First Time Above Ground Pool Owner and I'm LOST!

[Bl4ck4rch]

Hello everyone.. I'm hoping, better yet I know someone here has to have the answers to set me free after I've been on the struggle buss googling and trying to go it on my own.

I purchased the INTEX Rectangular Ultra XTR® Frame Above Ground Pool w/ Sand Filter Pump - 24' x 12' x 52" which came with the QX2100 (eco15110-2).

I followed all the instructions on pool setup and pump setup and everything there is running just fine. Once it was all setup I did as instructed and added the 210lbs of salt to the pool and let it dissolve over 24hrs ensuring I went out and brushed it around to help.

After the 24hrs I checked the salt levels and I'm reading 3010ppm. I then ran the Chlorinator for 8hrs the first time because that is what's recommended by the manual. The following morning I came outside to test the water and I'm registering NO chlorine of any kind across the board, I'm getting NO Alkalinity, NO Hardness, pH sits at 6.3.

I did some more googling and somewhere I read that the Chlorinator needs to run longer, so last night I ran it for the max, 12 hours and again this morning I went outside to check and nothing has changed on the readings.

I honestly have NO idea what I should try to do and I'm open to any and all suggestions.

 

[kimkats]

Hi and welcome to TFP! Welcome to the wonderful world of pool enjoyment!

I am going out on a limb sahying this...................but I am guessing you are using test strips to test your water. They are the worst about getting off readings The next worst is using a pool store's "free" testing (is it really free if you walk out with your arms full and wallet empty?).

Here are TFP we have found the best way to have a clean, clear pool is having a good test kit as see here:
Test Kits Compared

I look forward to you letting me know if my guess is correct.

 

[kellyfair]

Hello - you need to use liquid chlorine to raise your chlorine to the desired level for your CYA, and then use your SWG to maintain it.

Your PH is pretty low. Can you post a full set of test results? What test kit are you using?

 

[Bl4ck4rch]

So I was trying to find the original test strips that came with the pool but I’ve seen to misplaced them.

The second set of test strips I purchased (added a photo of a test I just took) - HTH 6-Way Test Strips

I also had my local shop use a X-Revolution tester, also added the photo.

 

[Bl4ck4rch]

Hi and welcome to TFP! Welcome to the wonderful world of pool enjoyment!

I am going out on a limb sahying this...................but I am guessing you are using test strips to test your water. They are the worst about getting off readings The next worst is using a pool store's "free" testing (is it really free if you walk out with your arms full and wallet empty?).

Here are TFP we have found the best way to have a clean, clear pool is having a good test kit as see here:
Test Kits Compared

I look forward to you letting me know if my guess is correct.

I REALLY appreciate this! Just purchased the TF-Pro Salt Kit!

 

[Bl4ck4rch]

Hello - you need to use liquid chlorine to raise your chlorine to the desired level for your CYA, and then use your SWG to maintain it.

Your PH is pretty low. Can you post a full set of test results? What test kit are you using?

Ok so the first thing I need to do is go snag some liquid chlorine and get that up to a desired level, do you think I should focus on the pH first or the Chlorine level?

 

[PoolStored]

I REALLY appreciate this! Just purchased the TF-Pro Salt Kit!

Add 3ppm of liquid chlorine per day. Nothing Else. Until your test kit arrives.

When your kit arrives, post a full set of results and we'll get you going.

 

[Bl4ck4rch]

Add 3ppm of liquid chlorine per day. Nothing Else. Until your test kit arrives.

When your kit arrives, post a full set of results and we'll get you going.

Will do! I’ll go out first thing in the morning and get some liquid chlorine! Before I dive in. Are all liquid chlorine’s the same or should I stay clear of certain ones?

Thank you so much!

 

[PoolStored]

Not familiar with what is available in North Carolina. Walmart, "Pool Essentials Liquid Chlorine" is a decent price.

If you are Raleigh, Wilmington, Kernersville, go here: NC ’s #1 Landa Pressure Washer Dealer | MVP Services

Please fill out your signature and update your profile with your city.

 

[Bl4ck4rch]

Not familiar with what is available in North Carolina. Walmart, "Pool Essentials Liquid Chlorine" is a decent price.

If you are Raleigh, Wilmington, Kernersville, go here: NC ’s #1 Landa Pressure Washer Dealer | MVP Services

Please fill out your signature and update your profile with your city.

Updated my profile (thanks for that).

I’ll get on this first thing in the morning!

 

[Bl4ck4rch]

Updated my profile (thanks for that).

I’ll get on this first thing in the morning!

So here we are! Finally got my TF-Pro in and I’ll say I was a little overwhelmed when I opened it but then started getting truly excited messing with everything!

So where are we at. I of course started with with the salt, following the instructions provided I’m sitting at 2800ppm.

Since that’s in the “acceptable” level I moved on to the Chlorine Drop test, I want to mention this is with me adding 3ppm daily as instructed. When I added the R-0870 powder and swirled I got NO color change at all… and I stopped right there because I feel I’m missing some pretty important stuff up front

 

[PoolStored]

Nope, that means you have no chlorine. Do it again, add the 0870, no pink, add the 5 drops of 003, then the R0871 to test CC. Then move on to the other tests.

FAS-DPD Chlorine Test

The FAS-DPD chlorine test is used to find the level of Free Chlorine in the … Read more…

www.troublefreepool.com

 

[Newdude]

Run them all, but specifically the CYA test. Your fill water had none so it's whatever you added to the pool. With no CYA, chlorine's half life can be as low as 20 mins depending on the Ph level. In short, you can't add FC fast enough with little/no CYA.

Having been with low/no FC for a spell, an Overnight Chlorine Loss Test is in order. Algae may be brewing and it's microscopic so by the time you can see it, it's waaaaaaaay too late. The OCLT removes the sun from the equation and if you lose FC with no UV/swimmers, it's time to SLAM Process.

 

[Bl4ck4rch]

Ok so tested away!

FC = 0

CC = 1.5

CYA = I filled the CYA view all the way overflowing and could still see the black dot so 0…

pH = 7.2

ALK = 60

 

[PoolStored]

Add 10ppm of liquid chlorine, pump running, and test your FC after 30-minutes.

Report back the FC number that you tested after 30 minutes.

Do you have LC on hand? How much? Do you have dry stabilizer?

 

[Bl4ck4rch]

Add 10ppm of liquid chlorine, pump running, and test your FC after 30-minutes.

Report back the FC number that you tested after 30 minutes.

Do you have LC on hand? How much? Do you have dry stabilizer?

I got to do the math real quick on the 10ppm of LC but I’ll do that and then report back.

I do have some, probably another 2 gallons probably less after I add the 10ppm and I don’t have any stabilizer. I held off buying things until I had a general idea about what I needed.

 

[PoolStored]

Download pool math, it will tell you how much is 10ppm...Link-->PoolMath

Will also help you with how much stabilizer to buy...

Use "effects of adding"

Or enter your test results, then click on the individual test result and set a target, it will tell you how much...

 

[Bl4ck4rch]

Add 10ppm of liquid chlorine, pump running, and test your FC after 30-minutes.

Report back the FC number that you tested after 30 minutes.

Do you have LC on hand? How much? Do you have dry stabilizer?

Finished testing the FC, for reference I added 112oz of LC. After testing and getting the vial completely clear again it’s 17ppm of FC

 

[PoolStored]

How are you testing the FC, can you explain it step by step?

Look at your LC, what is the brand and name? Does it have a % on the bottle? Or post a pic.

Either testing is off, your LC is a higher % than you used in pool math to calculate, or your pool is closing to 6600 gallons.

Do you have stabilizer? I'd get 30ppm soaking in a sock hanging in the pool in front of a return.

 

[Bl4ck4rch]

How are you testing the FC, can you explain it step by step?

Look at your LC, what is the brand and name? Does it have a % on the bottle? Or post a pic.

Either testing is off, your LC is a higher % than you used in pool math to calculate, or your pool is closing to 6600 gallons.

Do you have stabilizer? I'd get 30ppm soaking in a sock hanging in the pool in front of a return.

Let's start with the FC Testing first.

1.) I take the "Chlorine Only" vial to the pool and dip it roughly an arms length into the pool, ensuring I'm away from the input and output valves.
2.) Once I have the vial right at 10ml I add x1 heaping scoop of the 0870 and swirl
3.) I then add x1 drop of 0871 ensuring I swirl and count the drops until the sample is completely clear again (Granted this part is the trickiest for me because it will appear clear and then I let it sit and it turns a slight shade of pink so I add more drops)

This morning I went back out there and no worries all the FC is gone once again lol

Now for the LC I am using "Pool Essentials Liquid Chlorinator" from what I could find it is 10% and that is what I added to Pool Math to get the 112oz

The pool is 4' Deep x 24' Long x 12' Wide which gives me the 8640gal volume I've been using

I think the biggest question I have is. It's apparent the chemical makeup of my pool is drastically off. No matter how much Chlorine I introduce into the ecosystem it is quickly removed so from that perspective or from a priority perspective how should I go introducing the right amount of chemicals in the right order.

It does seem the stabilizer (CYA) needs to be important to keep the chlorine there but does that need to be introduced once the pH is at an ideal level first... I can head right to the local pool shop and buy and and all of the products I need to make this baby right for sure lol