Let me just start off by saying, sorry for the long first post!
Recently bought a home with a pool, and since we are first time pool owners we knew that we needed to learn. Had a friend of a friend come out (who is VERY knowledgeable and a regular on this forum) and walk us through "pool school". Obviously I am still learning, and trying to recover from what the previous owner did (or didnt do).
Brief background on the pool. Previous owner was a DIE hard E-Z pool chemical user! He swore by the stuff. Told us multiple times that all he did was go out and throw 6 scoops of the stuff into the pool every Sunday and he never had any problems. When we tested the water we realized he was VERY wrong!
We bought the tf-100 test kit, and while waiting for it to show up took a sample of water to the local pool store. They tested the water, and stated that they couldnt even begin to tell us what chemicals to use due to our TDS being > 2500. They said to drop a sump pump in the deep end (which I dont have, it is 4' the whole way) and to place a garden hose in the shallow end, and to do this for 36 hours to replace some of the water. We did this process last weekend, and then our test kit showed up and we started to test the water for ourselves.
First test showed the following:
FC - 0.5
CC - 1.5
pH - 6.5
TA - 60
CH - 300
CYA - 95
I followed the recommendations from pool math, and added 298 oz of 12.5% bleach and 389oz of Borax 20 mule. Not knowing any better I just basically added all the chemicals in quick succession by broadcast spreading them across the surface of the pool and using the pool brush to dissolve any clumps.
Proceeded to perform tests the second night, and they showed the following:
FC - 0.5
CC - 1.0
pH - 6.8
TA - 90
I didnt test for CYA or CH as I have a vinyl pool and it is my understanding that they wont change much from day to day.
I followed the recommendations from pool math, and added 298 oz of 12.5% bleach. I only had 8 lbs of Borax 20 mule left, so I added what I could. I then felt like I needed to run to a pool store that was open nearby (Leslie's) and get some pH up. While there I had them test my water too. Their test results were a bit shocking, to say the least.
FC - 0.28
TC - 1.92
pH - 6.9
TA - 41
CH - 205
CYA - 133
Copper - 2 (that is a FULL TWO) ppm
TDS - 2000
there was a note saying "TA has been adjusted due to the effect of CYA on tested TA"
Their recommendations were too increase the TA, and then to use products called Metal Free and CU later. I understand that the Metal free will bind to the metals, and cause them to sink to the bottom of the pool and then I could vacuum them to waste. I would ABSOLUTELY think that was a bad idea, but am looking for thoughts from the experts?
I keep adding the 12.5% liquid chlorine as prescribed, but am not seeing the desired increases. After reading around further, it could be due to efficacy decreases from it being stored too long at too high a temp (or just being plain old). I havent tested it to see what it actually was, I have just been assuming it was full strength and using it.
Based on all the reading i have done on the forums in the past couple of days, it looks like I should go back to pumping and then replacing water. Is it okay to do it at the same time? I have also heard that I shouldnt drain more water than to the lower lip of the skimmers before refilling it to near the top lip of the skimmer. Can I use the sand filter and backwash hose to just drain to waste in the yard, or should i just use the cover pump to remove (which works about as fast as I can refill)? There are wrinkles in the vinyl liner, and it is my understanding that it could be caused by poor chemistry (which we have) or by ground water pushing on the liner and then settling again.
If I do drain and refill multiple times, should I worry about my chemistry before/during/after?
I am so confused by all the misinformation available on the web, and just want to get this pool under control!
Recently bought a home with a pool, and since we are first time pool owners we knew that we needed to learn. Had a friend of a friend come out (who is VERY knowledgeable and a regular on this forum) and walk us through "pool school". Obviously I am still learning, and trying to recover from what the previous owner did (or didnt do).
Brief background on the pool. Previous owner was a DIE hard E-Z pool chemical user! He swore by the stuff. Told us multiple times that all he did was go out and throw 6 scoops of the stuff into the pool every Sunday and he never had any problems. When we tested the water we realized he was VERY wrong!
We bought the tf-100 test kit, and while waiting for it to show up took a sample of water to the local pool store. They tested the water, and stated that they couldnt even begin to tell us what chemicals to use due to our TDS being > 2500. They said to drop a sump pump in the deep end (which I dont have, it is 4' the whole way) and to place a garden hose in the shallow end, and to do this for 36 hours to replace some of the water. We did this process last weekend, and then our test kit showed up and we started to test the water for ourselves.
First test showed the following:
FC - 0.5
CC - 1.5
pH - 6.5
TA - 60
CH - 300
CYA - 95
I followed the recommendations from pool math, and added 298 oz of 12.5% bleach and 389oz of Borax 20 mule. Not knowing any better I just basically added all the chemicals in quick succession by broadcast spreading them across the surface of the pool and using the pool brush to dissolve any clumps.
Proceeded to perform tests the second night, and they showed the following:
FC - 0.5
CC - 1.0
pH - 6.8
TA - 90
I didnt test for CYA or CH as I have a vinyl pool and it is my understanding that they wont change much from day to day.
I followed the recommendations from pool math, and added 298 oz of 12.5% bleach. I only had 8 lbs of Borax 20 mule left, so I added what I could. I then felt like I needed to run to a pool store that was open nearby (Leslie's) and get some pH up. While there I had them test my water too. Their test results were a bit shocking, to say the least.
FC - 0.28
TC - 1.92
pH - 6.9
TA - 41
CH - 205
CYA - 133
Copper - 2 (that is a FULL TWO) ppm
TDS - 2000
there was a note saying "TA has been adjusted due to the effect of CYA on tested TA"
Their recommendations were too increase the TA, and then to use products called Metal Free and CU later. I understand that the Metal free will bind to the metals, and cause them to sink to the bottom of the pool and then I could vacuum them to waste. I would ABSOLUTELY think that was a bad idea, but am looking for thoughts from the experts?
I keep adding the 12.5% liquid chlorine as prescribed, but am not seeing the desired increases. After reading around further, it could be due to efficacy decreases from it being stored too long at too high a temp (or just being plain old). I havent tested it to see what it actually was, I have just been assuming it was full strength and using it.
Based on all the reading i have done on the forums in the past couple of days, it looks like I should go back to pumping and then replacing water. Is it okay to do it at the same time? I have also heard that I shouldnt drain more water than to the lower lip of the skimmers before refilling it to near the top lip of the skimmer. Can I use the sand filter and backwash hose to just drain to waste in the yard, or should i just use the cover pump to remove (which works about as fast as I can refill)? There are wrinkles in the vinyl liner, and it is my understanding that it could be caused by poor chemistry (which we have) or by ground water pushing on the liner and then settling again.
If I do drain and refill multiple times, should I worry about my chemistry before/during/after?
I am so confused by all the misinformation available on the web, and just want to get this pool under control!
