New pool, trouble with chemicals

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B

Blandmeister

Member
Apr 8, 2022
7
Houston Texas
Pool Size
18000
Surface
Plaster
Chlorine
Liquid Chlorine
New pool and new pool owner. Having trouble getting the chemicals right after initial setup.

Ordered my Tftest kit as recommended here but has not come in yet so numbers below are from the pool store.

18000 gallon chlorine pool

PH: 8.6
FC: 0
TC: 0
Alkalinity: 141
Calcium: 180
CYA: 5

I have chlorine tabs in the chlorinator and have added muriatic acid for the pH but I’m not seeing the numbers change.

Thanks
 
Hey BM and Welcome !!!!

While we never trust the pool store tests, especially CYA as they get that one particularly wrong, I do trust you have next to no CYA yet. Add 20 PPM per PoolMath to protect your FC From the sun. Put granuals in a sock and hang it in front of a return on a stick so it's not touching the pool. A couple hours later, the mush should squeeze out.

With no CYA, the UV from the sun is eating the slow FC release from the tabs as soon at it enters the pool.

Once the tabs in the feeder are gone, it stays empty and is for vacation, start up or for small adds of CYA if you get low. (y)
 
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B,

Welcome to TFP! You'll find we do things a lot different than pool stores. Main reason is we sell nothing, we have bonafide experts, and we use a science-based proven methodology that is proven to work at rock bottom cost using generic big box stores instead of expensive, unnecessary pool store potions. We have way over 200,000 members using TFP and we all started just like you.

Here's a link you may want to have handy. ABCs of Pool Water Chemistry.

Also, here a couple of videos for you.



We have 100% volunteer experts and experience pool owners here to help you get started so don't hesitate to ask any pool question. Also, to get you answers quicker plus help us be more efficient with volunteer time please add a signature. Here's how.

Good luck!

Chris
 
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To add to what is mentioned above-
As soon as u add the cya via the sock 🧦 method go ahead & chlorinate accordingly like its there.
Always follow the FC/CYA Levels
So add 5ppm worth of liquid chlorine asap. & replenish this every day until your kit comes.
PoolMath will help u calculate amounts.
You don’t want algae in your new pool!
Using tabs for daily chlorination isn’t recommended so have a look @
www.google.com

How to Chlorinate Your Pool

Before chlorinating your pool, you should know these simple tips. Learn the best way to add chlorine to your pool.
www.google.com www.google.com
 
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Walmart and Home Depot/Lowes are probably your best bet. In the pool aisle (likely outdoors in the garden area) will be jugs of chloronating liquid which is 10% bleach and bags of 'stabilizer' which is CYA. Double check the ingredients for 100% cyanuric acid.
 
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So I’m looking at the Pool Math and what you all said (add 20ppm CYA and 5ppm Chlorime) and I’m not seeing how you came up with those numbers and what it translates to as far as how much of each I add. Appreciate if you can break it down for me. Thanks.
 
When u are on the overview page you click the card for the parameter you wish to change such as cya & then free chlorine
DAEFB10F-568E-49CE-B3CC-9C68B9CCFE59.pngDAEFB10F-568E-49CE-B3CC-9C68B9CCFE59.png
 
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I went with 20 for the CYA because the tabs have added some, and will continue until they are gone. Also, if the builder added any to the skimmer, like the bags say to, you may already have some that is trapped in your filter and won't show for a few days until it dissolves.

20 would have given you some if you had none, yet not way too much if you were already dosed. It's subjective and there are probably 50 opinions on it, but that's how I picked it. :)

I went with 5 ppm of FC because you have no CYA yet and the sun will burn it off in about an hour. So you need more daily than you would if you had a CYA of 30 and the lower 2-3 FC daily loss for this time of year. The kit should be here in another day or two and we will reassess.
 
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Ok so I added the chemicals and my test kit arrived so here are my numbers taken today at 7pm. Chemicals where added yesterday about 7pm.

I added 3lbs of CYA using the sock method and squeezed it all out last night. I also added 128 oz of liquid chlorine 10%. I kept the pump running for 24 hrs.

Here are my current numbers using the TF-100 test kit.

FC: 5 CC:1 TC:6 CH: 175 TA:150 CYA: maybe 20 (I could still barely see the black dot when the tub was full) and pH was 7.8 using the K-1000

CYA is still low but I finally have chlorine in the pool. The chlorine tabs I had put in the chlorinator are just about all gone.

Any suggestions on what to do next?

Thanks!
 
Wait another 24 hours and retest CYA, sometimes takes a while to dissolve and circulate. Then go from there on next addition to get you to your target (40-60).
Test your FC daily. Keep it at 5, when you get to 40 CYA, raise it to 6 and keep it there daily.
Fill out your signature like mine below. Will help us help you.
 
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OK. We trust the CYA now. First, from being good and mixed. Repeatable tests are the icing on the cake. Add to your target per PoolMath but undershoot by 15% and let it mix, retest and make one or 2 final adjustments.

As soon as the CYA gets soaking in a sock, use the target CYA # for your FC per the FC/CYA Levels. FC target range is designed to lose today's amount to the sun and swimmers and still be above minimum when you test/add at the same time tomorrow. It's literally that simple. Some FC gets burned off, you replace it every day. Or every other day with a double dose once you know ypur pool. That's it. That's the whopping secret. Stay clear of minimum as it is not an Ok value. It sounds way too ok-ish to me and I hate the term. Call it swampville. Never get close to swampville and you'll never have to see a swamp.

Let the TA be and manage the PH. As you do, the TA will come down on its own. If your PH is out of range, it may be further away than the block suggests. Say, an 8.8. If so. You add acid from 8 to 7.4 (?), and it still tests an 8 because it only lowered to 8.4. So, retest to veify after the add, add more acid, mix well for 20 mins and test to verify the new add. Repeat until it is readable in range. High or low has the same cure.
 
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Ok so I think I’m figuring this out thanks to all of you. This forum is fantastic. I do still have some questions. Appreciate the help.

Here are my latest numbers as of 3pm today.

FC: 2 CC: 0 TC: 2 CH: 200 TA:150 CYA: 30

I also took my water in to be tested at the pool store right after my own testing and here is what their test shows.

FC: 1.1 TC: 1.2 CH: 202 TA:123 CYA: 54

My main question is with the CYA. Based on previous comments y’all advised to get my CYA to 40. The black dot test seems a bit tricky to master. I’m pretty sure the dot doesn’t completely disappear until it is at the 30ppm marker. If it is actually closer to 50ppm then I don’t want to add anymore. Obviously this also is important for knowing how much chlorine to add.

Also once I get my CYA where I need it how often should I expect to add CYA? Does it stay at the same level for a long time? Am I usually only adding the liquid chlorine?

Thanks!
 
@MITBeta gave the best advice.

Blandmeister said:
Also once I get my CYA where I need it how often should I expect to add CYA? Does it stay at the same level for a long time? Am I usually only adding the liquid chlorine?
Click to expand...
As to your question, Here in Ohio, I test once a month and lose about 5ppm per month, that is most people's experience. In July (most sun), I will lose 10ppm in a month. Others, for whatever reason lose CYA faster and we have no real good explanation. There are several factors that influence it. Bacteria levels, oxidation from chlorine, Hydroxyl Radicals From Chlorine Breakdown in Sunlight.

You might test every 2 weeks in Texas, until you get a feel for your CYA loss. If you don't see much change, then test every month. Save your reagent.

Yes, usually only adding LC. I would test your pH every week to see how fast your pH changes. Adjust when necessary.
 
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