Hey, everyone.
I've had a terrible time this season trying to open our pool. The kids have had two cold days of swimming and the rest has been me trying to fix things per LPS recommendations.
I've been hunched over the laptop for days reading posts on TFP and I am stoked to breakaway from LPS and take back my pool. But, where do I begin? I just ordered The TF100 test kit and can't wait for it to arrive so I can take the pool store out of the equation.
Basically, my pool has been green and cloudy. I've shocked it with Cal-Hypo Power Powder while floating Trichlor pucks not realizing the high CYA levels later detected. Used Green to Clean, which got rid of the green but left the pool very cloudy. I'm not sure if that was from dumping 10lbs of soda ash to raise the pH to a higher level to help the Green to Clean work. After G to C I had to add a bit of muriatic acid to lower the pH to 7.6. Then we noticed the TA was up to 190 so LPS recommended leaving it alone so as not to affect the pH. The following week, still TA 190 so the employee called a pool cleaning buddy and he suggested adding acid to lower the TA even though my pH was good. Can't keep Chlorine levels up to an effective ppm to work so the green has come back and the cloudiness has remained. Then last week it was noticed that the CYA was really high and like everyone else on this forum the LPS test only reads so high until it becomes an "educated guess". That's the first time CYA has been introduced into the pool conversation as a concern, but looking back I noticed it was high on a LPS water analysis from last summer . It was recommended to then partially drain and refill with tap water. We're in a drought so I have great trepidation and guilt doing that. I immediately removed the pucks and plan on using liquid chlorine while trying to lower the CYA and probably regularly after a balance is achieved. LPS then pointed out the Bio-Active packets for 49.99 and I thought it was another $$$ trap. Now finding this thread I'm interested, intrigued, and optimistic. I apologize because I haven't yet read all the replies to see all the test results, but I need to do something to this pool before I make it into a skate park.
Todays LPS water analysis report (5/29/15):
FC 0 Until he added Fresh N Clear to the test which showed huge amounts of Chlorine...now he's trying to sell me the Fresh N Clear
TAC 5
CH 250
CYA 150 (of course it could be higher and won't know until my test kit arrives)
TA 110 (yay!)
pH 7.4
copper 0
iron 0
TDS 600
Pho 0
Water temp is around 76 degrees with a solar cover in place. The weather has been strange.
Now, as I said the pool is green and cloudy. Earlier this week I added an algaecide, which doesn't seem to have had any affect. Also, added Ultra Bright to clump the cloud particles. I've been sweeping everyday and cleaning the cartridge. I did remove the cartridge, opened the backwash, and wasted a bit of water while vacuuming to help remove some of the dirt, green, etc. I have yet to top the pool off with tap water. I really am hoping the Bio Active works because I don't want to waste water, but will it work?
I'm confused with the FC reading because there was no chlorine until he added the Fresh N Clear to the test vial. Should I use Fresh N Clear to free up the chlorine already in the pool. Should I raise the FC by using liquid chlorine. Should I get rid of the green before using the Bio Active? Should I use Bio Active at all? Should I top off with tap water and retest? (pretty much a give I suppose, if, I plan on using the Bio Active rather than going for a partial drain/refill)
I'm optimistically hopeful that all the issues revolve around the high CYA and once that is under control the pool will be a pleasure rather than a pain.
Cheers,
I've had a terrible time this season trying to open our pool. The kids have had two cold days of swimming and the rest has been me trying to fix things per LPS recommendations.
I've been hunched over the laptop for days reading posts on TFP and I am stoked to breakaway from LPS and take back my pool. But, where do I begin? I just ordered The TF100 test kit and can't wait for it to arrive so I can take the pool store out of the equation.
Basically, my pool has been green and cloudy. I've shocked it with Cal-Hypo Power Powder while floating Trichlor pucks not realizing the high CYA levels later detected. Used Green to Clean, which got rid of the green but left the pool very cloudy. I'm not sure if that was from dumping 10lbs of soda ash to raise the pH to a higher level to help the Green to Clean work. After G to C I had to add a bit of muriatic acid to lower the pH to 7.6. Then we noticed the TA was up to 190 so LPS recommended leaving it alone so as not to affect the pH. The following week, still TA 190 so the employee called a pool cleaning buddy and he suggested adding acid to lower the TA even though my pH was good. Can't keep Chlorine levels up to an effective ppm to work so the green has come back and the cloudiness has remained. Then last week it was noticed that the CYA was really high and like everyone else on this forum the LPS test only reads so high until it becomes an "educated guess". That's the first time CYA has been introduced into the pool conversation as a concern, but looking back I noticed it was high on a LPS water analysis from last summer . It was recommended to then partially drain and refill with tap water. We're in a drought so I have great trepidation and guilt doing that. I immediately removed the pucks and plan on using liquid chlorine while trying to lower the CYA and probably regularly after a balance is achieved. LPS then pointed out the Bio-Active packets for 49.99 and I thought it was another $$$ trap. Now finding this thread I'm interested, intrigued, and optimistic. I apologize because I haven't yet read all the replies to see all the test results, but I need to do something to this pool before I make it into a skate park.
Todays LPS water analysis report (5/29/15):
FC 0 Until he added Fresh N Clear to the test which showed huge amounts of Chlorine...now he's trying to sell me the Fresh N Clear
TAC 5
CH 250
CYA 150 (of course it could be higher and won't know until my test kit arrives)
TA 110 (yay!)
pH 7.4
copper 0
iron 0
TDS 600
Pho 0
Water temp is around 76 degrees with a solar cover in place. The weather has been strange.
Now, as I said the pool is green and cloudy. Earlier this week I added an algaecide, which doesn't seem to have had any affect. Also, added Ultra Bright to clump the cloud particles. I've been sweeping everyday and cleaning the cartridge. I did remove the cartridge, opened the backwash, and wasted a bit of water while vacuuming to help remove some of the dirt, green, etc. I have yet to top the pool off with tap water. I really am hoping the Bio Active works because I don't want to waste water, but will it work?
I'm confused with the FC reading because there was no chlorine until he added the Fresh N Clear to the test vial. Should I use Fresh N Clear to free up the chlorine already in the pool. Should I raise the FC by using liquid chlorine. Should I get rid of the green before using the Bio Active? Should I use Bio Active at all? Should I top off with tap water and retest? (pretty much a give I suppose, if, I plan on using the Bio Active rather than going for a partial drain/refill)
I'm optimistically hopeful that all the issues revolve around the high CYA and once that is under control the pool will be a pleasure rather than a pain.
Cheers,