chemicals

  1. T

    New liner, new water, winterization chemistry question

    We just had our liner replaced about a month ago. Fresh water delivered, and pool winterized by the pool store folks 2 days later. In speaking with the owner of the store, I had asked about the importance of getting the water chemistry balanced prior to winterization, and he said really the pH...
  2. C

    Salt ppm

    We just had our SWG start up last week for my 10,000 gallon pool. The pool builder company came and added salt. I just did my first salt test (Taylor TF-100 salt kit) and it’s showing 4400ppm. Too high I know, but is it dangerously high? Will this go down over time? Here are my readings: Ph 7.6...
  3. ellynclaire

    Small spots of Algae in corners and on ladder

    Hi there. My water levels are balanced yet I have random spots of algae that appear in my corners and on my ladder, along with other various areas (inside skimmer box). I walk around and brush it away, vacuum, add chlorine if needed. The water is crystal clear otherwise. Is there something...
  4. J

    What is this and how do I fix it?

    The pool is cloudy, I took water to the pool store and did exactly what they told me too. I have cleaned and vacuumed and I just can’t figure it out. Please help
  5. C

    Going on vacation for 6 days

    We are new to pools as ours was finished about a month ago. We are leaving for 6 days so I am wondering what to do. Note that our SWG is not turned on yet so it’s a regular chlorine pool for now. I know I should SLAM before I leave but what else? PH is at 7.8 but rises quick since pool is new...
  6. Q

    Did I mess up new pebble sheen finish?

    New pebble sheen pool filled with water a week ago in North Texas. Went to large pool supply store and had water tested. Asked the guy several questions and even took my pool start up info. He seemed very knowledgable and explained what we needed to do and I went home feeling confident with...
  7. N

    Condo Complex HOA - Satisfying pool testing requirements

    I'm on the HOA board of a condo complex with 200+ units. We have an outdoor pool and an indoor hot tub. We're taking a closer look at water testing, and though our pool traffic is not what I would consider "high volume" (we're not the YMCA; I'm guessing we have a total of about three dozen...
  8. mommahocker

    Contruction Zone=dirty water

    Hey Pool Kids! I've done a quick search of TFP regarding this, with no luck. So here I am! Got a slow-start at pool opening this year, but started SLAM 4 days ago, my 2nd year following the TFP method, and the process is going smoothly. And for a VERY impatient person, I'm following the rules...
  9. Athena_Cleo

    New saltwater Intex pool

    Hello, friends! I am newbie😊but I am willing to learn! I need to know steps what to do after filling up my pool with water. I have Intex XTR 18’ round pool. I’ve bought Aqua Trol above ground saltwater system and Hayward pump. I really lost and don’t know what to do first, what chemicals should...
  10. B

    Storing stablizer and hardness increaser

    I saw the TFP posts about storing chlorine and muriatic acid. I just wasn't 100% clear on the situation with dry stablizer and hardness increaser. Specifically: 1) Is there anything I should avoid storing either of them with? 2) Do they need to be stored indoors or can I store them outdoors in...
  11. J

    Starting to see algae in my new pool

    I'll admit i have slacked off on brushing the pool in the last month because it is still record Dang heat, and I have this dermatology thing going on that i can't go in the sun, but i am surprised to see a little algae forming in the crease of the steps and on the love seat. How can i fix it...
  12. D

    Closing a pool while waiting on a custom pool cover.

    Greetings. First time posting, although I've gotten great advice on here in the forums. Allow me to give some back story: We purchased our home 4 years ago, that came with an inground pool. Now, this pool is pretty much a no frills, sit your happy butt back and drink beer in it, kind of pool...
  13. S

    Enjoy Brand pool chemicals

    Hello - I'm not only brand new to this forum, but I am also a brand new pool owner. About a week and a half ago I had an 18' round 52" high pool with sand filter installed. The place I bought the pool from taught me next to nothing about maintaining a pool. Same with the installers. With my...
  14. C

    Balancing the Ph.

    We are going to a new pool place and got our water sample checked. They suggested 12 lbs of Alkaline and 6 cups of Muriatic acid. I’m confused. Doesn’t one lower and one raise the Ph? Why would you do that? thanks
  15. amybarra

    A little new to the chemicals

    HELLO! I'm new here, & new yo owning a bigger pool than ever. Lol relax its only a 15ft, one of the quick set vinyl pools. Even thought some of my friend recommended me not to get it, I still have it. Anyway to the chase, I knew nothing of the cleaning till last week when I was @ the store I...
  16. B

    Shock pool and add keep water balanced during a rainy week?

    Hi, I am new pool owner been trying to balance my water and keep chlorine levels up. Been raining quite a bit here in Atlanta. Its forecast to rain in the next couple of days. What do you guys do in this type of weather? Do you continue to shock pool and add chemicals to the water or do you...
  17. J

    new fill water after resurface test results - Help

    Ok. pool finished filling at 11pm last night. i turned on pump and gave a light brushing. this morning i tested with my new taylor k-2006 kit. here are the results as best I know. So far, i have put nothing into the pool. What do I start with? I 've heard you don't put chlorine in for 48 hrs...
  18. P

    Pool Balancing help!

    Hi! So we just opened our pool 24 hours ago and despite winterizing, the pool was dark green. I started balancing chemicals and today I am getting pH 7.2 FC 5.6 CC 0.4 TA 70 Just added pH up. Water is cloudy, but blue with a hint of green. Shocked earlier this morning when pH was 7.4. Any...
  19. J

    Need advice on new resurface mini pebble startup & chemicals

    hi, finally getting my Sylvan pool resurfaced from old plaster to mini-pebble stonescapes aqua cool. We also had sea turtles added on the bottom and an umbrella stand/turtles on the deep end bench. They start filling pool on Thursday. What do I need to put in right off the bat? Do you have to...
  20. M

    Can I limp along with no $ for repair?

    I (mistakenly) installed a cheap 18” sand filter and it is not compatible with my 2hp pump. On recirculate it works fine, but if I put it into filter mode it will over pressurize and send half of the water down the drain. Internally what’s happening is the multivalve on top of the filter gets...
  21. kelcgene

    A tad cloudy. Bleach issues or pH/TA problems?

    Hi all. We didn’t do a good job closing our pool for winter. We had a baby at the end of August and it was pretty green. We chucked bleach in it and called it good. It stayed uncovered for the winter. We opened it a bit early this year Since we knew it was going to be a beast. Since it was...
  22. D

    You Won't Believe What a Local Prominent Pool Co. Told Me

    In calling a very popular 30+ year local pool company and discussing my high CYA levels & needing to partially drain, he said 1) there’s no need to do that 2) the idea that you need a bunch of (store bought) pool chemicals other than chlorine is a ploy for companies to make money- especially...
  23. JessB412

    Test results....now what?!

    Ok, so I've been following this page a year and have read and watched so many videos I was totally thinking I was ready to take on the water chemistry. TFP breaks it down and it looks so easy! lol Well I still think it will EVENTUALLY be easy but now I'm just overwhelmed and learning something...
  24. K

    Iron AND algae in pool!

    Hello! New pool owner here, Intex 18x48 with a sand filter to be exact. After spending weeks of the dreaded leveling and setting it up we were SO excited to finally get our pool up and running and thought it would be easy sailing going forward. Little did we know, that wouldn’t be the hardest...
  25. T

    Used flocculant, no waste option on filter/pump

    Hello, I am new here. I wanted to get insight on what I should do. My friend gave me Pool flocculant and said to use it on my Pool to get rid of the tiny particles I can see when I’m underwater in my pool. He said to vacuum it after I let it sit overnight. I added the flocculent before I...
  26. T

    First timer - can’t get PH to balance

    Hello All, First time posting but have read a number of threads. We have a 12 foot by 30 inch Intex prism frame pool. Upgraded the filter when we set it up. Started with 3 inch trichlor tabs in a floater in late May. Way great until early July when i left the solar blanket on for a few days...