Re: Can't wait to work on pool - will rain stop me?
With CYA around 20-30 and a vinyl liner, I wouldn't bring FC up much above 18.
With CYA around 20-30 and a vinyl liner, I wouldn't bring FC up much above 18.
done shocking, but water still very cloudy!
- Thread starter kdubya815
- Start date
Re: Can't wait to work on pool - will rain stop me?
Ok, so I added enough bleach to bring the FC up to 18 last night right before I left for work. Got home and tested water at 6:30 am. FC was 15. Went to sleep, got up at 10:30 am to test. FC was 4.5. Added bleach, now I am right back down to 4.5. Water is blue, but very cloudy. I am running short on POP!! I know I have only been at it since Friday night, but now I am getting worried because I have to go back to work my main job Monday morning and will not be here to baby my pool. I am going to keep at it today and tonight, but what can I do tomorrow while at work? I teach school so I can't leave on my 25 min lunch break!!
Also, can I go ahead and start using a skimmer sock? Will that help to clear the cloudiness a little faster? Or should I wait until I am done shocking before using one?
Thanks!!
Ok, so I added enough bleach to bring the FC up to 18 last night right before I left for work. Got home and tested water at 6:30 am. FC was 15. Went to sleep, got up at 10:30 am to test. FC was 4.5. Added bleach, now I am right back down to 4.5. Water is blue, but very cloudy. I am running short on POP!! I know I have only been at it since Friday night, but now I am getting worried because I have to go back to work my main job Monday morning and will not be here to baby my pool. I am going to keep at it today and tonight, but what can I do tomorrow while at work? I teach school so I can't leave on my 25 min lunch break!!
Also, can I go ahead and start using a skimmer sock? Will that help to clear the cloudiness a little faster? Or should I wait until I am done shocking before using one?
Thanks!!
Re: Can't wait to work on pool - will rain stop me?
Just keep hitting it hard while you are at home.
When you go back to your main/day job, you can shock in the morning and then resume shocking when you get home.
Lots of folks that work do the same thing. It may take a little longer, but will still get the job done
Get another bottle of POP and some :
: and maybe your fav beverage 
btw, your pool is really showing improvement
Just keep hitting it hard while you are at home.
When you go back to your main/day job, you can shock in the morning and then resume shocking when you get home.
Lots of folks that work do the same thing. It may take a little longer, but will still get the job done
Get another bottle of POP and some :
: and maybe your fav beverage btw, your pool is really showing improvement
Re: Can't wait to work on pool - will rain stop me?
WoW Great progress! now the bad news .
Frogs like sparkly water to!
You have the algea on the run now you are very close, perhaps a day or 2 more depending on how close you can maintain your shock levels.
WoW Great progress! now the bad news .
Frogs like sparkly water to!
You have the algea on the run now you are very close, perhaps a day or 2 more depending on how close you can maintain your shock levels.
Re: Can't wait to work on pool - will rain stop me?
Thanks for the encouragement! I really need it! We would really like to swim Memorial Day weekend, so I am taking a big gulp of POP and continuing to hit it hard! My current levels are:
FC - 11.5
CC - 1.5
TA - 50
CYA - <20
I am concerned about my TA and my CYA. I don't know how the TA dropped so drastically. The CYA probably dropped from backwashing. Should I adjust these both as I am shocking? I am not real sure about the TA. I know the CYA is okay on the low side for shocking purposes, but since it is below 20, do I need at least a little protection from the sun?
BTW, I just went to WalMart and bought up just about all of the bleach! The cashier said that several people are doing that, so I guess I am not the only "enlightened" one in Columbia, TN!
Thanks for the encouragement! I really need it! We would really like to swim Memorial Day weekend, so I am taking a big gulp of POP and continuing to hit it hard! My current levels are:
FC - 11.5
CC - 1.5
TA - 50
CYA - <20
I am concerned about my TA and my CYA. I don't know how the TA dropped so drastically. The CYA probably dropped from backwashing. Should I adjust these both as I am shocking? I am not real sure about the TA. I know the CYA is okay on the low side for shocking purposes, but since it is below 20, do I need at least a little protection from the sun?
BTW, I just went to WalMart and bought up just about all of the bleach! The cashier said that several people are doing that, so I guess I am not the only "enlightened" one in Columbia, TN!
Re: Can't wait to work on pool - will rain stop me?
Well, I suggest you leave the TA alone for now. You were at 70 before and added a bit of MA to lower your pH, which could explain. Also, the original test (130 - I think?) could have just been an error.
Bumping the CYA close to 30 sounds good.
Yep, that bleach is flying off the shelves at all the stores! My Aldi's only had about six cases last week, but today they had gotten a new shipment. Thank goodness!
You try to get some rest tonight. Remember, you have to get up early for school tomorrow
Well, I suggest you leave the TA alone for now. You were at 70 before and added a bit of MA to lower your pH, which could explain. Also, the original test (130 - I think?) could have just been an error.
Bumping the CYA close to 30 sounds good.
Yep, that bleach is flying off the shelves at all the stores! My Aldi's only had about six cases last week, but today they had gotten a new shipment. Thank goodness!
You try to get some rest tonight. Remember, you have to get up early for school tomorrow
Re: Can't wait to work on pool - will rain stop me?
Thanks Butterfly! You have been so helpful! Not too many school days left before I can enjoy my pool all day long for a while!! I love being a pool owner...and I LOVE THIS SITE!!
I will start working on my CYA and wait on the TA until after I am done shocking. I know that this question has surely been asked, but I can't find the answer. When is it safe to jump in? Does the water have to be absolutely clear if my numbers are okay? I know I am not there yet, but my husband keeps asking me when we can get in! I just need to have some "benchmarks" to tell him!
Thanks Butterfly! You have been so helpful! Not too many school days left before I can enjoy my pool all day long for a while!! I love being a pool owner...and I LOVE THIS SITE!!
I will start working on my CYA and wait on the TA until after I am done shocking. I know that this question has surely been asked, but I can't find the answer. When is it safe to jump in? Does the water have to be absolutely clear if my numbers are okay? I know I am not there yet, but my husband keeps asking me when we can get in! I just need to have some "benchmarks" to tell him!
Re: Can't wait to work on pool - will rain stop me?
As long as your FC is below shock level and your CC's are 0.5 or less...swim your heart out
Enjoy
As long as your FC is below shock level and your CC's are 0.5 or less...swim your heart out
Enjoy
Re: Can't wait to work on pool - will rain stop me?
This evening when I got home my FC was 0. I also tested the CYA again, and it is <20. I think the sun is really stealing my chlorine. I read that when you add CYA you cannot backwash for a week. Well, while I am still shocking, I will need to backwash sooner than a week. Do you see my conundrum? What should I do? Continue shocking until I get to .5 CC or less and THEN add CYA (which means my FC will most likely be 0 during the day)? Or.......Add CYA first and THEN continue shocking after a week? I am just a little confused right now!
This evening when I got home my FC was 0. I also tested the CYA again, and it is <20. I think the sun is really stealing my chlorine. I read that when you add CYA you cannot backwash for a week. Well, while I am still shocking, I will need to backwash sooner than a week. Do you see my conundrum? What should I do? Continue shocking until I get to .5 CC or less and THEN add CYA (which means my FC will most likely be 0 during the day)? Or.......Add CYA first and THEN continue shocking after a week? I am just a little confused right now!
Re: Can't wait to work on pool - will rain stop me?
If you already added it to the skimmer, it's in the filter now, so accept it and learn. If it's in a sock, you're fine. Backwash as needed. Get rid of the crud.
If you added the CYA granules through the skimmer, backwashing will get rid of them. If the CYA is hanging in a sock somewhere, you're only going to lose 20 ppm of, what- 5% maybe? - of your water. 20/1,000,000. That's not a lot....kdubya815 said:
If you already added it to the skimmer, it's in the filter now, so accept it and learn. If it's in a sock, you're fine. Backwash as needed. Get rid of the crud.
Re: Can't wait to work on pool - will rain stop me?
Thanks Richard. I have not added any yet, so that's good. When I add the CYA in a sock, how exactly do I do that?
Thanks Richard. I have not added any yet, so that's good. When I add the CYA in a sock, how exactly do I do that?
Re: Can't wait to work on pool - will rain stop me?
Pour it in a sock, tie it up with a string, and hang it in front of a return. If there's nothing handy to tie off, use a cinder block or a bucket full of water or something else heavy enough.kdubya815 said:
Re: Can't wait to work on pool - will rain stop me?
I tested my water this morning. Here are the results:
FC - 16.5
CC -0.5
Ph - 6.8
TA - 40
CYA - still less than 20
I will be adding baking soda to adjust TA and Borax for the Ph. I also will be adding some CYA today. Am I on the right track? What can I do for the never-ending cloudiness?
Thanks!!
Kelly
I tested my water this morning. Here are the results:
FC - 16.5
CC -0.5
Ph - 6.8
TA - 40
CYA - still less than 20
I will be adding baking soda to adjust TA and Borax for the Ph. I also will be adding some CYA today. Am I on the right track? What can I do for the never-ending cloudiness?
Thanks!!
Kelly
Re: Can't wait to work on pool - will rain stop me?
Have you done an overnight FC loss test to see if the algae is all dead or not?
Sand filters can take a week, or occasionally more, to clear up the water even after all of the algae is dead. If everything is working correctly you should see a visible improvement each day after the algae is dead. Remember to keep an eye on the filter pressure and backwash the filter as needed. Actually, it is a good idea to backwash the filter after several days even if the pressure doesn't go up much while you are recovering from algae.
Have you done an overnight FC loss test to see if the algae is all dead or not?
Sand filters can take a week, or occasionally more, to clear up the water even after all of the algae is dead. If everything is working correctly you should see a visible improvement each day after the algae is dead. Remember to keep an eye on the filter pressure and backwash the filter as needed. Actually, it is a good idea to backwash the filter after several days even if the pressure doesn't go up much while you are recovering from algae.
Re: Can't wait to work on pool - will rain stop me?
CYA is floating in front of a return, pool is looking better and better every day.
I have not done the overnight FC loss test, so I will do that tonight. Wish me luck!!
CYA is floating in front of a return, pool is looking better and better every day.
I have not done the overnight FC loss test, so I will do that tonight. Wish me luck!!
Re: Can't wait to work on pool - will rain stop me?
Good luck :-D
btw, when is the last time you added muriatic acid?
Just wondering why your pH and TA seem to be dropping so much.
Good luck :-D
btw, when is the last time you added muriatic acid?
Just wondering why your pH and TA seem to be dropping so much.
Re: Can't wait to work on pool - will rain stop me?
Well, I think I messed up on the overnight FC test, so I will do it again tonight. I tested at 7:15 pm (45 mins after my last chlorine addition) and FC was 5. Then I tested at 8:30 and it was 8. I then tested at 5:30 am and it was 5. I am not sure if I messed up the test at 8:30 or what I did. I am not sure whether or not to count this as my overnight FC test, and if so, does it count as a 3 ppm loss, or no loss? I think it is just best to do it again. Thoughts??
Anyway, my numbers this evening:
FC - 1.5 (I finally have an FC reading after a day in the sun!!)
CC - 0.5
Ph - 7.2
I added a gallon of muriatic acid, a little at a time. I think I mis-read the Pool Calculator. But, the good thing is that it is fixable! I guess you live and learn!!
Well, I think I messed up on the overnight FC test, so I will do it again tonight. I tested at 7:15 pm (45 mins after my last chlorine addition) and FC was 5. Then I tested at 8:30 and it was 8. I then tested at 5:30 am and it was 5. I am not sure if I messed up the test at 8:30 or what I did. I am not sure whether or not to count this as my overnight FC test, and if so, does it count as a 3 ppm loss, or no loss? I think it is just best to do it again. Thoughts??
Anyway, my numbers this evening:
FC - 1.5 (I finally have an FC reading after a day in the sun!!)
CC - 0.5
Ph - 7.2
Butterfly said:
I added a gallon of muriatic acid, a little at a time. I think I mis-read the Pool Calculator. But, the good thing is that it is fixable! I guess you live and learn!!
Re: Can't wait to work on pool - will rain stop me?
YAY!!! I passed the overnight FC loss test!
Last night, FC was 19, and this morning FC was 19!!
Stabilizer is still hanging in front of the return. I am having a hard time getting it to stay in front of the return. I have it tied down to the fence, but I think I am going to have to find a brick to anchor it further.
Pool is still very cloudy, but getting better each day. I am going to put a skimmer sock on my basket to try to help with that.
Thanks everybody for all your help!!
YAY!!! I passed the overnight FC loss test!
Last night, FC was 19, and this morning FC was 19!!Stabilizer is still hanging in front of the return. I am having a hard time getting it to stay in front of the return. I have it tied down to the fence, but I think I am going to have to find a brick to anchor it further.
Pool is still very cloudy, but getting better each day. I am going to put a skimmer sock on my basket to try to help with that.
Thanks everybody for all your help!!
Re: Can't wait to work on pool - will rain stop me?
Finally got to swim this afternoon after handing out final report cards all morning!! Yay!! Been waiting for the swimming season to officially start!
As we were swimming, we noticed a grainy substance on the walls. It rubs off fairly easily, but it obviously didn't come off with the constant brushing I did. Does anyone know what this is? And better yet, how to get rid of it? Thanks for any help you can provide.
Finally got to swim this afternoon after handing out final report cards all morning!! Yay!! Been waiting for the swimming season to officially start!
As we were swimming, we noticed a grainy substance on the walls. It rubs off fairly easily, but it obviously didn't come off with the constant brushing I did. Does anyone know what this is? And better yet, how to get rid of it? Thanks for any help you can provide.
Re: Can't wait to work on pool - will rain stop me?
Congratulations on passing the test
Don't know about the grainy substance on the walls.
If you'll post a full set of #'s, folks could take a look.
Congratulations on passing the test
Don't know about the grainy substance on the walls.
If you'll post a full set of #'s, folks could take a look.