We just opened the pool over the weekend to take advantage of the rainfall to finish filling the pool. The problem is that we're building a rather large patio beside the pool and dust from cutting the stones is going into pool combined with pollen, dirt, bugs etc and I have a filthy, messy pool! I brushed the entire thing to stir up as much as possible to go into filter. Planning to vacuum to waste tomorrow. Should I test water now or wait until I get it halfway clean. The water was clear before I stirred it. Should I not have stirred it up like that? Patio construction is about halfway complete. Should I wait until it's finished to battle the mess or test the water and get some chlorine in it? I don't know what to do, never had this problem before.
Help, dust everywhere
- Thread starter Farmerswife96
- Start date
- Jun 8, 2019
- 4,581
- Pool Size
- 20000
- Surface
- Vinyl
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-60
You can test it now. Best to get it sanitizing ASAP. Don’t want to fight both the algae and the dust. 
It will either settle and it can be vacuumed, or your filter will filter it out.
It will either settle and it can be vacuumed, or your filter will filter it out.
I have been vacuuming and have to stop to backwash filter because it gets clogged up so much. Got most of the debris and dust but more to do tomorrow. Should I wait until I'm done vacuuming and backwashing to put chlorine and stabilizer in? Tests also show alkalinity is low so putting that in first thing in the morning.
- Jun 8, 2019
- 4,581
- Pool Size
- 20000
- Surface
- Vinyl
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-60
I would adjust the chemicals now and get them in per my last quote or you will be fighting algae too.
Okay I forgot to post test results
pH 7.5
FC .17(per pool store test)
CC 0
TA 40
CYA 9(Per pool store test, I couldn't get a reading)
CH 88-100(pool store result-my result)
Pool store owner recommended adding MA first to lower pH then adding baking soda to increase alkalinity then adjust as needed. Then add calcium, then stabilizer. But she really didn't specify when to put chlorine in. Her tests also showed
Copper .7 and iron .5. Haven't had problems with metals in years so I bought some stain prevention products.
pH 7.5
FC .17(per pool store test)
CC 0
TA 40
CYA 9(Per pool store test, I couldn't get a reading)
CH 88-100(pool store result-my result)
Pool store owner recommended adding MA first to lower pH then adding baking soda to increase alkalinity then adjust as needed. Then add calcium, then stabilizer. But she really didn't specify when to put chlorine in. Her tests also showed
Copper .7 and iron .5. Haven't had problems with metals in years so I bought some stain prevention products.
- Jun 8, 2019
- 4,581
- Pool Size
- 20000
- Surface
- Vinyl
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-60
Ph 7.5
FC 0( water didn't turn colors after scoop)
CC 0
TA 40
CH 100
CYA (I mixed as directed and poured into tube all the way to the top but could still see dot so I don't know what the reading was) I figured it was really low.
FC 0( water didn't turn colors after scoop)
CC 0
TA 40
CH 100
CYA (I mixed as directed and poured into tube all the way to the top but could still see dot so I don't know what the reading was) I figured it was really low.
I just read this in pool school...
After adding Calcium Hypochlorite a user should always wait 24 hours before adding chemicals that would alter their pH. Adjusting pH or Total Alkalinty after adding Calcium Hypochlorite can cause the calcium to temporarily cloud the water.I was in a hurry to get some chlorine in so I put 3 lbs in last night and was going to add baking soda this morning to raise alkalinity so now I guess I will have to wait.
After adding Calcium Hypochlorite a user should always wait 24 hours before adding chemicals that would alter their pH. Adjusting pH or Total Alkalinty after adding Calcium Hypochlorite can cause the calcium to temporarily cloud the water.I was in a hurry to get some chlorine in so I put 3 lbs in last night and was going to add baking soda this morning to raise alkalinity so now I guess I will have to wait.
- Jun 8, 2019
- 4,581
- Pool Size
- 20000
- Surface
- Vinyl
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-60
You have to wait to test for pH or TA, but you can still get CYA and Chlorine into the water. I would start with some Chlorine, enough to get up to 5ppm, and test the water after 15 minutes of mixing. Let's be sure it holds and you don't have any ammonia before we add the CYA.
I'll test the chlorine when I get home which will be 17 hours after adding:/
I used pool math to calculate for slam/shock level and it said to put 3lbs5oz of 73% cal hypo which is what I'm using. If I still have chlorine in, enough to sanitize, should I then add cya? Thank you for helping me!
I used pool math to calculate for slam/shock level and it said to put 3lbs5oz of 73% cal hypo which is what I'm using. If I still have chlorine in, enough to sanitize, should I then add cya? Thank you for helping me!
- Jun 8, 2019
- 4,581
- Pool Size
- 20000
- Surface
- Vinyl
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-60
If the sun is on the pool it might burn that off in 17 hours with no CYA. It's still worth adding to help keep the pool from getting algae but we'll need to do it at a time when you can test about 15 mins after adding.
Also, you might want to see if you can get your hands on a bunch of liquid chlorine. Walmart, Home Depot, Lowe's, and often farm supply stores or hardware stores typically carry it. The cal hypo will add calcium to the pool. You're pretty low on CH so it's not going to be an immediate concern but if you end up adding a lot of it, you could push your CH up to the point where you have to worry about calcium scale on the liner. Liquid chlorine only adds a little salt to the pool which is nothing, really.
Also, you might want to see if you can get your hands on a bunch of liquid chlorine. Walmart, Home Depot, Lowe's, and often farm supply stores or hardware stores typically carry it. The cal hypo will add calcium to the pool. You're pretty low on CH so it's not going to be an immediate concern but if you end up adding a lot of it, you could push your CH up to the point where you have to worry about calcium scale on the liner. Liquid chlorine only adds a little salt to the pool which is nothing, really.
No sun, just clouds and rain. If it's at least 5ppm then I can add CYA? I've never had to add CYA before because it was always in the pucks I used to use. Don't use them anymore. No worries about the calcium right now. Closest place for bleach is 2 hours away and I just bought the calcium hypo. Once the madness dies down I'll start looking for it again before I run out of chlorine. But I understand what you're saying! ?
- Jun 8, 2019
- 4,581
- Pool Size
- 20000
- Surface
- Vinyl
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-60
I want to just be sure you don't have ammonia in the pool. It's rare, but sometimes pools can get a bacteria in them that eats CYA and turns it into ammonia. If you put CYA in while you have that bacteria it will make ammonia from it, which eliminates the FC. If you can put FC in, let it mix for 15 minutes and still get a FC reading, then you know you don't have that bacteria/ammonia and are safe to add the CYA.
Okay I tested it and zilch. So I added enough to bring it to 5-6ppm. Waited 15 minutes and tested, these are the results.
FC 1.5-2(tested twice, I got 2 the first time and 1.5 the 2nd)
CC .5 if any, color change wasn't very noticeable.
Now what???
FC 1.5-2(tested twice, I got 2 the first time and 1.5 the 2nd)
CC .5 if any, color change wasn't very noticeable.
Now what???
- Jun 8, 2019
- 4,581
- Pool Size
- 20000
- Surface
- Vinyl
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-60
Good. That means it’s holding FC. No ammonia issue.
Looks like you couldn’t get a reading on CYA, right? I’d go ahead and get 30ppm of CYA into the pool. Use the sock method - use an old sock (no holes), put the CYA in there, tie it off to a pool rod or something similar, and suspend it into the pool in front of a return jet. Every so often squeeze it to help the CYA get through the sock and into the water.
Check the pH again and add muriatic acid to get it down to 7.2 and then you can start theSLAM Process - read the article at that link and let me know if you have any questions on it!
Looks like you couldn’t get a reading on CYA, right? I’d go ahead and get 30ppm of CYA into the pool. Use the sock method - use an old sock (no holes), put the CYA in there, tie it off to a pool rod or something similar, and suspend it into the pool in front of a return jet. Every so often squeeze it to help the CYA get through the sock and into the water.
Check the pH again and add muriatic acid to get it down to 7.2 and then you can start theSLAM Process - read the article at that link and let me know if you have any questions on it!
- Jun 8, 2019
- 4,581
- Pool Size
- 20000
- Surface
- Vinyl
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-60
Phosphates really aren’t a concern so long as the chlorine is in check. Algae can’t eat if it’s dead.
Why am I doing the SLAM? The water is clear.Good. That means it’s holding FC. No ammonia issue.
Looks like you couldn’t get a reading on CYA, right? I’d go ahead and get 30ppm of CYA into the pool. Use the sock method - use an old sock (no holes), put the CYA in there, tie it off to a pool rod or something similar, and suspend it into the pool in front of a return jet. Every so often squeeze it to help the CYA get through the sock and into the water.
Check the pH again and add muriatic acid to get it down to 7.2 and then you can start theSLAM Process - read the article at that link and let me know if you have any questions on it!
Working on TA, pH and getting CYA in today. ?
- Jun 8, 2019
- 4,581
- Pool Size
- 20000
- Surface
- Vinyl
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-60
Thought it was still dusty and cloudy. If it’s clear then you should be fine to bring it to normal FC levels for the amount of CYA you add on the FC/CYA Levels.
No after repeated vacuuming and backwashing. Even with all the rain we're having. It looks good. Can see all the way to the bottom. Adjusting alkalinity and ph levels today. First time doing the sock method, I like that idea?
Thank you so much for your help IceShadow? Will post again if I have any more problems/questions!!
Thank you so much for your help IceShadow? Will post again if I have any more problems/questions!!
As we were working on the pool, I felt slimy stuff on the walls so I'm guessing algae took advantage of no chlorine ? so reading up on the SLAM process. Will start on it tonight. Any advice for first time doing SLAM??