- Oct 5, 2013
- 6
Hi everyone. I am new to this forum and am really excited about having a TFP. My wife and I recently purchased a new (to us) home in March. The home was a short sale and had been sitting for quite a while. The pool was partially empty until the last week before we closed on the house. The seller assured us the pool and equipment was functional. When we moved in the pool was full, the water was clear, the home inspector said everything looked like it was working, and all was well.
Our previous home was a rental and had a pool. The landlord had a company come and put liquid chlorine in the pool once a week, which I paid for ($40/month). I did the rest in regards to sweeping, vacuuming, backwashing, etc. With the new pool I decided that I wanted to do all the maintenance myself for a number of reasons which my wife can't understand. She wanted the chemical company, so we made an agreement; if the pool turns green twice, we call the "professionals" back.
So I went to my local pool store and willingly gave them $300 for a bunch of stuff they said I needed. I followed their instructions and kept a mostly clear pool for most of the summer. After reading here, I think I have been having algae problems from the very beginning, and I am certain it was because of bad testing.
Then it happened. We went on a short vacation over labor day, and when we returned my pool was a pond. I went back to the pool store, bought more stuff, and got it almost clear except for a couple of spots of green algae on the wall. Then the battle turned for the worse and what seemed like overnight, my pool was a pond again.
Meanwhile I had been reading on this site and considering firing my pool store. They are officially fired as of Monday. I bought a TF100 test kit which arrived on Wednesday. I tested my water and this is what I had.
Temp 78F
PH 7.2
FC 2.5
CC 0.5
TC 3.0
TA 70
CH 280
CYA 100+
Mind you the CYA was taken with the pond water. The test strips I had been using before that measured a stabilizer value would vary from the 50-100 range to the 100-150 range. I did another CYA test by diluting my pool water with half fresh water. This value was 80, which would be a CYA of 160. Am I correct with this assumption?
I adjusted the PH with a PH increaser I had left from the pool store and got my PH to 7.5. I then started the SLAM on Friday. As of tonight, the pool doesn't look any better. I think I'm being impatient but I have some concerns.
Do I need to stop now, and replace a bunch of water to get my CYA lower and then continue?
Or could I just continued the SLAM, but vacuum to waste each day, refill, re-check FC, and adjust it back to shock level?
How long should it take before I start to see results?
I really want this to work and prove to my wife that I can maintain the pool for much less money and effort then the "professionals". Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Cheers,
Geoff
p.s. sorry for being so long winded. I won't write as much in the future!
Our previous home was a rental and had a pool. The landlord had a company come and put liquid chlorine in the pool once a week, which I paid for ($40/month). I did the rest in regards to sweeping, vacuuming, backwashing, etc. With the new pool I decided that I wanted to do all the maintenance myself for a number of reasons which my wife can't understand. She wanted the chemical company, so we made an agreement; if the pool turns green twice, we call the "professionals" back.
So I went to my local pool store and willingly gave them $300 for a bunch of stuff they said I needed. I followed their instructions and kept a mostly clear pool for most of the summer. After reading here, I think I have been having algae problems from the very beginning, and I am certain it was because of bad testing.
Then it happened. We went on a short vacation over labor day, and when we returned my pool was a pond. I went back to the pool store, bought more stuff, and got it almost clear except for a couple of spots of green algae on the wall. Then the battle turned for the worse and what seemed like overnight, my pool was a pond again.
Meanwhile I had been reading on this site and considering firing my pool store. They are officially fired as of Monday. I bought a TF100 test kit which arrived on Wednesday. I tested my water and this is what I had.
Temp 78F
PH 7.2
FC 2.5
CC 0.5
TC 3.0
TA 70
CH 280
CYA 100+
Mind you the CYA was taken with the pond water. The test strips I had been using before that measured a stabilizer value would vary from the 50-100 range to the 100-150 range. I did another CYA test by diluting my pool water with half fresh water. This value was 80, which would be a CYA of 160. Am I correct with this assumption?
I adjusted the PH with a PH increaser I had left from the pool store and got my PH to 7.5. I then started the SLAM on Friday. As of tonight, the pool doesn't look any better. I think I'm being impatient but I have some concerns.
Do I need to stop now, and replace a bunch of water to get my CYA lower and then continue?
Or could I just continued the SLAM, but vacuum to waste each day, refill, re-check FC, and adjust it back to shock level?
How long should it take before I start to see results?
I really want this to work and prove to my wife that I can maintain the pool for much less money and effort then the "professionals". Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Cheers,
Geoff
p.s. sorry for being so long winded. I won't write as much in the future!