It's been a week since we filled our new pool using well water. I've been monitoring with test strips (very frustrating) and today bought a cheap kit at Walmart until my "real" one arrives from online. Here are my readings:
TC: 10? (it's orange, but the kit only reads up to 5)
pH: 7.2
CYA: 0
TA: 300
TH: 300
I've shocked the pool three times, added a gallon of bleach (my test strips said I had no chlorine), added pH Minus to bring pH down from 8.8, and added 2.5 quarts of metal sequestrant, not all at once. (The water turned coffee-colored immediately after shocking; we have lots of iron in our water. The pool sides & floor are "squeaky", not slimy at all, and the water is clear, just brown.) I've been changing the filter twice a day. Today I can finally start to see the floor! Someone said I should vacuum the floor, but there's nothing down there.
Question 1: Do I need to shock again to add CYA? I can't find stabilizer/conditioner in my small town. Maybe it's something I can get online. How important is it to get this number up?
Question 2: Am I adding too much sequestrant? I know the brown water is clean, but I can't stand it! Should I continue to add sequestrant and, if so, how much?
Question 3: The chlorine seems high. Will it take care of itself, or should I drain some water? I'll test it again tomorrow morning.
Thanks for your patience with a complete newbie. I promise to pass it on once I know what I'm doing.
TC: 10? (it's orange, but the kit only reads up to 5)
pH: 7.2
CYA: 0
TA: 300
TH: 300
I've shocked the pool three times, added a gallon of bleach (my test strips said I had no chlorine), added pH Minus to bring pH down from 8.8, and added 2.5 quarts of metal sequestrant, not all at once. (The water turned coffee-colored immediately after shocking; we have lots of iron in our water. The pool sides & floor are "squeaky", not slimy at all, and the water is clear, just brown.) I've been changing the filter twice a day. Today I can finally start to see the floor! Someone said I should vacuum the floor, but there's nothing down there.
Question 1: Do I need to shock again to add CYA? I can't find stabilizer/conditioner in my small town. Maybe it's something I can get online. How important is it to get this number up?
Question 2: Am I adding too much sequestrant? I know the brown water is clean, but I can't stand it! Should I continue to add sequestrant and, if so, how much?
Question 3: The chlorine seems high. Will it take care of itself, or should I drain some water? I'll test it again tomorrow morning.
Thanks for your patience with a complete newbie. I promise to pass it on once I know what I'm doing.