First pool opening today...

[GuinnessPhish]

Had the pool service open the pool today. Upon taking the cover off, the water level was actually full, if not a little high. They vacuumed, turned on the pump and heater, added algaecide and shock. Took them about an hour. Cost: $325. The water actually looks pretty good....blue, but a bit cloudy, can see about halfway down on the steps.


I didn't bother testing the water yet, but I did add five 3" trichlor tablets to the chlorinator. I'm figuring that my CYA (which was around 40 at closing) is probably low. I turned the dial all the way up to 5 on the chlorinator, to get the tablets to dissolve as quickly as possible, so that the FC level stays higher to get the pool cleaner.


Pump is running.....

what should my next step be? I was thinking I'd wait until tomorrow and then do a full test on the water.....


or should I go ahead and do that now?

 

[duraleigh]

Current test results are ALWAYS the best way to start. No one can tell you how to get to a crystal clear pool unless there is an accurate starting point.

 

[GuinnessPhish]

oh no!

Just went outside to see that there's a good amount of water pouring out the left side of my heater.

That CANNOT be good.

Anyone have a clue?

 

[Richard320]

oh no!

Just went outside to see that there's a good amount of water pouring out the left side of my heater.

That CANNOT be good.

Anyone have a clue?

Drain plug not tightened all the way when they reinstalled everything? Maybe overtightened and snapped off?

 

[GuinnessPhish]

FC 10.5

TA 60

pH 6.8

CH 160

I'm assuming CYA around 35

 

[GuinnessPhish]

What should I address first? FC?

 

[GuinnessPhish]

Pool service fixed the problem with the leaking heater. Apparently, when setting it up, he threaded some plug incorrectly, so he just took it out and twisted it back in....no problem.


So, pool is clearing up nicely...can see the bottom of it. What should I do next?

 

[frustratedpoolmom]

PH, raise it to 7.4 using Borax. You should test your CYA, I wouldn't assume the number at all. Its too important to not test for it.

 

[GuinnessPhish]

PH, raise it to 7.4 using Borax. You should test your CYA, I wouldn't assume the number at all. Its too important to not test for it.

I will test it...tomorrow.

I was thinking CYA would have to be lower than the 45 it was last season, being that about 1/3 of the pool was drained when closing.

I'm adding CYA in the form of trichlor tablets at the moment as well, and that should raise the CYA about 14 ppm.

 

[GuinnessPhish]

CYA is testing about 25....

so, with the tablets that are dissolving and have yet to register on CYA, I'm looking at a CYA @ 40.

I just checked pH, and it seems to have risen to about 7.2, so I added 10 oz of soda ash.

FC is about 12, so I'm going to shock it to 16.

Anything else I should do?


Water is looking crystal clear, btw.

 

[frustratedpoolmom]

I guess I'm not seeing the need to shock? You said the opening process included algaecide and shock. You're water is clear now, yes? If you don't see visible algae, I would hold off on shocking. I would remove the tablets temporarily and do an OFCLT tonight (the tablets will skew the results). If your FC holds overnight and your cc is .5 or less there really is no need to raise up to 16. (and for the record, since the tablets aren't dissolved yet 16 is too high anyway.)

Are you planning to use tablets all season or stop at some point?

 

[GuinnessPhish]

I guess I'm not seeing the need to shock? You said the opening process included algaecide and shock. You're water is clear now, yes? If you don't see visible algae, I would hold off on shocking. I would remove the tablets temporarily and do an OFCLT tonight (the tablets will skew the results). If your FC holds overnight and your cc is .5 or less there really is no need to raise up to 16. (and for the record, since the tablets aren't dissolved yet 16 is too high anyway.)

Are you planning to use tablets all season or stop at some point?

Yes, the water is clear.

Removing the tablets is not really possible.....it's really hard to get them out of the in line chlorinator. CC is 1, FC is 12.5.

What about the TA of 60? Do I need to raise that?

 

[GuinnessPhish]

Oh, and no, I will not be using tablets all season. This was just to start off and get some more CYA in the pool.

 

[GuinnessPhish]

I'm maintaing a FC of abour 14.5 at the moment....

figuring CYA around 30.

My CC is 1, or perhaps a little less. Is it safe to swim with that CC level?

 

[frustratedpoolmom]

I wouldn't swim. First, CC of 1 can be an irritant to the skin and eyes. If you turn OFF the chlorinator it won't skew the results because chlorine wont be added (when performing the OFCLT). Lastly, we okay swimming UP to shock level, and you're a bit past it. You can if you would like, but I would suggest showering after and wearing an old suit JIC.

 

[GuinnessPhish]

Just checked CYA and FC this morning.

I always have a hard time telling what the CYA is. It appears it could be as low as 20, but perhaps 25. I'm also assuming additional CYA that isn't showing up yet, from the trichlor pucks.

So, assuming 25 - 30 CYA still at the moment. FC was 12 this morning, but I still had CC of 1.

Water is crystal clear. Pump is remaining running 24/7.

If I maintain FC of 12, that should knock that CC down to .5 or 0?

 

[frustratedpoolmom]

Yes it should - sunlight helps too. Pool isn't covered, correct?