1st Test, 1st steps

[ramahon]

FC - 1.5
CC - 0
pH - 8.2+
A - 200
CYA - 0
CH - 1200

I just got my TF-Pro kit. Tested CYA twice. All last year I used 73% hypo to chlorinate the pool and very rarely used pucks. Uneducated decision which led to the CH being sky high. I have been dealing with a yellowish algae, only kept away when adding ~ 80oz of 10% liquid chlorine a day. With my CYA at zero, this now makes sense.

Given no recourse but draining for CH, I’ve drained about 80% of my pool. What would the experts suggest next? Anything I should do while I have the pool mostly drained to set myself up for success?

 

[ramahon]

System 3 S8M600. Cleaned the filtered about 2 weeks back.

 

[mknauss]

Welcome to the forum!
Drain it as far as you can. Then immediately begin to refill. Keep the plaster walls wet tomorrow if sun is shining on them.
Once full, get 3 ppm FC worth of liquid chlorine and 30 ppm worth of CYA in the pool water.
I suggest you read through Pool Care Basics - Trouble Free Pool and even look at a few of our videos TFP-TV - Trouble Free Pool

 

[kul]

FC - 1.5
CC - 0
pH - 8.2+
A - 200
CYA - 0
CH - 1200

I just got my TF-Pro kit. Tested CYA twice. All last year I used 73% hypo to chlorinate the pool and very rarely used pucks. Uneducated decision which led to the CH being sky high. I have been dealing with a yellowish algae, only kept away when adding ~ 80oz of 10% liquid chlorine a day. With my CYA at zero, this now makes sense.

Given no recourse but draining for CH, I’ve drained about 80% of my pool. What would the experts suggest next? Anything I should do while I have the pool mostly drained to set myself up for success?

How do you know it’s algae? Have you done an Overnight Chlorine Loss Test ?

If yes, I recommend bringing your CYA to 30 and start a slam.
SLAM Process

 

[ramahon]

Thanks @mknauss for the quick response. Just wanted to confirm, there is no need to pressure wash or anything of the sort while I have it drained?

 

[ramahon]

Pool is 99.8% drained and i've now begun the refill. I have got hoses running into it as of 10:50pm PST.

 

[mknauss]

Thanks @mknauss for the quick response. Just wanted to confirm, there is no need to pressure wash or anything of the sort while I have it drained?

No. You need to get it refilled as dry plaster in the hot sun can crack and fall.

 

[ramahon]

No. You need to get it refilled as dry plaster in the hot sun can crack and fall.

My signature was incorrect. I have pebbletec, not plaster. Unsure if this changes things. Nonetheless refill is underway. About 40% filled.

Will grab some granular stabilizer this AM.

 

[mknauss]

Pebbletech is plaster. Plaster is holding the pebbles together.

 

[proavia]

Take one of the multiple hoses you have refilling the pool - put a nozzle on it and spray down the exposed pebbletec/plaster surface. Keep the exposed surface damp until the entire pool is refilled.

It's already 85 degrees outside with a forecast high over 100 degrees. Additionally the humidity is below 20% and will drop further as it warms up. You don't want the exposed plaster to dry out.

 

[ramahon]

Have 1 hose on the big landing which covers the entire area and stairs. Have another spraying in the spa. Will periodically take the spa hose and spray down walls in the main pool as necessary. Thank you all for the wisdom.

 

[ramahon]

@mknauss too early to place start stabilizer in a sock? liquid chlorine?

 

[Rancho Cost-a-Lotta]

You can start stabilizer and chlorine while you're filling. Use the sock method.

 

[ramahon]

Chemical Additions:
Dry Stabilizer - 3lbs,14oz

Granules are split across two cheese cloth bags I had laying around. Since i'm not running the pump yet and still filling, thought throwing it in front of the hoses made the most sense. Probably <90 minutes until pool is at level.

 

[Rancho Cost-a-Lotta]

Don't let it sit on the pool surface. I've done this in the past; use a 5 gallon bucket and put a rock in it. Then put the CYA sock/bag on top of it. Then put the hose in the bucket. The extra agitation will help it to dissolve quicker. While it's filling, squeeze, squeeze, squeeze.

 

[ramahon]

Thanks. Adjusting

 

[Rancho Cost-a-Lotta]

Just to be clear, the rock should be about 3 to 5 lb, enough to keep the bucket submerged on the step inside the pool.

 

[ramahon]

Fill has officially finished. 13.5 hours, not too bad. I have the filter and the IFS running for additional agitation. Assuming I test when the CYA was completely dissolved?

 

[Rancho Cost-a-Lotta]

If you're pretty sure of your pool's volume, you can get a pretty good estimate of your CYA level based on how much is in the pool. Pool Math will give you that estimation. It can take a full day before getting an accurate CYA test result.

 

[ramahon]

If you're pretty sure of your pool's volume, you can get a pretty good estimate of your CYA level based on how much is in the pool. Pool Math will give you that estimation. It can take a full day before getting an accurate CYA test result.

My add of 3lbs, 14oz was the pool math rec against 15,500 gallons -> 30 CYA. I was more so thinking about testing for FC levels. Given I added chlorine before CYA was ~30.