Have used Soft swim products for 12 years, tired of it

[vps]

So I am brand new to doing on my own. Have used Soft swim products for 12 years. (Tired of it. $$$$$ and never seem to have high enough C level.) Also live in very rural area and have well water with Culligan water system. Pool is small, 8000 gal. Have sand filter, 1 hp pump and Rheem heater (we have free gas from our gas well). I run pump 24/7, and have Turtle bottom skimmer running 1/2 time.
My husband hooked it all up last week, and always starts each year with fresh sand. I am on my own regarding chemical maintenance. The only thing I did so far was add Soft Swim A algacide last week. No chemicals other since last Oct. Can see bottom barely after running for one week. Since I added the Soft swim A, can I still start with bleach after getting ph adjusted? p.s. what is SWG?

 

[JasonLion]

SWG is a Salt Water chlorine Generator. They use electricity to make sanitizing chlorine out of salt.

You need to go through the baqua conversion process. See the instructions in Pool School.

 

[vps]

thanks you so much

 

[vps]

So I got the TF-100 test kit the other day and just opened it. (R-0871 in the extra bag was leaking alittle. Lid was loose.) I have done nothing since adding soft swim A alage killer 2 week ago. Just running sand filter and back washing. I can see bottom and will send pictures before I add bleach.

Testing so far- pH-8.2
TA- 180
Ca-150

 

[vps]

I was reading in pool school about conversion process from Soft swim to chlorine. Do I worry about the pH before starting. If I add acid, I wont be able to backwash for a week. I expect that once I start with bleach, I will be needing to backwash frequently for a while. Which do I do first?

 

[Smykowski]

8.2 is too high...pH needs to get fixed first. Why do you say you couldn't backwash? If you're adding dry acid, don't put it in the skimmer, dissolve it in a bucket first. Muriatic acid can be added slowly in front of a return with the pump running.

 

[vps]

Thanks. I was reading about CYA.... and then realized that I needed Muriatic acid to correct pH.

 

[vps]

So got the pH adjusted to just about 7.7-7.8. Ok to add bleach?

 

[jblizzle]

I think you want it in the low 7s before you start. Have you read the article in Pool School? ... it is pretty clear that it states 7.2-7.4 before you start.

 

[vps]

So I have pH adjusted to 7.2 and currently adding bleach per pool calculator and taking reading every couple of hours. Backwashing as needed. 2-3 times today. I can see bottom has a lot of junk and tried to vacuum. Should I be vacuuming this stuff to waste? It seems like alot of the stuff and sand is coming back in. I always had a Turtle to clean the pool, so I never really did much vacuuming. But went through 2 turtles in last 10 years. So I mostly vacuumed last year. I always keep adjustment on head to "Filter". Is that correct?

 

[jblizzle]

If there is a lot of debris, vacuuming to waste is fine.

 

[vps]

Ok, so I will stop vacuuming for now. But are you suppose to vacuum to waste or to the filter.

 

[jblizzle]

I just said vacuuming to waste is fine if there is a lot of debris ... or vacuuming to filter if you want. Either way.

 

[vps]

Sorry I misread- I thought you said vacuuming was a waste of time. Thanks.