From a Basic Lawn to Private Resort - We Have A Pool! Controlling Pollen...

[elleb]

I see a floater, you have SWG correct? Why the floater?

Yeah gotta wait 30 days before Swcg is turned on. They are using the floater for now to see how our water does. I have liquid chlorine in the house but I'm trying to not get in the way of what they are already doing. They are slowly bringing the numbers up, so I'm monitoring levels also with my tfp pro salt kit and when I see something I say something.

 

[Newdude]

Never hesitate to step in with liquid chlorine if you see the FC trending/being low. Anything else is a long term concern that can wait a few days.

You haven't saved any poolmath logs. Is the CYA in range? If they're building it up with tabs, it will take weeks and the sun will roast your FC in 2 hours. Maybe less because it's HOT by you.

 

[elleb]

Never hesitate to step in with liquid chlorine if you see the FC trending/being low. Anything else is a long term concern that can wait a few days.

You haven't saved any poolmath logs. Is the CYA in range? If they're building it up with tabs, it will take weeks and the sun will roast your FC in 2 hours. Maybe less because it's HOT by you.

CYA has been 0 every test, but I plan to test again today. FC has been 1 since day 1, very little chlorine detected.

 

[Newdude]

Pucks only add 1 or 2 ppm CYA each and are terrible at build/spring startup when you need a boost. (If you use 150 over the season that's its own problem).

Get 20ppm going in a hanging sock, notify the PB you'll take that part from here.

Also. YAY right of passage time !!! You have a pool now. Kindly fill out your signature

 

[PieterS]

I thought the 'floater' you see was a surface skimmer?

 

[elleb]

Pucks only add 1 or 2 ppm CYA each and are terrible at build/spring startup when you need a boost. (If you use 150 over the season that's its own problem).

Get 20ppm going in a hanging sock, notify the PB you'll take that part from here.

Also. YAY right of passage time !!! You have a pool now. Kindly fill out your signature

I forgot to do my sigi . I plan to add some liquid chlorine tomorrow. I'm going to get that TA up to 80 first, it was 60 today, then PH to 7.2 -7.6, then get the CL up to at least 2. Is this the right order @Newdude? My CYA test is still coming out crystal clear. This test makes me question my sanity

 

[elleb]

I thought the 'floater' you see was a surface skimmer?

There's a small floater in there with chlorine tabs and they have 4 in th skimmer near the deep end. The skimmer bot (betta 2 ver 2023) or George Jetson is in there skimming away as well

 

[HermanTX]

I forgot to do my sigi . I plan to add some liquid chlorine tomorrow. I'm going to get that TA up to 80 first, it was 60 today, then PH to 7.2 -7.6, then get the CL up to at least 2. Is this the right order @Newdude? My CYA test is still coming out crystal clear. This test makes me question my sanity

Increasing your TA will also put support for pH to rise. With new plaster and start up guidelines, I understand the desire to raise TA to 80 but let if find its own equilibriu. 60- 80 is your target. My TA has settled out at 70 and keeps my pH fairly stable. Maintain pH in 7.6 area so you do not keep lowering TA with big doses of MA. If you have not read the following article, this may help guide you

Managing pH and Total Alkalinity - Further Reading

www.troublefreepool.com

Have you added stabilizer. Thanks for linking your PM logs but I do not see any data in it.

 

[Newdude]

My CYA test is still coming out crystal clear. This test makes me question my sanity

You need about 20 to even know there is some, and below 30 is sketchy at best. Those pucks only added one or two each.

I'm going to get that TA up to 80 first, it was 60 today, then PH to 7.2 -7.6, then get the CL up to at least 2. Is this the right order

FC is always job numero uno. Once the FC is in range, then the rest are long term concerns because none of them gift you a swamp.

The lower TA will help as for now as said above. Only raise it at 50, which it will get to on its own because the new plaster will be trending with rising PH for up to a year. Nows a good time to source MA because of said PH. Ace Hardware is the best by me with full strength (31%) for $9.99.

There are fumes but they are a good thing in this instance. They'll let you know you're doing it wrong. If you smell them, put the bottle on the other side of you or turn away from the breeze. Sink the bottle mostly in the water and pour from only a couple inches high to reduce splashing. Brush well after.

 

[elleb]

Increasing your TA will also put support for pH to rise. With new plaster and start up guidelines, I understand the desire to raise TA to 80 but let if find its own equilibriu. 60- 80 is your target. My TA has settled out at 70 and keeps my pH fairly stable. Maintain pH in 7.6 area so you do not keep lowering TA with big doses of MA. If you have not read the following article, this may help guide you

Managing pH and Total Alkalinity - Further Reading

www.troublefreepool.com

Have you added stabilizer. Thanks for linking your PM logs but I do not see any data in it.

Thanks @HermanTX! I haven't added anything, trying to let the builder do their thing without stepping on toes. I do want to add some liquid chlorine since the levels are very much close to what they were a few days after fill day. I have not logged anything in the pool log, I've been writing it all down.

 

[elleb]

I'm going to add Liquid Chlorine this morning. It's 10% by Pool Time in the 128 oz jug. I logged my results in Pool Math from 7:19am. What advice do you have when adding LC @HermanTX or @Newdude? Thank you. I don't want a swamp. My pool was in service mode but is now back on, as they had to drain it down to under the skimmer to repair a cracked tile in one of the skimmers yesterday. I'm filling it again now.

 

[Newdude]

Mostly sink the bottle to reduce splashing.

Pour gently in front of a working return.

Eyeballing is fine when adding under a gallon.

Add a couple insurance glugs. Nobody ever missed a few glugs. Any extra will mostly still be there tomorrow and still go to use.

Brush well after.

Until the CYA is registering, check it a couple times a day when possible. The UV half life of chlorine with no/little CYA is about 2 hours so it will go quick.

 

[elleb]

Updates for Thursday, landscaping is completed in front and backyard, they will be back for finishing touches after fence is completed. Fence started Tuesday and will be finished today, we have to wait 30 days to stain, but it's coming along nicely. Pool Builder's Pressure Washing guy is scheduled for next Wednesday and I will schedule a whole house pressure wash for late next week. Waiting on two quotes to come in, one for deck extension and stair addition, one for electrical in basement. I'm furniture shopping . Oh, the spa issue was fixed yesterday but I'm monitoring it.

 

[elleb]

I also am expecting these to arrive soon to hide the pool equipment:

 

[jonnyd91]

What did the issue with the spa wind up being?

 

[HermanTX]

I'm going to add Liquid Chlorine this morning. It's 10% by Pool Time in the 128 oz jug. I logged my results in Pool Math from 7:19am. What advice do you have when adding LC @HermanTX or @Newdude? Thank you. I don't want a swamp. My pool was in service mode but is now back on, as they had to drain it down to under the skimmer to repair a cracked tile in one of the skimmers yesterday. I'm filling it again now.

You are doing great. @Newdude got you covered on LC additions. Do same with MA to prevent splashing.

 

[elleb]

What did the issue with the spa wind up being?

Faulty diverter valve.

 

[elleb]

@Newdude and @HermanTX I finally have actual CYA results! The dot really does disappear when looking overhead down the tube. It looks cloudy until you cannot see the dot anymore. Mine is 40, dot disappeared at 30. I'm so happy I can read this now. Anywho, please read my logs for today, do you have any advice? I added the recommended amount of LC yesterday. Do I need to do the same today. Need to get that, PH, and CH in range.

 

[HermanTX]

Great work on the CYA. Once you done it then you have a reference as to how it should look
Keep adding LC because the UV does burn off some plus any consumed by bather load. This is what many forget with LC, you need to keep adding daily amounts of it. So test later today to top it off to the range for CYA of 40.

Does your tap water have calcium? You are currently at 200ppm and need to increase that to at least 250ppm. If not, purchase some at Home Depot or you can purchase on Amazon.

Your pH is high but slowly bring it down because your TA is good at 60. Make small doses of MA.

 

[Newdude]

I added the recommended amount of LC yesterday. Do I need to do the same today

*you* tell *us*

If the FC has dropped such that you will be below target range at the next check, then add accordingly to buy that extra time.

Then come report that your FC was a 4 with a CYA of 30 so you added back to 7 to buy another 24 hours. (Etc) High fives will be given.

Also always remember that UV loss is a moving target across the season like a bell curve. It's much less in the book ends of the season and spikes for the peak season. 1ppm a day might be plenty to get by in the late season but 4+ may be needed mid season. Your pool will tell you what it needs if you listen. It will not listen to you.