Having a pool built and need advice

[voidpointer]

Boy the fumes on this MA is no joke guys. How do you avoid breathing in this stuff? I find holding the bottle down wind from me helps a little. Having to pour this stuff in a measuring cup certainly doesn't help the exposure issue...

I'd love to pour directly but I just don't have a good feel for what pouring 30oz of fluid feels like. Either way, I got it in there today and brushed after. Looking forward to seeing if my tests tomorrow morning look better

 

[YippeeSkippy]

Imagine pouring from a gallon of milk.... 30 ounces would be about 1/4 of the jug. Close is close enough. Sit the jug in the water and tip if that helps? I always brush the area and walls after adding MA. I'd hate to find it had sat on the bottom (as its heavier than water) and marred my finish.

Retest later on to see if you met your goal.

Maddie

 

[ajw22]

Boy the fumes on this MA is no joke guys. How do you avoid breathing in this stuff? I find holding the bottle down wind from me helps a little. Having to pour this stuff in a measuring cup certainly doesn't help the exposure issue...

I hold the jug in my right hand at waist level standing by the deep end of the pool.

I uncap the jug with my left hand.

I bend over to get the jug opening close to the water to minimize splashing and give it a pour.

Then I stand up straight and recap the jug.

The jug never gets near my face to breath in any fumes.

If I am not sure about the amount of my pour I came back a bit later and check the pH.

If you target pH of 7.6 and over pour you may get pH to 7.2-7.4. No harm done. Under pour and pH may be 7.8 and so makeup for it tomorrow.

You will get the hang of it. It does not need to be exact as the robot makes you think it should be.

 

[Newdude]

I find holding the bottle down wind from me helps a little

Exactly. If you're pouring to your left and catch a whiff, it's a good thing and Mother Nature's way of telling you that you're doing it wrong. Switch sides and you'll be upwind.

I just don't have a good feel for what pouring 30oz of fluid feels like

You can sharpie the bottle with simple maths. 10 lines are about 12 ounces each.

 

[voidpointer]

If I am not sure about the amount of my pour I came back a bit later and check the pH.

How long does the pool need for the pH to "settle"? I assume it would not be worth testing again until the next day (24 hrs?) so it has time to spread / circulate?

 

[ajw22]

How long does the pool need for the pH to "settle"? I assume it would not be worth testing again until the next day (24 hrs?) so it has time to spread / circulate?

30 minutes. pH circulates rapidly.

 

[voidpointer]

30 minutes. pH circulates rapidly.

I just tested it and it's at 7.5 now. It feels good to see that I did something right!

 

[voidpointer]

So I ordered the TF-Pro test kit on 6/29/2022. I thought my pool was going to be done around that time, but alas it did not. Seeing as how I'm first starting to use this in March 2023, will I really have to order refills for everything in 3 months? Talk about a waste of money

Would it hurt to keep using everything for another year?

 

[Newdude]

If it was stored in a climate controlled environment, it should have no problems getting 2 years. Mine (from last year) lives up top in the coat closet and I fully expect it to be fine this year.

 

[voidpointer]

I stupidly kept it in a cabinet in my garage. And we had some crazy hot temps last year in Texas. Now that I know a little more, I keep it in the air conditioned house. I mean, if I really need to buy a new refill kit , now might be the time to do it since they're 20% off.

 

[Newdude]

You won't know until the readings get screwy. By then, the sale is long over. Whattayagonnado?

 

[voidpointer]

until the readings get screwy

Can you give some examples? I'd be worried about ambiguity between actual legit readings that are bad and false negatives (or positives).

 

[Newdude]

Can you give some examples?

Just that the readings are off. By then, you'll just know what to expect from the tests. It's the natural path of regular testing.

The irony is that more testing makes things easier by making you at one with the pool at some point. People dont want to do more work, but it leads to less work.

Patience. You'll get there.

 

[mknauss]

The reagents that can show their age first are the R0011L, the R0870 powder, the R0014 for pH.

 

[PoolGate]

I get a new set every year just to help support the site.

 

[voidpointer]

I get a new set every year just to help support the site.

Unrelated question: Based on the pictures of the equipment I sent you before, do you know how they would be controlling the tanning ledge bubblers separately from the rest of the returns in the pool? I have this in my list of questions for "pool school" but figured I'd get a head start here if I could...

 

[PoolGate]

Unrelated question: Based on the pictures of the equipment I sent you before, do you know how they would be controlling the tanning ledge bubblers separately from the rest of the returns in the pool? I have this in my list of questions for "pool school" but figured I'd get a head start here if I could...

My guess is that feature (2nd) pump you have.

 

[voidpointer]

My guess is that feature (2nd) pump you have.

That's not it because the sheers and slide aren't on right now. It also shows off in the app. I figured it might be one of the physical valves?

 

[PoolGate]

That's not it because the sheers and slide aren't on right now. It also shows off in the app. I figured it might be one of the physical valves?

Your pic shows 2 feature pumps. Are you able to turn it on/off with the app? Looks like you only have 2 JVAs so much be one of the 2 feature pumps. Probably the smaller one. Turn it on and see if that pump starts.

 

[voidpointer]

Your pic shows 2 feature pumps. Are you able to turn it on/off with the app? Looks like you only have 2 JVAs so much be one of the 2 feature pumps. Probably the smaller one. Turn it on and see if that pump starts.

I don't see a way to turn it on. The bubblers are running right now so I was expecting to see one of these "ON"