First Timer - Chemistry… do I need a full drain?

[MotorGuy14]

Hello,

Purchased my first home and it comes with a first pool.

I’ve ran through a number of the pool school courses and purchased the TFPro test kit to start getting a handle on upkeep.

The prior owner was a serial “puck” user and mentioned a number of times he would just continually shock it as he figured out all he needed to do was just add chlorine prior to using it…

I took first measurements and from what I’ve read these readings seem to indicate he wasn’t lying!

pH - 6.7
FC - 30+ (stopped adding drops after 60 barely changed the pink hue)
CYA - 320

Is there anything to do here besides a full drain and start fresh? It seemed from reading other posts this was my only solution but figured I’d make my first post and see what the community thought.

 

[mknauss]

Welcome to the forum!
Best to drain and refill. Depending on your location, be ware of shallow surface water.
Review Draining - Further Reading

I suggest you read through Pool Care Basics - Trouble Free Pool and even look at a few of our videos TFP-TV - Trouble Free Pool

 

[MotorGuy14]

Welcome to the forum!
Best to drain and refill. Depending on your location, be ware of shallow surface water.
Review Draining - Further Reading

I suggest you read through Pool Care Basics - Trouble Free Pool and even look at a few of our videos TFP-TV - Trouble Free Pool

Thanks for confirming my suspicions… yes all the way deep in the courses here and YouTube channel. What a great resource this is!!

 

[sande005]

320!!! Geez - did you do a dilution test to confirm? Mix up a combination of 25% pool water and 75% tap water. Then use that as the sample for testing. If you end up near 80, that would confirm the extremely high number.

 

[Mdragger88]

Oh man,
Always hate to see a situation where a full replacement is needed but at least you will get a fresh start with your new to you pool.
is this a plaster pool?
Filling out your signature in detail will help everyone better help you when questions arise.

Create Your Signature - Further Reading

www.google.com

 

[MotorGuy14]

320!!! Geez - did you do a dilution test to confirm? Mix up a combination of 25% pool water and 75% tap water. Then use that as the sample for testing. If you end up near 80, that would confirm the extremely high number.

I came up with the 320 using the dilution method. 7.5 Ml pool water, then add 7.5ml tap water. Mix pour down to 7.5ml then repeat. Multiplied reading by 4 and the eye test with light behind me read 80 after all that hence 320. I think from watching the video and reading the forum that was correct. The video said “to the label” but there wasn’t a label just ml markings on the tube in the kit. Then the instructions said 7ml and 14ml so I went with that….

Let me know if it all makes sense to you, and I was as surprised as you at the high reading!! Even the FC test was extremely high, I put in 60 drops of the recommended solution (very carefully one drop at a time vertical) and it barely started lightening.

 

[MotorGuy14]

Oh man,
Always hate to see a situation where a full replacement is needed but at least you will get a fresh start with your new to you pool.
is this a plaster pool?
Filling out your signature in detail will help everyone better help you when questions arise.

Create Your Signature - Further Reading

www.google.com

I’ll get the signature completed, thanks for pointing that out… I do believe it’s plaster!

 

[sande005]

I gotta ask - did the previous owner look like an albino from swimming in that?
(I actually have no idea about what the effects are of such high CYA and CL, but it probably isn't good...)

 

[Bperry]

I came up with the 320 using the dilution method. 7.5 Ml pool water, then add 7.5ml tap water. Mix pour down to 7.5ml then repeat. Multiplied reading by 4 and the eye test with light behind me read 80 after all that hence 320. I think from watching the video and reading the forum that was correct. The video said “to the label” but there wasn’t a label just ml markings on the tube in the kit. Then the instructions said 7ml and 14ml so I went with that….

As long as the CYA test used 1/2 reagent and 1/2 pool water sample (diluted as needed), you did it right.