Hi All-
New To Pool Ownership (came with our new house); However very eager to learn about how to properly balance my water. At first i did not know about Troublefreepool.com , until numerous trips to the local pool store with unsatisfactory results. Once i found TFP i became hooked on trying to straighten out my pool issues the correct way. I and the pool store was testing with strips , so from what i read this was the first mistake. I ordered a TF-100 and just received it today , so i am able to post everyone the results and hopefully be under way to better, cleaner, healthier water.
The past:
After a day of figuring out how to hook up the filter/pump/heater plumbing, i uncovered the pool (4-18-13) i took notice the water was pretty cloudy and there was some slim/algae on the sides and bottom. Of course i went into panic mode and ran a sample of water to the local pool store. Immediately he told me that i had 1000PPM Phosphates and that was my problem (initially) . So he sold me some seaKlear Phosphate remover and some SeaKlear Natural Clarifier and also some SeaKlear 90 day algae prevention.
I went home and according to his directions dumped the algae preventer in (1 quart), then 8 ozs of phosphate remover and 2 oz of natural clarifier . After this i spent the next 3 days backwashing the filter every hour (it would build 10psi in an hour!!) after that i went back to pool store and tested again. they said i still had 300-400PPM Phosphates and i had to keep treating the above way until they were down to 100PPM. and that I CAN NOT add shock or anything until then. So i went back and treated per their directions. once again spent many hours backwashing. went back to pool store and tested. they said i know had MORE phosphates (400-500ppm). Needless to say i was a bit frustrated. They now said it was ok to Shock the pool??????? then i was pretty confused on why it was ok now and not before (less phosphates before).
So i purchased some Zappit Dry Chlorinating Granules and put 3lbs in the pool per the stores directions and some slow dissolving pucks for the automatic chlorinator.
A day later i took yet another sample to the store and had more bad news. No FC at all. Their test results were:
h2o Hardness 250PPM
FC 0
PH 7.5
TA 100PPM
CYA 100PPM
Phosphates 400PPM
My test strips said a little different , so then i got really upset and decided to start the internet search and fix this myself. I was shocked when i found your forum and started reading that i did pretty much everything wrong from the word GO. and that Phosphates do not really matter. So i educated myself from your pool school and other info on your site and waited patiently for my AWESOME test kit to arrive. Of course i tore it open and ran out to get some pool water and started testing. Here is were i stand currently
CL .5 or less (no color)
BR??? .5 or less (no color)
PH 6.8
Chlorine Drop Test- no pink (stayed clear)
TA 80 or 90 (pink -vs- darker pink)
CH 160
CYA approx 120 (was below the 100 mark a bit)
Water is pretty clear, have just a little bit of DE on the floor ( i think i messed up backwashing one time and some got circulated thru heater and to the returns. (i think)
I did read that the CYA may be a problem and partial drain is needed ; however if it is at all possible to rectify this without, i would like to try that ( we have well water , and i must truck all the water in to fill the pool back up). As someone in a post said once everyting else balances out it may help solve this. ??????
Sorry for the long post but i wanted to give you the history of all this first.
I really appreciate and patience and help you can offer to this newbie.
p.s.- awesome forum
New To Pool Ownership (came with our new house); However very eager to learn about how to properly balance my water. At first i did not know about Troublefreepool.com , until numerous trips to the local pool store with unsatisfactory results. Once i found TFP i became hooked on trying to straighten out my pool issues the correct way. I and the pool store was testing with strips , so from what i read this was the first mistake. I ordered a TF-100 and just received it today , so i am able to post everyone the results and hopefully be under way to better, cleaner, healthier water.
The past:
After a day of figuring out how to hook up the filter/pump/heater plumbing, i uncovered the pool (4-18-13) i took notice the water was pretty cloudy and there was some slim/algae on the sides and bottom. Of course i went into panic mode and ran a sample of water to the local pool store. Immediately he told me that i had 1000PPM Phosphates and that was my problem (initially) . So he sold me some seaKlear Phosphate remover and some SeaKlear Natural Clarifier and also some SeaKlear 90 day algae prevention.
I went home and according to his directions dumped the algae preventer in (1 quart), then 8 ozs of phosphate remover and 2 oz of natural clarifier . After this i spent the next 3 days backwashing the filter every hour (it would build 10psi in an hour!!) after that i went back to pool store and tested again. they said i still had 300-400PPM Phosphates and i had to keep treating the above way until they were down to 100PPM. and that I CAN NOT add shock or anything until then. So i went back and treated per their directions. once again spent many hours backwashing. went back to pool store and tested. they said i know had MORE phosphates (400-500ppm). Needless to say i was a bit frustrated. They now said it was ok to Shock the pool??????? then i was pretty confused on why it was ok now and not before (less phosphates before).
So i purchased some Zappit Dry Chlorinating Granules and put 3lbs in the pool per the stores directions and some slow dissolving pucks for the automatic chlorinator.
A day later i took yet another sample to the store and had more bad news. No FC at all. Their test results were:
h2o Hardness 250PPM
FC 0
PH 7.5
TA 100PPM
CYA 100PPM
Phosphates 400PPM
My test strips said a little different , so then i got really upset and decided to start the internet search and fix this myself. I was shocked when i found your forum and started reading that i did pretty much everything wrong from the word GO. and that Phosphates do not really matter. So i educated myself from your pool school and other info on your site and waited patiently for my AWESOME test kit to arrive. Of course i tore it open and ran out to get some pool water and started testing. Here is were i stand currently
CL .5 or less (no color)
BR??? .5 or less (no color)
PH 6.8
Chlorine Drop Test- no pink (stayed clear)
TA 80 or 90 (pink -vs- darker pink)
CH 160
CYA approx 120 (was below the 100 mark a bit)
Water is pretty clear, have just a little bit of DE on the floor ( i think i messed up backwashing one time and some got circulated thru heater and to the returns. (i think)
I did read that the CYA may be a problem and partial drain is needed ; however if it is at all possible to rectify this without, i would like to try that ( we have well water , and i must truck all the water in to fill the pool back up). As someone in a post said once everyting else balances out it may help solve this. ??????
Sorry for the long post but i wanted to give you the history of all this first.
I really appreciate and patience and help you can offer to this newbie.
p.s.- awesome forum