Help // Oasis to Green

[mknauss]

If the TA is actually in the 50’s

It was pool store TA - adjusted. Real TA was 90 or so.

 

[jeffchap]

They did sell me algaecide and alkalinity up and NoPhos (which I already had). I didn’t buy anything else. So I added those three things when I got home.

What is the point of coming here to ask for advice if you're just going to ignore it?

Good luck!

 

[reggiehammond]

It was pool store TA - adjusted. Real TA was 90 or so.

Oh - missed the asterisk! Even worse then…

 

[caseyrichards]

If the TA is actually in the 50’s, you may have taken a good spot and introduced pH drift. You’ll then need to buy MA to correct for that..

The three things you bought were about the same as throwing that cash out the window on the highway! It did you that much good!

Awesome

 

[reggiehammond]

Sorry - wish there were better news.
The good news is you’re at the right place, for the right information, that’ll do the least amount of damage to your wallet.

 

[setsailsoon]

Casey,

Part of the reason we don't make recommendations without a recommended test kit is you can make a bad situation even worse and very likely in many cases cause you to wast a lot of money. The results we do trust from pool stores is typically the metals content. Your results indicate you've used chemicals we never recommend because they don't work very well and likely will cause stains later on. So it's likely you will need to do a water exchange so adding chemicals other than chlorine will just be flushing $ down the drain. Good news is that you can have your pool in great shape only a few days after you get your test kit. So hang in there, pretty soon you'll have a permanent Trouble Free Pool. Just follow the advice of the experts already engaged here.

Good luck and please do keep us posted.

Chris

 

[BK MAC]

Well, after an entire summer of a sparkling oasis somehow this happened out of nowhere last week! One day perfect next day like this — I have no idea how it got away so fast.

Have you been using your inline chlorinator and feeding pucks to your pool all this time? If so, this didn't happen out of nowhere.
While I know it's frustrating and you want quick results, it appears you have been getting advice since last month and have not heeded it. There is a rhyme and reason to the facets of the TFP methodology, from owning your own test kit to understanding the FC/CYA relationship. Methodologies don't mix. As such, you are warned to stay out of the pool store. You've found the best place to run your pool as easily and economically as possible. Stick with this, listen to the advice, implement the advice and you will be rewarded with an easy to care for, sparkling clear TFP pool. Good luck!

 

[richierich]

Good job on ordering the proper TF 100 test kit. Are you using pucks? That's how your CYA got so high and kind of made your FC not effective. If you are using pucks, I would drain some of your pool and add fresh water to lower the CYA and shock the pool is the quick advice for the party today.

 

[caseyrichards]

Day two and significant improvement. See attached showing photos from yesterday to today. Unfortunately until that test kit arrives I don’t know what the levels changed to but visually it’s definitely better. So without that info today I backwashed the filter again in the AM, have been keeping the pump and robot running 24/7, and this evening after the sun set I added a second high dose of Clorox bleach (10 jugs equaling 1210 oz which is same as the first dose last night so now I’m up to a running total of 2420 oz thus far). Am I doing this right until the kit arrives or should I alter anything?

 

[mknauss]

I added a second high dose of Clorox bleach (10 jugs equaling 1210 oz which is same as the first dose last night so now I’m up to a running total of 2420 oz thus far).

Where did you get any instruction to do that?
Clorox is not good to be used as it has additives.
Let's assume it is 6% sodium hypochlorite. That was 25 ppm of FC at once. Without knowledge of what your CYA is, that can damage your liner. You should be adding 5 ppm FC per DAY until you get your test kit and have accurate test data.

 

[caseyrichards]

Where did you get any instruction to do that?
Clorox is not good to be used as it has additives.
Let's assume it is 6% sodium hypochlorite. That was 25 ppm of FC at once. Without knowledge of what your CYA is, that can damage your liner. You should be adding 5 ppm FC per DAY.

Hmm. When I used PoolMath app yesterday to calculate how much I needed to start SLAM with the numbers Leslie’s gave me (I know it may not be most accurate but all I have until the kit arrives) it said if using 7.5% sodium hypochlorite that I needed to add that much to raise it up. I was under the impression household bleach is ok to use until my liquid chlorine also arrives.

 

[setsailsoon]

Casey,

It's understandable that your want to get on with things but that's not how TFP works. You need reliable test results from the test kit you ordered. If you don't you can do damage to your liner as Marty pointed out and/or make things worse or just waste a lot of chemicals because you may need a water exchange before you do anything. I have no idea what your test results will give you but I can almost guarantee they will be different than the pool store. I know it's hard with a messed up pool looking at you every day but please do follow Marty's advice. Post a full set of test results as soon as you can after you get your kit. Then you'll be off to the races!

Chris

 

[caseyrichards]

Casey,

It's understandable that your want to get on with things but that's not how TFP works. You need reliable test results from the test kit you ordered. If you don't you can do damage to your liner as Marty pointed out and/or make things worse or just waste a lot of chemicals because you may need a water exchange before you do anything. I have no idea what your test results will give you but I can almost guarantee they will be different than the pool store. I know it's hard with a messed up pool looking at you every day but please do follow Marty's advice. Post a full set of test results as soon as you can after you get your kit. Then you'll be off to the races!

Chris

Sure. I’ll hold off doing anything more until both the kit and my liquid chlorine arrives. Was just trying to keep things at bay until then. Thanks.

 

[setsailsoon]

Sure. I’ll hold off doing anything more until both the kit and my liquid chlorine arrives. Was just trying to keep things at bay until then. Thanks.

That's a great decision. What you do with your pool is of course your call. We just hate do see people with the best of intentions make things worse. Do remember also that I believe he recommended 5 ppm FC daily until you get your test results posted.

 

[YippeeSkippy]

We don't recommend Clorox anymore because they added polymers to their bleach which makes that bleach unsuitable for pools. I believe it even says so on the label? PLAIN, unscented, non thickened, non-clorox type "technology" for clothes..... the plainest bleach you can find. Or better yet Liquid Chlorine from Walmart's pool section, Lowes or Home Depot.

Maddie

 

[PoolStored]

Sure. I’ll hold off doing anything more until both the kit and my liquid chlorine arrives. Was just trying to keep things at bay until then. Thanks.

Casey, First pool for me. Pool store took me for over $1300 in UV Filters, clarifiers, phosphate removers, you name it. Hence my username.

Stop. Take a deep breath. Slow down. We all want it fixed TOMORROW! I did too, and was frustrated by the process and the time and effort involved. Looking back, I now understand. My pool takes me less than 4 minutes a day to maintain. Looks great and is always ready for a swim.

My advice:
1) Stop going to the pool store.
2) Go to pool school and read. Read it again. Go back to pool school and read it again. ABCs of Pool Water Chemistry
3) Don't put ANYTHING into your pool, until you understand EXACTLY what is in what you are putting in (READ THE LABEL), and WHY you are putting it in.
4) Learn to test and use your results by posting them here, or better yet, use PoolMath and share your logs.
5) Post your questions here and follow the advice you receive. You WILL have excellent results. If you want proof --> TFP Clear - Let's see PICs!
6) Be patient with your pool's recovery. It may take a bit of time to correct, and for you to understand what you are doing, but will save you sooooooo much time going forward, when you understand what you are doing.

Looking forward to your results!!!

 

[PoolStored]

@caseyrichards Any updates?

 

[caseyrichards]

@caseyrichards Any updates?

I was literally typing up as we speak. Kit took a little bit longer to arrive than expected so just received today and here’s the results plus a photo. Really looking great again visually and can you tell me how these numbers look?

------------------------------------------
Test Results 08-28-2021 @ 11:41 AM
------------------------------------------
Free Chlorine: 8.0
Combined Chlorine: 1.0
pH: 7.5
Total Alkalinity: 250
Calcium Hardness: 350
CYA: 50
Temperature: 85°F
CSI: 0.47

 

[PoolStored]

Cool Pool!

I was literally typing up as we speak. Kit took a little bit longer to arrive than expected so just received today and here’s the results plus a photo. Really looking great again visually and can you tell me how these numbers look?

------------------------------------------
Test Results 08-28-2021 @ 11:41 AM
------------------------------------------
Free Chlorine: 8.0
Combined Chlorine: 1.0
pH: 7.5
Total Alkalinity: 250
Calcium Hardness: 350
CYA: 50
Temperature: 85°F
CSI: 0.47

The FC is good for CYA of 50. The CC at one is concerning at 1, it may mean you have organics/algae. Why don't you do an OCLT, then we will know if you need to slam to remove organics. Overnight Chlorine Loss Test

Great job on getting the test kit!

 

[caseyrichards]

Thanks! Glad everything we did last week seemed to do the trick. I’ll do the other test you recommend and report back. As always appreciate the help and support!