Brand New Pool

[giltyler]

We have not bought the test kit yet but will order tomorrow TF kit.
Are there any baseline things that we need to start off right.
I know from past INTEX use that the PH will be sky high

 

[woodyp]

It kind of depends. If TA is below 50 do TA first, Then If PH is completely out of range fix that, unless FC is above 10 in which case you ignore it. Then FC, then PH, CYA, then TA, then CH.

 

[kimkats]

If you know your PH will be high from your fill water go ahead and buy some muratic acid.

Here is a little reading for you to help you know what to do from the start.

Pool School - ABCs of Pool Water Chemistry


When you get your test kit test and post the results here and we can go from there.

Kim

 

[giltyler]

How should the acid be added?
Diluted or poured straight from the jug.
How much can be added at a time.

 

[Casey]

You can pour it very gently n slowly from the jug with the wind blowing at your back so it's not blowing fumes in your face. Use PoolMath to determine how much to add.

 

[TomBorg]

But don't add anything until your test kit arrives! Your test kit will give you accurate results, and you can use PoolMath to determine what to do.

 

[giltyler]

Just finalized the fill yesterday and currently there is only the water from the faucet in there.
Should anything be added or filter be running before testing can begin

 

[poolnoob.ca]

Hi giltyler, we can figure out how much chlorine to add at least until your test kit comes: according to poolmath a 21 ft round pool 54 inches deep holds 11700 gallons, so we'll plug that in at the top. since you have fresh water you have no CYA (stabilizer) so to go from 0 to 3 ppm chlorine, as per chlorine/cya chart, you will need 52 oz of 8.2% bleach. so start with that, but the sun will burn it off quickly as you have no CYA stabilizer yet. Poolmath says to get to 30 CYA you need 47 oz (just under 3 lbs). Once you have added the stabilizer (can get from walmart) your target level will be 4ppm chlorine. You can also get the cheap chlorine/pH test kit from walmart to check your chlorine up to 5ppm and pH until your big-boy test kit arrives.

 

[giltyler]

TF100 and Extras ordered
Added 55 ounces of concentrated Chlorox last night and again this evening.
In DFW area so very sunny and in the 90s
Also my brand new Chlorinator has a leak and the merchant offered up a call tag to replace or refund so looking for suggestions.
I ordered this PERFORM-MAX Pool Chemical Feeder | King Technology King Technology Sani King feeder thinking how nice it would be not to mess with adding chlorine all the time and later learned of the CYA issues

 

[kimkats]

I do have to say that those feeders do have a place IF you know what the pucks do (add CYA). They are good to have when you go out of town. When you do not need it just let it sit empty.

Kim

 

[giltyler]

Due to Postal error I will likely not have my test kit until early next week.
Should I keep adding bleach.
Also the PH is known very high should I do a gallon of MA from last summer

 

[kimkats]

That is up to you. Have you seen any clearing at all? I would not mess with the PH due to maybe having high FC. Any thing over a 10 for FC will mess up your PH reading.

Kim

 

[giltyler]

No clearing needed since it is just filled last Sunday
I have added 1.5 gallons of bleach over the past week since we have had full sun and temperature in the 90s
I will grab a cheap kit since the TF100 got delayed
I will get 2 more gallons of MA and some stabilizer as well.

 

[Texas Splash]

Gityler, I would also add that as incredibly hot as it's been here in Texas, and with your CYA unknown and/or still possibly quite low waiting to increase, that you remain consistent with at least 1/2 gallon of bleach per day in that new water - possibly even 1 gallon depending on what your temporary test kit shows. I'm pretty sure any new bleach (FC) you're adding is getting tore-up and eliminated by the sun. We just want to "try" and avoid a major algae bloom before your kit gets here is possible.