First time testing - would like to confirm results and actions to take

[Revlus]

Hello All,

Thanks so much for all the info here... and I'm going to immediately throw out my crappy test strips that really led me down the wrong path!
This forum has been so helpful with the pool school, pool math (and App!), etc... I just become a supporter... I'm sure you'll all save me more than what I donated! by a long shot.

I got the Taylor K-2006C (FAS-DPD) test kit.. read the booklet cover to cover, and am pretty confident in the results of this pool I just took ownership of and am taking care of for the first time.

I'll add to my signature when I figure it out again... but this is the pool:

~30k gal in-ground vinyl pool.
Sand Filter
2HP Pentair Whisperflow with 2" PVC (brand new - had it replaced by previous owners' and the pool's builder before I bought the house last fall)
Built in 2005 or 6 - doesn't seem to leak, but vinyl is very faded, as I'd expect I suppose.
Cleaning everything manually for now.. brushing and vacuuming.
Just opened a week ago, and I've been trying to balance it ever since with test strips. Well.. forget about that!!

Just got the Taylor kit and found:

FC 2.5
CC 3.0 (uh oh?!)
PH 8.2 (oops, thanks for nothing test strips!)
TA 90
CH 125
CYA 0 (dangit)
Temp 67F
CSI 0.17

Questions and confirmations:

1. So with CC being 3.0 - Means I have a lot of things the FC is eating up... so I should SLAM? DiChlor good for this? Found it fairly cheap at Lowes.
2. With TA 90, and PH 8.2 - just add appropriate muriatic acid?
3. CYA at ZERO - Time for the sock in front of a return.
4. If I add dichlor - do I also pour in some bleach? Unsure of the relationship here... just add dichlor, and when FC comes down again... and CC is zero.... start up with the bleach?

Filter question:

1. I have a big sand filter.... from 2005'ish. Sand has probably never been changed.. who knows? Owners didn't do a lot of maintenance on this house... so now I'm bringing everything back to where it should be.
   If I brush and vacuum.... but next day I see the pockets and swirls of dirt everywhere on the bottom again.... filter sand needs changing?
   If so... where do folks usually by the many large bags of POOL SAND... pool store here seems very expensive to me.

Thanks all for the help.. really appreciating this place right about now as I ramp up my knowledge.

 

[Mr Bruce]

0. Before you start your SLAM, how have you been chlorinating? Can you take your FC to 10 with bleach and check it in 15 minutes?
If most of your FC is there, then
1. Yes, a SLAM is in order. Here's the article again just for fun. Pool School - SLAM - Shock Level And Maintain No, use liquid chlorine/bleach only.
2. Yes, but add a little at a time, 1/3-1/2 of what you get in pool math. Retest after 30 minutes and add again if necessary.
3. Yep. Need to get to 30.
4. See #1

The sand is probably fine. It may need a deep clean. Deep Cleaning a Sand Filter It may seem daunting but it really only takes 30 minutes to an hour, I'd do it before getting started. That'll let you know there is an appropriate amount of sand as well. Hold off buying more sand until you do this step.

 

[Flying Tivo]

Would be better to do the Deep cleaning of the sand filter first, so you are sure you have a clean filter and the slam can go faster.

Felipe

 

[Revlus]

Glad I posted....

Ok, will deep clean first. I have one connection to the filter that doesn't have a disconnect. Will see if I can work around this or not... or if I have to cut and add one in.

I've been using liquid chlorine... Seems someone in the 2018 Bleach Prices thread found a great deal on 12.5%, $3/gal. Going to stock up. I don't have enough right now to slam.

What's an "appropriate amount of sand" ??

Appreciate the replies!

 

[Flying Tivo]

Unions are a must for all equipment, take the time to do it right! It lists 600Lbs of sand for your filter, when you open it up, the sand should be about 3/4 of the way up. Remember Sand does not go bad, just add if needed.

Felipe

 

[Revlus]

Unions are a must for all equipment, take the time to do it right!

Any 'ol union? Or do people like buying that Hayward 2" Union

Any recommendation on a PVC glue? Guess it needs to be one for high pressure. Something like the Oatey Pooltite?

Annddd.. back on topic...

I decided to start SLAMing without the deep clean of the sand filter tonight. I'll do it in the morning and give a good brush/vacuum.

Got FC to 10 finally this evening (wow, pool sucked up a lot of bottles today!)
CC is down to 0.5
TA up to 100? wondering why that would've happened.
PH 7.4
I put a sock of CYA in, but no noticeable change in 2 hours... so still marking it as zero. When it starts to go up, I'll increase FC per the FC/CYA chart.

I'm really interested to see what happens when I deep clean the filter. Bit frustrating to see so much back in the pool a day later after an hour of brushing and vacuuming.. Or could it be the Chlorine just killing stuff in the water? It's pretty darn clear.... maybe just a touch of haze. Eh, regardless, I'll be doing the deep clean.

 

[funandsun]

Couple of thoughts here, once your FC gets up 10+ then your TA/pH et all readings are going to be less accurate. So just make sure your pH is 7.2 and dont worry about testing until done with SLAM.

Sand.. do as you wish but a few things to keep in mind...sand is the worst when it comes to getting fine particles filtered out, various reports of as good as 20 microns as bad as 40 microns, where cartridge is better and DE is the best down to near/at 5 microns.

You can add DE to your sand filter (there is a link around here somewhere) that will improve the performance near DE quality and that may resolve your dirt issue you are having.

Since you are uncertain of previous owners treatment of sand (did they use Floc, did they filter that or waste it) you will see when you open the sand filter itself... I abused my sand prior to TFP... last year I started out deep cleaning and decided that I would just change my sand out and start new knowing that I would never abuse it again the way I had. The performance of your filter is only bested by the balance of your water. It is critical. I am not personally willing to sacrifice clarity to save the sand.

Around my parts, a 50lb bag of #20 silica runs $15.00 and I only needed 3 of them, you would need 12 so the cost // benefit may not be there for you, it was easily there for me.

Good luck,