Another newbee. New 10000 gal Pool

[Mr2nr]

OK so Ive just put up our above ground Ultra Rectangular Frame Intex pool. It came with a Sand Filter and I also got the bigger Intex SWG. I filled it with my well water which I know has a high Calcium content by looking at my shower head lol. So I got some Clorox Scale Conditioner (For Saltwater Pools) at Wal Mart and bought 200ibs. of the Morton Pool Salt and threw it all in and have let the pump go non stop for 4 days and ran the SWG on Boost mode twice. The kids have swam in it and it's raining now so we will see but the water is still very clear. I'm going to have it tested tomorrow at yes the dreaded pool store to get some numbers lol. But I really want to have a low maintenance pool so I'm not ready to invest 150.00 in a test kit. I have not added any CYA and I really just want to see what the SWG and the scale reducer gives before going nuts on Ph and Ta.

But my biggest question is where are you guys getting your CYA and is the Clorox Conditioner brand a pretty high concentrated amount of CYA? I seen a 1/2 pound of the powder going for around 6$ on Amazon. I plan on sticking a pound in to start.

I can see a little cloudiness on my top salt cell so Ill probably give them a good Vinegar bath next week just to help with the hardness.

I have also seen a lot of good results from those pill balls that everyone just throws in for the winter any thoughts?

Let the bashing begin lol.

 

[klynch494]

Hello and welcome, glad you found us!

Sounds like the pool was a good investment and your kids are going to enjoy it for quite a while. I should know, I have three of my own that beg to go swimming every morning at breakfast!

I won't touch on all of the products that you bought as I don't have a SWG, I will let some of the other experts chime in. But I will say that I did buy the Clorox conditioner from Walmart that lists the only ingredient as 100% cyanuric acid.

Otherwise, the only point that I would like to touch on is your comment regarding a low maintenance pool...

The only reason that I do have a low maintenance pool is because I have invested in a good test kit that allows me to know exactly where my pool's chemistry is at and I practice the methods that this site teaches. It is beyond simple to learn and is soooo easy once you get the hang of it. I have saved a huge deal of money by testing my own water and learning these methods.

 

[Mr2nr]

 

[klynch494]

Nice, here's ours...

 

[cfherrman]

Avoid the pool store

 

[Mr2nr]

Avoid the pool store

OK So ya Id love to trust myself and buy a 150$ test kit and all but also like the fact I can go to somebody that has some experience in these matters. So I went to two pool shops and got some good advice from one of them. I hated the first one I visited as the lady about dumped out all my sample water and luckily I stopped her. She wanted me to add 2 ibs of Ph reducer a day for a week. (100$) but the next shop said I just needed a gal. of Muratic acid. They made me wait and talk to her and she was very honest and had the same thoughts I did. I plan on adding each separate after 24 hours. So far my chlorine has really increased and stabilizer is showing up now. I do have white flakes at the bottom of the pool now Im trying to mix in but they might be a by product of the CYA. The Muratic acid will be last and I haven't added it yet as I want too see if the flakes go away after tonight. Adding a quart every hour is what I am planning.

So here are the "computer" results from both pool stores. They both used the same system. Do these look about right for adding one bag of shock one ibs. of cya and one gal of Muratic Acid? How would you guys apply it and would you run the SWG when adding?

 

[kimkats]

Here is a link to the test kit. As you can see it is only $70. That will pay for it's self in one lost trip to the pool $tore.

TFTestkits.net

The pool store is there to sell you stuff and keep their lights on. We are here to help you keep your pool clear and safe for your kids! Oh and for the smiles!

Kim

 

[Fingaling]

Lovely pool.

You need to work on that cya level asap. From those results, your salt cell looks like it's struggling to keep up with the Sun.

If you don't want to invest fully in the test kit, at least get a drop test for chlorine and ph. So you can keep track of those two things. The drop chlorine test is good enough for a swg pool, unless you have to slam.

 

[Mr2nr]

It seems that all the answers im going to get is "Go get a test Kit" can we get over that? I am blind and cant test the pool myself.

 

[kimkats]

I am sorry to hear that. The bases for what we teach is rooted in having your own test kit.

I will tell you that when I used and trusted a pool store they helped me ruin my first pool. They kept saying Oh add this and add that, lower your water 2 inches then do this. With what I know now I know my PH and CYA were so out of wack that my liner "rotted" out with water in it.

I wish you luck.

Kim TFP MOD