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If your water is cloudy I'd suggest slaming your pool and taking your FC to shock levels. Go to Pool school and learn how to Slam Shock your water. I'd also suggest you bring your CYA up to an acceptable level and add some stabilizer. STOP buying junk at the pool store! Don't worry about any...

This is what many veteran TFP thought was happening. The people posting results are getting their test results from pool stores or stripes. I wish we could be more stringent and make sure amateurs UNDERSTAND that you need a proper test kit to get the proper test results.

Great tips and ideas! Thank you. Went with using a wet/dry vac and sucking up the gook. Worked very well but was somewhat tedious.

I am helping my neighbor get his pool back opened after it has been closed for over two years. After slamming the pool for over a week, the water is crystal clear but a thick sediment has dropped to the bottom. It would be really easy if we could pump this stuff off the bottom of the pool...

Follow the instructions in the guide: Determine how many gallons your pool is. Test for CYA. Get it to 40. Use the pool calculator. Test Ph. Get it between 7.2-7.8 Test Chlorine. Keep it at 4ppm. Go swimming and have fun!

As stated above, CYA testing is a bit tricky and subjective to conditions. Also, it may take 48 hours after you add stabilizer to get an accurate reading.

Hi Tiffany, welcome to TFP! Before you get started did you read all the articles in Pool School? How about basics in water chemistry? It sounds daunting but it is really easy and will get you up to speed on what we will be giving you advice on.

You have a fairly large pool at 30,000 gallons. You may need to let your pump run longer. Also, when was the last time your DE filter was cleaned? Do you have ladders or lights in the pool that are susceptible to acquiring algae? I would keep shock levels up until you get some steady results.

Maybe I'm still from the Old Pool School! LOL Thanks for the new info Dave.

Don't go too crazy with adding stabilizer. (CYA) It takes up to two weeks for it to show up on your test results. GO EASY! If you add too much you are back to draining the water.

Don't forget that it will take a couple weeks for you to test the stabilizer accurately. It's best to go easy adding it until you get a feel for where it actually is. Unless you like draining your pool........:)

Jason, Your patience,experience and knowledge will be missed. Thank you from all the people you have helped, including myself! Your dedication was endless. All the best to you!

I am a Realtor, so I can definitely tell you that a pool adds no value to your home. In fact, it is a detriment when you go to sell it. However, if you love having an oasis in your backyard, then that pool is invaluable to you! From a strictly investment point of view, your money is better...

Very nice looking hole in the ground! Can't wait to see what it looks like all done.

Dkoucky, Great progress on the pool! Could you please answer some questions and add your pool particulars in your signature? 1. What test kit are you currently using for testing your water? 2. Did you read through the articles in Pool School? 3. Have you added anything to your pool other than...

Nice looking pool, welcome to TFP! The water looks pretty good! Good deal to remove the pucks to prevent the CYA getting higher but in your climate and full sun exposure, the 50 CYA won't hurt. You can check your PH about 30 minutes after adding if you are leaving your pump on, and yes, aeration...

I agree also....fabulous looking pool! Welcome to TFP! Try not to get ahead of yourself by dumping products in the pool until you can really understand what they will do. Reading through our Pool School several times will help tremendously! http://www.troublefreepool.com/content/ You are going...

Word of advice: We know what it is like to want to have your pool looking good. You get anxious and want to dump stuff in your pool. The worst thing you can do is blindly start adding chemicals. (remember the pool store?) You'll just get yourself more frustrated and cost yourself lots of...

APS, You seem to be undertaking quite a project. I have been taking care of swimming pools since I was 12. (I am now 54) I have seen many poured concrete pools, although you seem to have a large one for a private pool. They are not my specialty, but I believe you will need to watch your calcium...

Not to be disrespectful, but we are giving you the best piece of advice you will ever get about maintaining your pool: Read and try to understand what we are teaching in Pool School.

Good advice so far. If indeed you are doing the CYA test accurately, it is showing way too high! Take the time to learn how to do the test properly. It is not difficult just tricky at first. The only way to lower your CYA is to drain the pool. If you are going to drain water, I would recommend...

Good advice from jmbradwell. If you are not already familiar with TFP, do yourself a favor and read ALL the threads in Pool School. You are doing a tremendous amount of work to reopen your pool. Learn how to properly maintain your water chemistry, what the dangers of "pool store" advice and...

Don't forget that it might take up to a week or more for the conditioner you put in the sock to show up on your CYA test. So assume for testing purposes that what you targeted for your CYA is already there.

I agree. But you must understand what the "pucks" do to your water chemistry. I use trichlor when I go on vacation. I intentionally keep my CYA on the lower side to compensate. You must have a bunch of active kids for the splashout! This is what is so cool about this website and TFPC. No pool...

I'm not sure what you are looking at. Why would you want to use trichlor tabs in the first place? It's much easier and better to control using powdered stabilizer and the sock method. At this point, just use liquid chlorine (bleach). This way you can target the CYA level you want to achieve and...

Trev, You have a good size pool and it will take a good bit of stabilizer to get your CYA numbers up. Just asking for clarification. Did you read through Pool School? Hopefully you understand that Trichlor tablets contain stabilizer and that they will also raise your CYA. Do you know it will...

It's amazing how brainwashed some people are. They really can't let go of their "pucks". :eek: I've tried to explain the CYA to chlorine relationship to some people and they just give me that blank stare like I'm an Alien! Then they start arguing with me that they are doing nothing wrong. Pool...

Good luck Shawn. It's going to take a lot of bleach with that CYA level. Sounds like you have a good handle on it. Enjoy the weekend!

Hi Shawn! Welcome to TFPC! I'm across the river from you in Lewisberry. I've found that a CYA level of around 40 works pretty good in our area. Keep doing what you are doing. Every pool is different and I'm sure you'll find that "comfort" zone. I leave a little room in case I go on vacation and...

Hi Bhyturie, Welcome to TFPC! It looks like you are on your way and getting great information. :party: You are correct that an 80 CYA is still high. If possible, I would try to get that down closer to 60 or less for your location and warm climate. Any FC reading over 10 is going to affect...