Hello. I'm new to this forum, but have spent nearly all day on it re-educating myself and trying to make heads or tails of the chemistry of it all. I also want to simplify my pool maintenance. We had a bad year last year and I nearly pulled my hair out fighting algae. We also have an ugly permanent stain around the edge that appeared the first year of the new liner..same stain we had on previous liner GRRRRRRRRRR. So, something has to be awry..
Here's the skinny...
Opened last week.
Tuesday (yesterday) I took sample in.
Water is crystal clear, some debris on bottom but not bad. Test levels at left, then recommended treatment at right
TC: 0 (3" Proteam pure tabs in the inline chlorinator) They are and the chlorinator is set at FULL
Free CL: 0 (2 lbs Power Magic Superoxidizer)
ph: 7.0 (9 oz PH Up)
TA: 200 (16lbs 8oz PH Down)
CH:330
CYA: 0 (7 lbs CYA)
TDS: 420
Phosphate: 300 (8oz Phosaway)
Langelier Index: -.42 This may be corrosive (WTheck is this????)
So here were the steps my little printout told me:
1: PH down broadcast over the pool (yesterday pm)
2: Shock (last night)
3: 9oz PH Up (did this with about 2 oz remaining PH Up, then 7 oz baking soda
4: Stabilizer (dissolved then slowly added over the day
5: Phosphate (I don't think this is worth a hill of beans but I had some on hand from last time I fell for it, so I used it)
6: Algae Prevent (3 oz Proteam Prevent...I have not done this as I don't want to use algaecides or clarifiers this year.
I was showing zero to nominal amounts of TCl throughout the day so I added bleach as per the pool calculator. I want to switch to this method over the tabs this year. Additionally, the ph was showing 6.8 or below consistently today so I put 12 lbs of baking soda in...now I realize I should have use sodium CARBONATE (ph plus as podunkville doesnt carry it in the detergent section) instead since TA is so high...lesson learned.
Retested at the pool place this afternoon to confirm my ph and TC readings at home:
TC: 1.3
FC: 0
PH: 6.4
TA: 200
CYA: 0 (not surprising as I know it takes several days to work)
Langelier Index -.94 AGAIN WTHeck is this?
The directions want me to again, PH Down 16# worth, shock, 2# PH UP.
I added more bleach per the calculator, did not shock, then got 5# of PH Up and put that in. I do not mind using the little bags of shock from the pool place, but I hesitated to do it AGAIN before the ph situation is resolved.
For crying out loud its like a merry go round. After researching this site I realize the baking soda jacked up the TA even more, so lesson learned. However, I'm on the washing soda now (PH plus is all that's available here). I also realize that really, the only way to raise PH without raising TA is to aerate the pool. I cannot reposition my jet. So, I'm thinking of putting a submersible pump into the pool then running a hose from the pump and leaving it rest on the pool edge so its breaking the surface of the water. I have the ability to even broadcast spray it with a garden sprayer over the surface of the water for 5 -10 mins per hour all stinkin day tomorrow if I have to...
Help. Please. This ph down, ph up blah blah blah is makin me crazy!! And the whole phosphate thing was new last year to me...in 7 seasons I'd never heard of it. I'm thick skinned so it won't bother me to tell me I flubbed up.
Pool info (I'll stick in my signature another day...my brain is fried!): 17200 gals 18x38 oval AG, vinyl liner, one outlet, one skimmer, sand filter, pump? I have one, but not sure and can't see it in dark to check its details)
Edited to add: The water is currently cloudy after adding 5# of PH Up. Should filter out by morning...
This is an awesome forum by the way.
Here's the skinny...
Opened last week.
Tuesday (yesterday) I took sample in.
Water is crystal clear, some debris on bottom but not bad. Test levels at left, then recommended treatment at right
TC: 0 (3" Proteam pure tabs in the inline chlorinator) They are and the chlorinator is set at FULL
Free CL: 0 (2 lbs Power Magic Superoxidizer)
ph: 7.0 (9 oz PH Up)
TA: 200 (16lbs 8oz PH Down)
CH:330
CYA: 0 (7 lbs CYA)
TDS: 420
Phosphate: 300 (8oz Phosaway)
Langelier Index: -.42 This may be corrosive (WTheck is this????)
So here were the steps my little printout told me:
1: PH down broadcast over the pool (yesterday pm)
2: Shock (last night)
3: 9oz PH Up (did this with about 2 oz remaining PH Up, then 7 oz baking soda
4: Stabilizer (dissolved then slowly added over the day
5: Phosphate (I don't think this is worth a hill of beans but I had some on hand from last time I fell for it, so I used it)
6: Algae Prevent (3 oz Proteam Prevent...I have not done this as I don't want to use algaecides or clarifiers this year.
I was showing zero to nominal amounts of TCl throughout the day so I added bleach as per the pool calculator. I want to switch to this method over the tabs this year. Additionally, the ph was showing 6.8 or below consistently today so I put 12 lbs of baking soda in...now I realize I should have use sodium CARBONATE (ph plus as podunkville doesnt carry it in the detergent section) instead since TA is so high...lesson learned.
Retested at the pool place this afternoon to confirm my ph and TC readings at home:
TC: 1.3
FC: 0
PH: 6.4
TA: 200
CYA: 0 (not surprising as I know it takes several days to work)
Langelier Index -.94 AGAIN WTHeck is this?
The directions want me to again, PH Down 16# worth, shock, 2# PH UP.
I added more bleach per the calculator, did not shock, then got 5# of PH Up and put that in. I do not mind using the little bags of shock from the pool place, but I hesitated to do it AGAIN before the ph situation is resolved.
For crying out loud its like a merry go round. After researching this site I realize the baking soda jacked up the TA even more, so lesson learned. However, I'm on the washing soda now (PH plus is all that's available here). I also realize that really, the only way to raise PH without raising TA is to aerate the pool. I cannot reposition my jet. So, I'm thinking of putting a submersible pump into the pool then running a hose from the pump and leaving it rest on the pool edge so its breaking the surface of the water. I have the ability to even broadcast spray it with a garden sprayer over the surface of the water for 5 -10 mins per hour all stinkin day tomorrow if I have to...
Help. Please. This ph down, ph up blah blah blah is makin me crazy!! And the whole phosphate thing was new last year to me...in 7 seasons I'd never heard of it. I'm thick skinned so it won't bother me to tell me I flubbed up.
Pool info (I'll stick in my signature another day...my brain is fried!): 17200 gals 18x38 oval AG, vinyl liner, one outlet, one skimmer, sand filter, pump? I have one, but not sure and can't see it in dark to check its details)
Edited to add: The water is currently cloudy after adding 5# of PH Up. Should filter out by morning...
This is an awesome forum by the way.