First Time Pool Owners

[bmorgan]

Hello!

My husband and I are closing on our home September 6th. We are first time pool owners and the pool currently has black algae. I’m not sure if it can be seen in these pictures. Is scrubbing with a wire brush and a black algae solution the best way to tackle this?

Thank you!

 

[YippeeSkippy]

Hi there fellow Georgians! Welcome to TFP

I would suggest that before you add anything to that pool except liquid chlorine (aka "bleach") you order up a respected test kit to tell you what is actually in the water. Sometimes pool water may look clear yet the chemistry is totally askew.

There are but two test kits we recommend. One is the Taylor K-2006C (*that C part is important if you want to compare quantities of reagents to the other kit) or the TF-100, which is my fave. Both use the same reagents but the TF-100 was actually put together and sold based on how we care for our pools. More reagents of the tests we do most often, less of the tests we don't. You can find the K-2006C on Amazon, or find both of them at TFTestkits.net I'd suggest getting a SPeed stir device which does the stirring for you which makes it sooo much easier and faster to test.

Once you get your test kit tell us:
FC
CC
pH
TA
CH
CYA

Then we can go thru it with you and tell you how it looks.

Until then I'd add one gallon of generic, unscented, un-thickened, non-clorox brand bleach per day and brush the walls and floor of the pool. This will be a good start to killing anything in there, but it won't add anything unwanted such as algaecides or other problematic pool store chemicals.

Our method is to use ONLY that which is needed and nothing else. Pool stores are in the business to sell a lot of "something else" and those often are the root of the problems pools have.

Start reading Pool School... good start is this --> ABCs of Pool Water Chemistry

We're happy to help you with this new big pool!

Maddie

 

[bmorgan]

Thank you so much for your reply! I’m going on amazon now. Standby for closing and I will update my findings.

 

[YippeeSkippy]

Also...if you have questions about the equipment, just take a picture and post it. That'll help us know what you've got too.

Maddie

 

[bmorgan]

We do our final walk through Monday and I will get a better picture of everything

 

[Winnie-the-Pool]

Congratulations... once you are in the house fill out your signature as described HERE. It will help us help you.

 

[bmorgan]

We know we have a mess on our hands. The previous people didn’t maintain the yard or really anything. So where do we begin!!

 

[wilkj1]

did you close on house yet if so congrats and welcome . Did you order a test kit yet like Maddie asked. Now you will need to measure pool so can find out how many gallons your pool is you can do this with the pool math tab at top of the page there is a built in formula near bottom of the pool math page if you need help just ask. keep liquid chlorine in it for sure till you have good test kit then you will be helped to have a TFP . they helped me and i am forever grateful..

 

[bmorgan]

Ok we will measure. We found this in a closet. Is this what we need?

 

[wilkj1]

yes but its the small one the one Maddie showed you has more chems same stuff just more of the ones you will use also can you see dates hope its not to old they can be out dated but it is a start. now look to see if there is any of the reagent to check CYA (cyanuric acid) you need that to tell how much chlorine to use along with finding out how many gallons your pool is. to check CYA is a little tricky you need to be outside with sun to your back and dont stare at black dot just glance with it at waist level ask ? if you need to for sure. i use the TF100 so hopefully in got you going the right way

 

[mknauss]

Welcome to the forum! :handshake:

The K2006 is great. Do check the dates on the bottles. You can order a refill kit Complete Refill Set Taylor K-2006

I suggest you read Pool School - ABCs of Pool Water Chemistry and consider reviewing the entire Trouble Free Pool School book.

 

[YippeeSkippy]

alrighty, it looks like you have a sand filter with a multiport valve. Check your pressure gauge- it should read zero when the pump is off. If it isn't zero you need a new one. You can get a good oil filled one at tftestkits.net

It looks like you have a "waste" or "backwash" outlet which lowers your pool water and/or cleans the sand filter and it is the short pvc run into the grass. You may or may not want to add a bit of backwash hose to take the water further away from the equipment, or into a particular place in the yard.

THe test kit you found will work, maybe needs fresher refills but what it *really* needs is the Speed Stir device! Makes testing sooo much easier. TFTestkits.net is the source.

You have two valves on your return pipes. You *never* want to close both at the same time. Sure, you can tweak them (more on one than other or close one only) but never close both. Bad things would happen! Ok?

You could always add a Salt Water Chlorine Generator right before those pipes return to the pool. Just an option for chlorine.

Maddie

 

[2008GMCsierrasle]

That's going to be a beautiful pool when you get it all cleaned up!!! I can't believe how crystal clear you water is with algae in the pool, I thought with algae the water is supposed to be cloudy? Also is that mustard algae along the top of the walls? Experts??

 

[bmorgan]

We’re trying to figure this whole thing out

 

[Thasista]

We’re trying to figure this whole thing out

7.8 by my eyes

 

[YippeeSkippy]

Looks like 7.8 to me....

Maddie

 

[bmorgan]

That’s what it is in person too.