New to BBB

[kgull85]

I have a 33ft above ground pool that we got last year and we got suckered into using Pristine Blue and now I'm ready to switch to the BBB method. I got a test kit and tested yesterday and here's what my numbers looked like:

Chlorine = 0
pH = 7.4
CYA = 100
CH = NA
Copper = .4

From reading on here and following the PooMath numbers because of the CYA I drained ~50% of the water and refilled last night and now my numbers look like this:

Chlorine = 0
PH = 7.4
CYA = 35
CH = 120
Copper = .2

Plugging the updated numbers into the PoolMath calculator it looks like I need the following:

249oz of bleach to raise the chlorine up to 4.
32oz borax to get the pH up.

Do I really need to raise the CH by adding calcium chloride?
Do I need to do anything about the copper level?
Am I doing this right?

Thanks in advance for your help,
Matt

 

[Richard320]

Call the CYA 40 and target 6 FC. As time goes by, you'll learn your pool's appetite and can fine tune it so that FC never drops below 3 before your next dose.

Your pH is between 7.2 and 7.8 so nothing is needed there. A tip: if any value is within parameters, change the target to the now and move on.

You can have as low a CH as you want with a vinyl pool. There;s no plaster to etch.

The copper should be low enough to not stain.

 

[Mike1162]

Your PH looks good right where it's at, will probably rise on its own. What's the condition of the water? Cloudy, Clear or wouldn't touch it with a ten foot pole?

 

[kgull85]

The water is a little cloudy, but I can see the bottom.

So all I really need to do right now is get the chlorine level up?

 

[Mike1162]

Yes, use liquid chlorine/bleach to get the FC up to shock level on this chart.
https://www.troublefreepool.com/content/128-chlorine-cya-chart-slam-shock
Use pool math to determine how much chlorine to add.
Run the filter overnight.
Lots of great info in the Pool School link above.

 

[Philo]

0 chlorine and cloudy water is not a good combination.

Read about the over night chlorine loss test in the Pool School Tab https://www.troublefreepool.com/content/136-perform-the-overnight-fc-chlorine-loss-test-oclt

 

[kgull85]

OK I just tested my chlorine level and FC = 10 (I guess I didn't add quite enough bleach) and CC = .6. I'll test again in the morning.

 

[kgull85]

FC = 9.2
CC = .6

Time to add more bleach or leave as is?

 

[Mike1162]

Get it up to shock level & keep it there throughout the day. Repeat OCLT tonight. Any clearer today?

 

[kgull85]

I think it is clearer today.

 

[kgull85]

Well I wasn't able to do the OCLT test last night, but I just got home and tested it and FC = 5.5 and CC = 1.

The water is still a little bit cloudy, but that could be due to me not back washing the filter good after I vacuumed it yesterday.

I'm assuming it is OK to swim in the way it is now? Do I need to keep SLAM'ing it?

- - - Updated - - -

After reading about SLAM'ing again it looks like I need to keep at it.

 

[Richard320]

Well I wasn't able to do the OCLT test last night, but I just got home and tested it and FC = 5.5 and CC = 1.

The water is still a little bit cloudy, but that could be due to me not back washing the filter good after I vacuumed it yesterday.

I'm assuming it is OK to swim in the way it is now? Do I need to keep SLAM'ing it?

- - - Updated - - -

After reading about SLAM'ing again it looks like I need to keep at it.

Yes, you do need to keep it up.

But that shouldn't keep you from taking a dip. How often have you tested a lake;'s waters before jumping in? Sometimes there are areas that are easier to brush from inside the pool, like skimmer throats and around lights and return hets.