Swampy Frog Heaven :) Need direction

[Trickplay461]

Hi all

2nd year pool owner and first time TFP poster! I used plenty of Cal Hypo last year after opening a sparkling pool in the spring (had it professionally closed previous year). Closed the pool myself last winter and believe I went short on the chlorine. I just opened it to a swampy frog heaven Its a dark green. After following your site last year and also realizing that the cal hypo along with my well water (which i use to top off the pool) is adding unwanted cal to my pool, I decided to go this route this year. I have a basic test kit which I am not crazy about. Just ordered an individual chlorine kit recommended in forums for accuracy along with a CYA tester (not strips).

Anyways my initial tests using a strip for cya and the test kit I own gave me the following:

cya - 0
FC - 0
PH - 6.5
TA - 40

My pool is 18,500 gals irregular w/ vinyl liner and inground. BTW those numbers are assumed as I never got this information from prev owner who installed, but they had a local acct at a pool store and that was found on file. I actually had the pool measured by pros for a Merlin pool cover and my wife came up with different numbers (math teacher) but for the sake of getting it done I went with the pool store's volume. Jandy DE filter (48 sq ft).

Ok...so I added soda ash overnight and got the PH to 7.8 today and been running the filter 24 hrs a day. Using the pool math calc, I added 4 lbs of cya in granular form in socks to the skimmer and added 227 oz of liq Chlorine (12.5 %) from store. Just started this 7pm est time. My basic test kit does not measure chlorine super accurate (cant stand trying to read color charts) so I'm waiting for the CL kit to arrive. Did not bother with TA as I read it can be handled after slam and algae is under control. Pool math calc actually advised cya at about 95 oz I think but I started with just 2/3rds of that since I'm using a strip to measure cya. Waiting on that test kit to arrive also as I really want accurate numbers. Tho I'm not using the best test kits, I'm hoping that, after what I read, I should see a visible improvement of some sort tomm or the next day. Was wondering how do I approach tomm as far as FC is concerned since my kit currently only reads up to 5ppm CL and FC respectively. I believe the pool calc told me to shoot for 12 ppm of chlorine to beat the algae up. Hoping someone will shed some light if I am on the correct path. thanks any and all who reply and I apologize since I know this should of only been an intro to say HI

 

[gboulton]

First things first....welcome aboard! Lots of super helpful and knowledgeable folks around here.

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After reading your post, one thing sticks out to me more than all the others :

those numbers are assumed as I never got this information from prev owner who installed, but they had a local acct at a pool store and that was found on file.

Both the fact that they were "on file", AND the fact that you didn't test them yourself prompts me to suggest that those numbers are utterly meaningless. While there's lots and lots of "do this to achieve that" guidance here, it ALL depends on one crucial foundation :

Taking control of your pool.

Step 1 in that is to run, not walk, to TFTestkits.net and grab a TF-100 test kit. With it, you can monitor and really *know* the measurements and values that will be crucial to rescuing your pool this spring.

While you're waiting on delivery, I also highly recommend heading over to Pool School, with particular attention being given to the SLAM process

That'll give you a good grounding in what you'll be trying to achieve, and how to go about it, when the kit arrives.

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Have faith! This stuff DOES work...I've helped dozens of folks rescue "frog heavens" before. Just takes some patience, a little attention to detail, and a willingness to control your pool, instead of the other way around.

 

[Trickplay461]

Ok... SO its been almost a week. Update to where I am.

I received my test kit (Individual CYA / DPD). I have been slamming for 4 days now using a basic test kit from Amazon, which I bought before finding you guys. The pool showed improvement every day, going from swamp green the first day, to light green on day 2, to a teal (blue-green) the 3rd day. On the 4th day, the pool remained teal but I could see the sides of the pool on the deep end. 5th day NO CHANGE. I kept seeing this build up on all the pool surfaces. I finally figured out that a small DE problem I had in the pool last year before closing had gotten worst this year. SOOOO....I replaced a bad filter vane in my DE filter, added more DE and the pool started to clear up The pressure shot up 10psi after 5 hours and I back washed as I knew the DE in the pool was all collecting in the filter in addition to what I had added after repairing the bad filter element. I can now see the bottom !!!! yeah...... lol.. Its not CRYSTAL clear but much better. I will be changing out the Orings in my valve as I'm still seeing some DE in the pool but not as much. The manifold looked good but I did not check if the standpipe Oring was intact (oversight) and I don't want to empty the filter again just yet so I'll start with the valves...

Here is where I am..l

FC - 7 (by the way I tested with my basic kit and my FC came back at 2. cant believe the tests are so different in results) FC@7 came from the DPDtest.
CC - 1
CYA - 25
PH - 7.2
ALK - 80

So...I realize now with further reading and Gordon's signature on his post that my CC has to come down to .5 or less. My question is...can my family safely swim at FC 7 / CC 1 today until I shock it again later tonight??? They have been crazy to swim..I know technically I am not done slamming as something organic is still in the water that needs to be sanitized. And with FC @ 7, I'm surprised with my low CYA levels that the CC is not below 1. Thoughts anyone? I had been using bleach only but happen to have some dichlor on hand and with my CYA below 20 yesterday I went ahead and used it. I also have chlorine tabs in the water which I know are slow release and will also add CYA...not worried yet since my initial CYA levels were so low...btw I have Vinyl pool...its not in my sig....

Any and all advice is GREATLY APPRECIATED....the TFP community has been awesome.

 

[pooldv]

It is safe to swim when
PH is 7.2 to 7.8
FC is above minimum and below shock level for your CYA, Chlorine CYA Chart
Water is clear

 

[Trickplay461]

Ok here are some pics....sorry I'm getting used to doing the photos. My pool is 8 ft deep. You can see my pool vac on the wall and in one pic you can see the center drain 8ft down...I'm assuming this is clear enough yes? thanks all.

- - - Updated - - -

I butchered adding pics...my bad

 

[triptyx]

To me, that's still cloudy, but then I have 3' less depth than you do.