Hack My Pool

[Newdude]

Im sorry this can be tricky when youre new, but we got you and we're patient.

Do 8.2 to 7.8. Its at 8.6 in your poolmath.

Lower the Ph by 0.4 at a time. When it's a mid 7, calculate that last bit in poolmath to make it a low 7.

 

[JessBlount617]

I’m pretty much still reading an 8.2… it’s not nearly as bold of a pink, but it’s definitely not “7-worthy” - yet!

I’m at 16 oz in. I know I have a while to go. I’m just glad it’s sunny outside!

Here’s the adjusted PoolMath - fingers crossed since we’re over 14 oz!

 

[JessBlount617]

Good grief… this pH is moving slow for certain!!

 

[Newdude]

Good grief… this pH is moving slow for certain!!

Well dosing 4 fl ounces at a time instead of 14 oz at a time didn't help.

Theoretically if the 51 fl oz total calculation was correct, that would have been 12 or 13 doses instead of 3 or 4.

But that's OK!!!! Too little is better than too much here.

 

[JessBlount617]

Should I live dangerously and go 6 oz next time?!

 

[proavia]

Should I live dangerously and go 6 oz next time?!

Look at PoolMath
How much muriatic acid does it take to lower your pH from 8.2 to 7.8 (0.4 - 4/10 of a point)?
If your pH is over 8.2, add that much acid and test pH again in 10-20 minutes.
Rinse, repeat until your pH is lower than 8.2
Now you have a readable, reliable pH that is on the scale of the comparator block.
Continue to lower the pH with additions that do not exceed 0.4 points until your pH is where you want it you be.

Adding 4 ounces at a time is time consuming and wasting pH reagent.
It isn't 4 ounces at a time - it's 0.4 points per dose.

And yeah, I could provide the exact dosage for your pool to lower the pH 0.4 based on your TA - but it's better for you to learn to use PoolMath to do this.

 

[wireform]

When pouring liquid chlorine or Muriatic acid just pour it slowly infront of a running return & brush the area.
You can float the jug on the water to help with the weight when its full.
I hold the jug in one hand & the brush in the other. Pouring & brushing/mixing.
You also want to be upwind to avoid fumes - i hold my breath especially for the acid

I don't recommend pouring from the MA jug as one slip you got a whole new mess, where as the chlorine jug is fine there and a slip isn't detrimental, it'll just burn off in a day or two.

 

[JessBlount617]

Look at PoolMath
How much muriatic acid does it take to lower your pH from 8.2 to 7.8 (0.4 - 4/10 of a point)?
If your pH is over 8.2, add that much acid and test pH again in 10-20 minutes.
Rinse, repeat until your pH is lower than 8.2
Now you have a readable, reliable pH that is on the scale of the comparator block.
Continue to lower the pH with additions that do not exceed 0.4 points until your pH is where you want it you be.

Adding 4 ounces at a time is time consuming and wasting pH reagent.
It isn't 4 ounces at a time - it's 0.4 points per dose.

And yeah, I could provide the exact dosage for your pool to lower the pH 0.4 based on your TA - but it's better for you to learn to use PoolMath to do this.

Okay… let me think this through.

I’m just now getting something less than 8.2 on pH.

To move from 8.2 to 7.8 according to PoolMath: 14 oz of Muratic Acid to get there

Ohhhhhhh my god…. It’s saying I need 14 oz to get my pH to drop to 7.8 jessssuuuusss Jessie… so I’m just piddle farting my way 4 oz at a time…

And then when I’m at 7.8… to get to a 7.4 (drop by .4) I’ll need XYZ ounces.

I told you I was not made for math!!!!!

 

[wireform]

Keep going until the BOOM PINK change. Then add one drop to ensure no further change and remove the last drop that didn't change it.

Make sure to wipe the tip as directed. That bottle picks up a static charge in shipping and takes some tests to work out. It reads high at first if not wiped or not wiped enough.

Your area has notoriously high TA, but it might not be 370 high.

Most likely a high count to small droplets. Make Sure all reagent dropper bottles are completely vertical before you start ....
As said before the new TA reagent needs that flip bottle right side up, wipe tip with moist paper towel and then again invert for the next drop. This is a rinse and repeat kind of testing procedure.

 

[proavia]

Okay… let me think this through.

I’m just now getting something less than 8.2 on pH.

To move from 8.2 to 7.8 according to PoolMath: 14 oz of Muratic Acid to get there

Ohhhhhhh my god…. It’s saying I need 14 oz to get my pH to drop to 7.8 jessssuuuusss Jessie… so I’m just piddle farting my way 4 oz at a time…

And then when I’m at 7.8… to get to a 7.4 (drop by .4) I’ll need XYZ ounces.

I told you I was not made for math!!!!!

BINGO!!
We don't need to be good at math - we have PoolMath to do it for us.

 

[JessBlount617]

BINGO!!
We don't need to be good at math - we have PoolMath to do it for us.

I just needed to talk myself through it… out loud… to a group of strangers… while covered in gross pool water.

Cheers everyone!

Edited: And look at that!! We are ORANGE!!
Would this be a “safe” place to start the next phase of SLAM?!

 

[proavia]

Great pH to start the SLAM Process !!

 

[JessBlount617]

Great pH to start the SLAM Process !!

WAAAAAHOOOOO!!!!!!!

 

[JessBlount617]

CYA is 40. SLAM level should be 16.
FC: 1

So - make sure I am understanding PoolMath
I changed the percent up to 12.5% (I have pool shock liquid chlorinator, I then get...78 oz needed)

Following SLAM Instructions, I need 2x78 Oz or a total of 156 Oz. I have 2 Full Gallon Jugs + Some - which leads me to believe I have enough on me (1 gal = 128 fl oz)

Now... given my drama from yesterday. Where I backwashed and rinsed all my polyfil hard work right back into the pool - should I backwash and rinse now? And pray? Or should I check my PSI?

 

[proavia]

Following SLAM Instructions, I need 2x78 Oz or a total of 156 Oz. I have 2 Full Gallon Jugs + Some - which leads me to believe I have enough on me (1 gal = 128 fl oz)

You need 78oz of 12.5% liquid chlorine to raise your FC from 1 to 16.
Each time you retest, you will add enough liquid chlorine to bring your FC back to 16.
We don't know how much FC you will lose between testings.
You keep doing this until you pass ALL three SLAM criteria.

It may take a few gallons or many more - none of us know yet.

Any time the filter pressure rises 25% above clean filter pressure, backwash the filter.

Pray if you like. The SLAM Process works.
Follow it to the letter.

 

[wireform]

As the slam moves along the added amount to bring it to slam decreases then you reach the point where it holds....

 

[JessBlount617]

Good morning and Happy Friday!

Today is SLAM Day! Operation Bermuda Blue as my friends have coined it!

I noticed my water level is decreasing - should I fill, check and reduce pH (if necessary), measure CYA - and THEN begin SLAM?

I have read quite a few of the SLAM articles but none of them mention adding water before, during, after... and I don't want to make more of a scene than I already have!

Iron filtration is going incredibly well! I was able to dump 3 gallons of BAD water (orange, like clay) last night prior to backwash/rinse. PSI on the pump looking solid at 5 (I know to monitor for the 25% increase).

Gonna be a good day! I can feel it! (I'll add pics to my thread to show the orange water - I've never seen anything like it...

 

[Mdragger88]

Do you think you have a leak? How much water?
A little shouldn’t change things much.
Refill as needed to keep the pump operating.

 

[JessBlount617]

Definitely no leaks - I've been adamant for checking that. I have a solid "iron line" thanks to the water being so iron-rich, and thats how I notice I am losing water.

I'll adjust as needed and just measure throughout the process!

 

[JessBlount617]

Photos of Orange water. Pretty wild that this started in my pool, and was filtered out by pillow-innards! Such a good life hack!