2nd test results

[Janel]

Good Morning Everyone,
Finally got the Intex 18 x 52 pool up and filled yesterday evening, took tests and got pH 8 or above TA 160 CYA 30 and Ch 0, I put the numbers into pool math and put in 1/2 gal of bleach and 17 oz of muratic Acid we ran the pump for 6 hrs overnight and the results are the same! We really have no clue what we are doing, though I've read through everything on here! Can someone help, please?

 

[Kiss4aFrog]

When you are over 8 on your pH you really have no idea how high you are. You need to add another 17oz, "stir" for 1/2 hour and test again to see where you're at. It's coming down you just can't read it yet. :calm:

You may well have used up the chlorine overnight depending on the condition of the water. What does your water look like ?? Where does it come from, city, well, ??

Please add your pool and equipment's information to your signature as outlined here - - > Pool School - Getting Started

 

[Janel]

Thank you Kiss for the fast response, we are on city water. The water is a clear blueish green right now, I know I need to add bleach, just unsure how much! We're going to work on the pH now, should we get that undercontrol before working on adding bleach?

 

[jmcdtucson]

You can work on the pH and chlorine at the same time. It's critical to get that chlorine into acceptable range. (3-7)
You want to hit the levels here:
Pool School - Recommended Levels

I'd aim for a target of 7 free chlorine since you're just getting started. You can finesse that later on when you're whole system has stabilized but the main thing to do now is prevent algae from starting since your level has been zero.

Pool math shows you need 102 oz. to get from 0 to 7. That's 1 jug + 6oz.

Presuming you don't have a salt water generator, you will need to add some bleach every day to get it back up to target level (7 for now). However, it shouldn't drop to zero every day - usually the sun would take it down to 4 or 5.

You could also up your CYA just a bit to target the middle of the recommended range (40). That will make your chlorine more stable.

 

[duraleigh]

All those tests you take have a purpose. Let's take pH you tested at 8+. What to do?? You have to learn what those test results mean and what you are going to do about them

The first thing is to reread what it says about pH.............. read "The ABC's of Pool Water Chemistry" up in Pool School

PH indicates how acidic or basic the water is. PH should be tested daily at first. Once you gain experience with your pool, less frequent monitoring may be appropriate, depending on your pool's typical rate of PH change. A PH level of 7.7 and 7.8 is ideal, but really anything between 7.5 and 7.8 is doing fine, while levels between 7.2 and 8.0 are acceptable for swimming.

PH levels below 7.2 tend to make eyes sting or burn. PH below 6.8 can cause damage to metal parts, particularly pool heaters with copper heat exchange coils. High PH can lead to calcium scaling.

Many pools will drift up towards higher PH over time. This is particularly true for fresh plaster (particularly in the first month and continuing for perhaps a year) or when TA is high and the water is being aerated (because of a spa, waterfall, fountain, SWG, rain, kids splashing in the pool, etc).

For lowering PH use either muriatic acid (preferred) or dry acid. To raise PH use borax or soda ash.

There it is on that last line.....

.For lowering PH use either muriatic acid (preferred) or dry acid.

So nect you use poolmath and calculate how much muriatic it takes to bring your pool down to mid-range of maybe 7.5. You then put that much acid into the pool and, "Bingo", you're all set with pH.

Now take the next test result of Chlorine, the most important one of all. You simply read your test results and move the chlorine into an acceptable number, exactly like jmcdtucson has explained. Use pool math to calculate your dosage and put it in.

This seems daunting at first but will soon become second nature to you.....you are learning to manage your own pool by testing accurately, interpreting you own good testing and then applying what you no to the pool. You will be in charge......not the p[ool store.