New Home - First Pool - Where do I start?

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splashpad said:
Can you purchase the 90 elbow?
I couldn't imagine the struggle to vac w/o elbow!
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Ok so I’m not crazy. Guy at the pool store was like “nah you don’t need that” and just said most people use the ones with the straight pipe on the top. Still can’t understand when the one with the straight pipe on top makes sense to use, given the need to have the hose primed before connecting.
 
PSUlion01 said:
Question - given the amount of debris in the pool and the quick clogging up the DE filter, is an option to vacuum with the pump on recirc first, allowing me to maximize suction in order to vac the larger debris and catch in the skimmer baskets?
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Sure. The more heavy debris you remove now the better. Make sure to go back to filter though so you can resume your SLAM.
 
Stay with it and maintain! That's a big difference from the pics you showed us in post #15. Patience and consistency. Soon you'll get into the very "nit-picky" stage of inspecting every part of the pool's surface really well. If you have a large light, you might start thinking ahead about how to pull that light out so the niche behind it can be cleaned/chlorinated as well. You're on your way.
 
Texas Splash said:
Stay with it and maintain! That's a big difference from the pics you showed us in post #15. Patience and consistency. Soon you'll get into the very "nit-picky" stage of inspecting every part of the pool's surface really well. If you have a large light, you might start thinking ahead about how to pull that light out so the niche behind it can be cleaned/chlorinated as well. You're on your way.
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Sadly no light. Been looking for something that can be used sans wiring, but nothing seems to have decent reviews. Any ideas?
 
Most recent update -
This morning
IMG_5132.JPG

Test results as of 6:30pm this evening:

FC 6.5
CC 0.5
TA 30
CYA 20
CH 75
pH 6.5 maybe

Water is cloudy but a huge improvement. I think we're almost done with SLAM. Need to focus on adjusting the other levels that are off (CYA, pH, TA, CH). Any particular place to start?

I've got sodium carbonate and sodium bicarbonate for the pH and TA and calcium chlorate for the CH. Any particular order, or just use pool math to determine amounts to hit target levels and add it all tonight at once?
 
I wouldn't slow down on the SLAM yet. Your water is better, but still cloudy and shows potential for much more clearing. I noticed your FC level is extremely low. It should be at a 10-12 range 24/7 during the SLAM Process. Maintain is key. Then as a final step, you'll need to pass an Overnight Chlorine Loss Test. Stay with it. If you stop the SLAM now, you'll lose all your progress.
 
Texas Splash said:
I wouldn't slow down on the SLAM yet. Your water is better, but still cloudy and shows potential for much more clearing. I noticed your FC level is extremely low. It should be at a 10-12 range 24/7 during the SLAM Process. Maintain is key. Then as a final step, you'll need to pass an Overnight Chlorine Loss Test. Stay with it. If you stop the SLAM now, you'll lose all your progress.
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Thanks. To clarify, that FC was the reading once we got home from work. We upped to get it back to 12.

What, if anything should I focus on with the other readings?
 

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I will say that your TA and pH do appear to be quite low. You should take some action to raise those carefully, a little at a time. See the Recommended Chemicals link below in my sig. Get the TA to at least 50 and the pH to about 7.0-7.2 (orange).
 
Wanted to post an update here. Pool water has been clear for about 2 days or so. Been raining here all weekend but I backed off the SLAM - hopefully it was the right call.

Test results as of this evening:

FC 4
CC 0.5
CYA 30
TA 80
PH 6.8
CH 75

Again, water is clear. Some dirt on the bottom still needs vacuuming and it looks like pH needs to be raised a bit. What should I be doing at this point? Maintain FC around these levels and aerate to try and raise pH?

Thanks again for all of the help. I’ll post an updated pic tomorrow!
 
mknauss said:
Did you do a Overnight Chlorine Loss Test?
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Yep once water was clear and reading for CC was hitting 0.5 a few times (during SLAM) i bumped FC up to 12 for that evening. Morning reading was at FC 11 with CC holding at 0.5. That sound ok?

Just want to make sure I didn’t cut it short and then end up with an algae bloom. Are there signs of what I should look out for?
 
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PSUlion01 said:
Test results as of this evening:
FC 4
CC 0.5
CYA 30
TA 80
PH 6.8
CH 75

Again, water is clear. Some dirt on the bottom still needs vacuuming and it looks like pH needs to be raised a bit. What should I be doing at this point? Maintain FC around these levels and aerate to try and raise pH?
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Glad you've gotten to clear! I hope it's "almost finished" clear :D

You have vinyl, so definitely aerate & address your PH! Aim for 7.2-7.4
Up & maintain your FC to at at least 7 while you address PH (FC 10+ gives false high PH readings)
PSUlion01 said:
Yep once water was clear and reading for CC was hitting 0.5 a few times (during SLAM) i bumped FC up to 12 for that evening. Morning reading was at FC 11 with CC holding at 0.5. That sound ok?

Just want to make sure I didn’t cut it short and then end up with an algae bloom. Are there signs of what I should look out for?
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It sure does!!
 

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