Hello All, I am new to the forum. I have quite a challenge and would appreciate your help.
Pool: 24,000gal non-swg gunite, pebble tec surface, in-ground pool with overspilling spa and waterfall. We live in the Dallas, TX area and it is hot and sunny. Pool is used almost daily by three people.
The Story: Bought a new house with pool six weeks ago. I have quite a bit of experience with SWG pools. Wife convinced me that she could maintain the new pool better than our pool company. I get back in town yesterday after three weeks of travel and the pool is a mess - algae, zero chlorine readings, high TDS. Turns out my wife thought it was a SALT WATER POOL when it is NOT! So while she dutifully went to the pool store to get water analyzed and supplies she ended up adding a ton of salt (hello TDS) and never adding chlorine besides shock each week (hello zero FC, high CYA and algae).
Water Status Today: FC=0, CYA=80, pH= 7.8, TA=90, CH=325, TDS=4000 tested at Leslie's (I don't have a test kit yet)
Concerns: CYA is already high with no FC so I will need to add a lot of chlorine. Green and yellow algae present. High TDS complicates my already dicey chemistry.
Actions Taken Today: Fired wife as pool boy. Shocked with 3lbs of 73% Calcium Hypochlorite shock. Brushed pool. I have a good Polaris 3900 automatic pool cleaner. Leaving pool pump and cleaner on 24/7 until issues handled.
Questions: I have already calculated the necessary liquid chlorine needed on Pool Calculator and bought bleach to treat the pool so I can maintain FC without further raising CYA.
1. Should I drain at least 25% of my pool to lower CYA below 60 and TDS below 3000 or can I get this in shape just through chemistry and gradual dilution? It is over 100 degrees and we get quite a bit of evaporation but I don't want an algae battle that lasts for weeks.
2. Should I use Algaecide after shocking?
3. How often do I need to backwash my filter due to the algae?
4. What other actions do I need to take?
I have guests arriving next weekend and I want the pool to look great but then I also don't want to dump and refill 6,000 to 8,000 gallons of water if I don't have to. Thanks for your help, VW
Pool: 24,000gal non-swg gunite, pebble tec surface, in-ground pool with overspilling spa and waterfall. We live in the Dallas, TX area and it is hot and sunny. Pool is used almost daily by three people.
The Story: Bought a new house with pool six weeks ago. I have quite a bit of experience with SWG pools. Wife convinced me that she could maintain the new pool better than our pool company. I get back in town yesterday after three weeks of travel and the pool is a mess - algae, zero chlorine readings, high TDS. Turns out my wife thought it was a SALT WATER POOL when it is NOT! So while she dutifully went to the pool store to get water analyzed and supplies she ended up adding a ton of salt (hello TDS) and never adding chlorine besides shock each week (hello zero FC, high CYA and algae).
Water Status Today: FC=0, CYA=80, pH= 7.8, TA=90, CH=325, TDS=4000 tested at Leslie's (I don't have a test kit yet)
Concerns: CYA is already high with no FC so I will need to add a lot of chlorine. Green and yellow algae present. High TDS complicates my already dicey chemistry.
Actions Taken Today: Fired wife as pool boy. Shocked with 3lbs of 73% Calcium Hypochlorite shock. Brushed pool. I have a good Polaris 3900 automatic pool cleaner. Leaving pool pump and cleaner on 24/7 until issues handled.
Questions: I have already calculated the necessary liquid chlorine needed on Pool Calculator and bought bleach to treat the pool so I can maintain FC without further raising CYA.
1. Should I drain at least 25% of my pool to lower CYA below 60 and TDS below 3000 or can I get this in shape just through chemistry and gradual dilution? It is over 100 degrees and we get quite a bit of evaporation but I don't want an algae battle that lasts for weeks.
2. Should I use Algaecide after shocking?
3. How often do I need to backwash my filter due to the algae?
4. What other actions do I need to take?
I have guests arriving next weekend and I want the pool to look great but then I also don't want to dump and refill 6,000 to 8,000 gallons of water if I don't have to. Thanks for your help, VW