Hey guys... I am a new homeowner. The home came with a pool. I had no idea how much work went into keeping this thing clear. It seems like I'm spending $200 a month at the pool store. All they tell me is shock it. Keep shocking it till it gets clear. But it's "clear" that that does not work. I went ahead and purchased one of those strip testers. Lame. Then i bought the clorox strip tester that works with the phone app. All my reading would say everything is either too high or too low. And depending on the light your results cold go from one extreme to the other. I put so much money into the pool it's ridiculous. It took me a little while, but I figured out the test strips do not work. I bought an hth 6-way test kit, which seems miles better. After watching hours upon hours of youtube videos, and trying different things. I think finally got everything balanced... Well I'm working on getting the cya level up. The pool is blue but cloudy. I also purchased the riptide xp because it was a pain in the butt getting a pool professional to come to my house. They would either take a week to return my call or tell me that they do not vacuum green pools. Well obviously I called because I need your help. It's clear that I can not depend on anyone else but myself to do this thing right. Thus I am here. Hope to learn as much as I can.
First Day of School
- Thread starter TFRoger123
- Start date
- May 3, 2014
- 62,717
- Pool Size
- 6000
- Surface
- Fiberglass
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-40
Welcome to the forum! :handshake:
With a cloudy pool you will need to SLAM Process
This forum advocate’s pool owner water testing using a proper test kit. Order a TF100 test kit. Differences are in the size/amount of reagent bottles included with the kits. All of them use the same Taylor Technologies chemicals.
I recommend the TF100 as it was designed for residential use and has more of what you will use when testing your residential pool.
The only other real option for a test kit is a Taylor K-2006-C. Be careful comparing prices because the K-2006 comes in sizes, designated by a letter. The basic K-2006 has .75oz bottles. You need to get the K-2006-C to get the larger bottles that you want. Even then it is a little short on the reagent & powder for the FAS/DPD test.
A SpeedStir is also recommended as it makes testing much easier.
While you are waiting on your test kit add liquid chlorine/bleach to put 5 ppm FC into your pool each evening. Use PoolMath to determine the volume of bleach to use.
I suggest you read Pool School - ABCs of Pool Water Chemistry and consider reviewing the entire Trouble Free Pool School book.
You may also want to get the Pool Math app.
With a cloudy pool you will need to SLAM Process
This forum advocate’s pool owner water testing using a proper test kit. Order a TF100 test kit. Differences are in the size/amount of reagent bottles included with the kits. All of them use the same Taylor Technologies chemicals.
I recommend the TF100 as it was designed for residential use and has more of what you will use when testing your residential pool.
The only other real option for a test kit is a Taylor K-2006-C. Be careful comparing prices because the K-2006 comes in sizes, designated by a letter. The basic K-2006 has .75oz bottles. You need to get the K-2006-C to get the larger bottles that you want. Even then it is a little short on the reagent & powder for the FAS/DPD test.
A SpeedStir is also recommended as it makes testing much easier.
While you are waiting on your test kit add liquid chlorine/bleach to put 5 ppm FC into your pool each evening. Use PoolMath to determine the volume of bleach to use.
I suggest you read Pool School - ABCs of Pool Water Chemistry and consider reviewing the entire Trouble Free Pool School book.
You may also want to get the Pool Math app.
- Jul 16, 2012
- 7,282
- Pool Size
- 27000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Hayward Aqua Rite (T-15)
Marty’s got you covered. And on the warm fuzzy side, your gonna love it here. The answers to all your pool maintenance woes are here for the learning. It’s not hard at all to keep a pool clear once you know the proper method.
Glad you found us!
Glad you found us!
- Apr 23, 2017
- 2,400
- Pool Size
- 22000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Hayward Aqua Rite (T-15)
Welcome to TFP...
No need to spend that kind of money on a pool. Where is Babylon?? More info on your pool will be needed to help after you get the test kit. This link will help others help you...
Read This Before you Post
No need to spend that kind of money on a pool. Where is Babylon?? More info on your pool will be needed to help after you get the test kit. This link will help others help you...
Read This Before you Post
Thanks. I updated my signature. Once I finish sweeping the pool. I will add shock, test it, and report the figures. Looking forward to your help. Oh Babylon is in Long Island NY.
- Apr 23, 2017
- 2,400
- Pool Size
- 22000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Hayward Aqua Rite (T-15)
Good start on signature Roger...so made me laugh (what’s a pump)...
Can you add a pic of the pool and equipment pad?
Can you add a pic of the pool and equipment pad?
- Jul 16, 2012
- 7,282
- Pool Size
- 27000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Hayward Aqua Rite (T-15)
- Apr 23, 2017
- 2,400
- Pool Size
- 22000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Hayward Aqua Rite (T-15)
Don't add any more solid forms of chlorine until your test kit come in. Your CYA may not actually be low. Run a full set of tests on your pool water and report back with the results.
FC
CC
pH
TA
CH
CYA
Please fill in your signature with more details about your pool. In ground, above ground, size, wall material, what equipment do you have.
I suggest you read Pool School - ABCs of Pool Water Chemistry . There is also a Trouble Free Pool School book. The book is not too long and covers the basics of what we teach here at TFP. Use PoolMath to help you calculate the amount of chemicals you need to use.
I would also recommend the Pool Math app. For a low yearly subscription, you can use it to log the test readings and track chemical usage.
FC
CC
pH
TA
CH
CYA
Please fill in your signature with more details about your pool. In ground, above ground, size, wall material, what equipment do you have.
I suggest you read Pool School - ABCs of Pool Water Chemistry . There is also a Trouble Free Pool School book. The book is not too long and covers the basics of what we teach here at TFP. Use PoolMath to help you calculate the amount of chemicals you need to use.
I would also recommend the Pool Math app. For a low yearly subscription, you can use it to log the test readings and track chemical usage.
Will do. I meant to post one today. I'll post a pic by the weekend.
- - - Updated - - -
I meant add shock after I finished sweeping the pool.
Welcome to TFP!We try not to use the word "shock" around here ... is it a verb or a noun?
If noun, is it liquid chlorine, or trichlor, or dichlor, or cal-hypo, or lithium-hypo, or non-chlorine MPS?
If verb, then it likely means adding a random amount of one of the aforementioned nouns ... which we also do not recommend.
So, you can see that we still have no idea what you are planning to add to your pool.
We like data in the form of test results.
We only recommend adding what you poor needs and the only way to know what it needs is from accurate test results.
Am I supposed to see any differences such as clearer water, better water chemistry, etc.? Or is this just to maintain the current state until my new test kit arrives?
Welcome to TFP!
We try not to use the word "shock" around here ... is it a verb or a noun?
If noun, is it liquid chlorine, or trichlor, or dichlor, or cal-hypo, or lithium-hypo, or non-chlorine MPS?
If verb, then it likely means adding a random amount of one of the aforementioned nouns ... which we also do not recommend.
So, you can see that we still have no idea what you are planning to add to your pool.
We like data in the form of test results.
We only recommend adding what you poor needs and the only way to know what it needs is from accurate test results.
Gotcha. I have powder shock from leslie's. The super shock. I usually use two 1 lb bags per serving.
I decided however, to purchase clorox bleach and, utilizing the calculator, I added to jugs to my pool. I'll be doing that daily until probably Friday evening. Saturday if it's still cloudy, I plan to add flocculent then vacuum Sunday morning. Is this a good idea?
Please make sure the Chlorox does not have "Chloromax Technology"
Still do not know that chemical the "super shock" is without looking it up
Still do not know that chemical the "super shock" is without looking it up
- May 3, 2014
- 62,717
- Pool Size
- 6000
- Surface
- Fiberglass
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-40
Do not use Floc. Unnecessary.
What I described is a holding pattern until you get a proper test kit. Without a proper test kit, trying to SLAM and clear your pool will be frustrating, wasteful, and unsuccessful.
What I described is a holding pattern until you get a proper test kit. Without a proper test kit, trying to SLAM and clear your pool will be frustrating, wasteful, and unsuccessful.
So just to understand... are you saying floc is not necessary for a clean pool? Or just at this stage, it's not necessary?
- May 3, 2014
- 62,717
- Pool Size
- 6000
- Surface
- Fiberglass
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-40
Not necessary. Ever under normal circumstances. Proper water chemistry and maintenance of your filter system will keep your pool clean and sanitary.
Roger - PM me... I can offer some assistance. You're probably within 5 miles of me.