Jason my FC level was 1 when I tested it in the evening and 1 again in the morning. My CC is now 1 which had been zero. I was shooting to get to 5ppm FC as suggested. I got the CYA and will add now along with more bleach and retest later.
First time trying TFP, pool just opened
- Thread starter mtesh73
- Start date
You can't do an OC LT with only an FC of one. That is so far below shock level for your cya you're probably growing algae
BattleOfYakima
TFP Guide
Just wanted to congratulate you on your progress so far and point out a couple things:
Startup is time consuming, but worth it! Your SLAM Process will use a lot of bleach, and you'll test the water a bunch, and to some people it seems like a lot of fuss over water that already looks pretty good... so remember: the goal here is to invest the time and resources now to get your pool to be Trouble Free going forward. Get the water crystal clear, but more than that, to get the water safe and not fighting off algae or bacteria all summer long, but instead to just have to generate via SWG and/or add via bleach only what is used each day to keep it safe and pay that small tax to the sun. You seem really determined to learn all this and committed to the TFP lifestyle, and I applaud you and remind you that you will get there and are following instructions very impressively. Stay the course. Ask you questions. Keep to the plan that has worked for thousands and thousands and you'll enjoy our TFP method soon enough!
Question: will the pool people be back to dump any more chemicals in your pool or are you done with that?
Startup is time consuming, but worth it! Your SLAM Process will use a lot of bleach, and you'll test the water a bunch, and to some people it seems like a lot of fuss over water that already looks pretty good... so remember: the goal here is to invest the time and resources now to get your pool to be Trouble Free going forward. Get the water crystal clear, but more than that, to get the water safe and not fighting off algae or bacteria all summer long, but instead to just have to generate via SWG and/or add via bleach only what is used each day to keep it safe and pay that small tax to the sun. You seem really determined to learn all this and committed to the TFP lifestyle, and I applaud you and remind you that you will get there and are following instructions very impressively. Stay the course. Ask you questions. Keep to the plan that has worked for thousands and thousands and you'll enjoy our TFP method soon enough!
Question: will the pool people be back to dump any more chemicals in your pool or are you done with that?
FYI, according to PoolMath (are you using this yet?), adding 3 121oz bottles of 8.25% bleach to a 40k gallon pool would raise the FC by 6ppm. So if you only see 1ppm, clearly the other 5ppm was consumed by something.
Thank you again to all who are helping me through. I am starting to get the hang of a bit more and reading and searching a great deal. I began the slam a half an hour ago with 7 gallons of 12.50%. I brushed the pool and got mostly all of the debris out again, it is still quite windy again here. I added 6lbs of CYA. I will test the FC and CC in about an hour and report back.
When can I test the CYA to make sure that is on target? I spent about a half an hour in each skimmer massaging panty hose......(boy, I hope I never have to say that again) LOL, but managed to get all 6 pounds into the pool pretty efficiently.
I am using pool math and find it very helpful, I think I am just a bit from connecting all the dots, chemistry wise, but on my way.
PS: Central Jersey pools has the 128oz, liquid shock 12.50% for $20 a 4 pack for those nearby. Seems to be a better buy than Walmart's 6% at $3.
Thank you again ladies and gentlemen. Time for some lunch.
When can I test the CYA to make sure that is on target? I spent about a half an hour in each skimmer massaging panty hose......(boy, I hope I never have to say that again) LOL, but managed to get all 6 pounds into the pool pretty efficiently.
I am using pool math and find it very helpful, I think I am just a bit from connecting all the dots, chemistry wise, but on my way.
PS: Central Jersey pools has the 128oz, liquid shock 12.50% for $20 a 4 pack for those nearby. Seems to be a better buy than Walmart's 6% at $3.
Thank you again ladies and gentlemen. Time for some lunch.
Last edited:
Have you comparedthe amount of chlorine you get for the price? There is a calculator in the PoolMath app or you can use this one:
Chlorine Price Per Ounce Calculator
Your 12.5% bleach comes out to $0.312 per oz of chlorine
The 6% bleach (assuming 121oz bottle?) comes out to $0.413 per oz of chlorine. (If this was still 8.25% it would be $0.301)
Does your Walmart have the 2 gallons of 10% in the pool section for ~$7? That would be $0.273 per oz of chlorine.
So, the 12.5% is a better deal, but not that great. Here I pay $3.99 per gallon of 12.5% in refillable jugs, where the 12th is free. So, you might still shop around.
- - - Updated - - -
Oh, I would give it at least a day before you test the CYA, since panty hose is holier than the white athletic socks I use, so it may not be fully dissolved. Just assume your CYA is at the level you targeted.
Chlorine Price Per Ounce Calculator
Your 12.5% bleach comes out to $0.312 per oz of chlorine
The 6% bleach (assuming 121oz bottle?) comes out to $0.413 per oz of chlorine. (If this was still 8.25% it would be $0.301)
Does your Walmart have the 2 gallons of 10% in the pool section for ~$7? That would be $0.273 per oz of chlorine.
So, the 12.5% is a better deal, but not that great. Here I pay $3.99 per gallon of 12.5% in refillable jugs, where the 12th is free. So, you might still shop around.
- - - Updated - - -
Oh, I would give it at least a day before you test the CYA, since panty hose is holier than the white athletic socks I use, so it may not be fully dissolved. Just assume your CYA is at the level you targeted.
Jason, I haven't really shopped for the bleach as of yet. Was at Walmart to get a brush and some other items to see if they even had the bleach, I checked the laundry and pools sections and found the 6% in the laundry department. No CYA worth buying or any bleach in the pool section.
After testing the FC and CC here are the results, I am kind of stumped again here.
FC: 3.5
CC: 3.5
I added 7 gallons of the 12.5% like the pool math suggested.
Haven't retested CYA again yet.
After testing the FC and CC here are the results, I am kind of stumped again here.
FC: 3.5
CC: 3.5
I added 7 gallons of the 12.5% like the pool math suggested.
Haven't retested CYA again yet.
So the high CC could be a result of CYA conversion to ammonia ... and it would have been better if you had not added more CYA until after that was resolved. You are going to be needing to add a LOT of bleach to get that CC gone. Keep testing and adding avery half hour until you get the FC to stay at shock level and the CC drop.
Just got back from the store with more bleach. Will add another 7 gallons now and retest in an hour.
Tested prior to adding.
FC: 2
CC: 3
Added 10 more gallons. Will retest in an hour. I am so frustrated. The pool is 4 years old, I don't remember ever adding so much chemical, but again I was relying on the pool store to tell me everything was ideal and that is what they did almost every time I went in.
- - - Updated - - -
How many bottles after adding the 10 should I add every half hour?
FC: 2
CC: 3
Added 10 more gallons. Will retest in an hour. I am so frustrated. The pool is 4 years old, I don't remember ever adding so much chemical, but again I was relying on the pool store to tell me everything was ideal and that is what they did almost every time I went in.
- - - Updated - - -
How many bottles after adding the 10 should I add every half hour?
What do you think about calling a fish/pet store to see if they do water testing? If you can find one, run a sample in and have them test for ammonia. Or buy a test kit and test it yourself. I know from letting my pool go from August until April, I had 1ppm of ammonia from debris in the pool.
I could locate a pet store pretty easily. I will see what I can do.
ETA: Petsmart does test for ammonia. I will test the FC now and bring the water to Petsmart once done.
ETA: Petsmart does test for ammonia. I will test the FC now and bring the water to Petsmart once done.
OK, alas, heading in the right direction. Must have been the FC dance and chain of expletives poolside that got things going.
FC: 16.5
CC: .5
I will continue the SLAM procedure....at what rate should I keep adding bleach? Massive amounts like 6 at a time?
FC: 16.5
CC: .5
I will continue the SLAM procedure....at what rate should I keep adding bleach? Massive amounts like 6 at a time?
DeanP66
0
You add just enough to replace what was lost from SLAM level. That means you test first and replace whatever was lost. The FC will start holding more and more with each test as the SLAM gets closer and closer to being done.
Yup, use PoolMath and enter you current FC reading and the FC target you want to know how much bleach to add each time.
Looks like you are making good headway now!
Looks like you are making good headway now!
Getting there. I have so many little questions I want to ask. I know I need to stay focused and the get the water balanced first.
FC: 26.5.. I think I may overshot a bit. LOL.
CC: .5
Temp is 67
I will let the FC drift down to 24 and try to maintain there until this evening and then perform the overnight test.
FC: 26.5.. I think I may overshot a bit. LOL.
CC: .5
Temp is 67
I will let the FC drift down to 24 and try to maintain there until this evening and then perform the overnight test.
Still holding steady. I have my fingers crossed that when I test in an hour the CC will still be .5 or less, which will allow me to perform the overnight test tonight.
FC: 26.5
CC: .5
Temp is 67
FC: 26.5
CC: .5
Temp is 67
Wow, I was traveling and missed a lot of this thread....
Jason has you going in the right direction.
Great job so far.
Jason has you going in the right direction.
Great job so far.
