. of pH up (I know the quantity means nothing, it's just for my own documentation). FC is only 3ppm.

Added another 507 oz. of liquid 3% bleach. That's all I have right now so I will be heading to the store to get more concentrated chlorine.

CYA barely registered so I'll call it a 10ppm. I suspect it's low because the stabilizer in the sock is not yet dissolved and circulated.

I'm still brushing and trying to scoop up leaves in my leaf rake. I will start vacuuming this afternoon.

9:30am May 24 update photo as soon as I remove some attachments.

BeFunky-collage_may24 (1).jpg
 
coilerman said:
Today, pH is still at 6.8 so I added 14 oz. of pH up (I know the quantity means nothing, it's just for my own documentation). FC is only 3ppm.
Added another 507 oz. of liquid 3% bleach. That's all I have right now so I will be heading to the store to get more concentrated chlorine.
CYA barely registered so I'll call it a 10ppm. I suspect it's low because the stabilizer in the sock is not yet dissolved and circulated.
I'm still brushing and trying to scoop up leaves in my leaf rake. I will start vacuuming this afternoon.
9:30am May 24 update photo as soon as I remove some attachments.
{pic}{pic}{pic}
Click to expand...

Is your pump running? (just to check)
PH Up will likely increase your TA, can you aerate from the returns? (point up to break the waters surface?) Also running your SPA feature (if they are connected) will provide great aeration.
 
splashpad said:
Is your pump running? (just to check)
PH Up will likely increase your TA, can you aerate from the returns? (point up to break the waters surface?) Also running your SPA feature (if they are connected) will provide great aeration.
Click to expand...

Pump is running at 75% speed for 12 hours and 25% speed for 12 hours. I'm going to change it up so it's running faster for longer period. The pH is up a bit. Not quite 7.0. My jets don't seem to ever break the surface but my spa feature is running full blast.

I need to get my TA up anyways, don't I?
 

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