SOS! New to this

Destineytx · Jul 6, 2022

Hello!
I bought an above ground pool a month ago.-7000 gal- I did terrible in chemistry and am having the hardest time. Especially reading these test strips! Not to mention getting different advice from everyone I speak to.
I used ph balancer tablets. Realized that raised the PH and alkalinity. Added muriatic acid. And now my cya is on the higher end. All of this while the chlorine isn’t registering.
There is white sediment on the ground. As soon as I vacuum I get big chunks out buuut then it becomes cloudy.

What test strips would y’all recommend?
Thanks in advance

Destiney

Texas Splash · Jul 6, 2022

Welcome to TFP! :wave:

You don't need a degree in chemistry to manage your water. It's easy with the right test kit. Test strips are junk and local free testing is unreliable, not to mention they just want lots of money. We recommend the following:
1 - Get a TF-100 (link in my signature) or Taylor K-2006C test kit. It will pay for itself in accuracy.
2 - Read and bookmark our Pool Care Basics page. There you'll find everything you need to know about pool care.
3 - Once you get one of those kits and post a full set of test results we can easily walk you through the process of what to do. It all makes sense with proper testing.

Don't just add stuff to the water blindly. You'll waste time & money. With proper testing we can help, no worries.

Destineytx · Jul 6, 2022

Destineytx said:
Hello!
I bought an above ground pool a month ago.-7000 gal- I did terrible in chemistry and am having the hardest time. Especially reading these test strips! Not to mention getting different advice from everyone I speak to.
I used ph balancer tablets. Realized that raised the PH and alkalinity. Added muriatic acid. And now my cya is on the higher end. All of this while the chlorine isn’t registering.
There is white sediment on the ground. As soon as I vacuum I get big chunks out buuut then it becomes cloudy.

What test strips would y’all recommend?
Thanks in advance
Destiney

Texas Splash said:
Welcome to TFP! You don't need a degree in chemistry to manage your water. It's easy with the right test kit. Test strips are junk and local free testing is unreliable, not to mention they just want lots of money. We recommend the following:
1 - Get a TF-100 (link in my signature) or Taylor K-2006C test kit. It will pay for itself in accuracy.
2 - Read and bookmark our Pool Care Basics page. There you'll find everything you need to know about pool care.
3 - Once you get one of those kits and post a full set of test results we can easily walk you through the process of what to do. It all makes sense with proper testing.

Don't just add stuff to the water blindly. You'll waste time & money. With proper testing we can help, no worries.

I have been testing, although the test strips seem inaccurate. I will read through everything!
Until I get my test kit I’m relying on a pool store to test.
I’ll attach the latest results. I would appreciate all the advice I can get. Thanks!

Texas Splash · Jul 6, 2022

For now, simply add about 1/4 - 1/2 gallon of liquid chlorine (or regular bleach) to the water each day. That's it. Don't try to change other values. Once you get the test kit, post a full set of your own numbers and we can coach you through the testing and chemical processes. It's not very difficult and you'll be very glad you made the change.

gingrbredman · Jul 6, 2022

Welcome to TFP and happy to see another member here who is tired of the vudo to try and keep their pool perfect!

You will see here, the advice given here is based on a tried and true set of protocols, that is very easy to follow, and based on the results of tried and true testing methods.

Destineytx said:
I’m relying on a pool store to test.

If someone posts a set of results from a pool store, or worse, strips. you will be hard pressed to get any advice on what to do. Not because people aren't willing to help, far from it. I've seen everyone from the new guy to the veterans all chime in to help out someone with an issue, if the data is solid to begin with, from the test kits mentioned above. The issue is those results are meaningless, so any advice on what to do, based on the pool store tests would also be meaningless. No one knows for sure what your pool chemistry is, so throwing out ideas, based on a bad test, can have bad results.

What you will see a lot of, is to keep it simple at first, until you get a solid set of test results like this..

Texas Splash said:
For now, simply add about 1/4 - 1/2 gallon of liquid chlorine (or regular bleach) to the water each day. That's it. Don't try to change other values.

Based on your description of the water, something isn't right. What we know, at a minimum, without any test results, is that pools need chlorine, and this time of year, it is being burning it off by the sun and swimmers, so we at least need to add chlorine every day. There also may be algae in there, which would also consume the chlorine. That is one part of the TFP way, but you will need to know CYA, TA, PH, etc. results to see the whole picture, so we can help you get a plan together and what to attack first.

Don't be discouraged by this at all. A good test kit, and a good set of results, and you will see the TFP army roll in with the right direction to get you to the TFP pool you see in all the posts around here.

One other thing, in order to really embrace a trouble free pool, you have to either stop the strips and the pool store and embrace it (trust me, it is super easy), or continue on the path you were on before getting here. You can't go back and forth, it just won't work. But once you see how easy it is, and all is well, you wont go back.

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