I opened my pool for the first time in 2years

Jump to latest Follow Reply
chanelvaps said:
So if I did the calculator right, I need to add:
139 oz of bleach
25 oz Muriatic Acid (where do I get this?) You can get this at home depot, ace, lowes make sure to get the 31.45% strength
324 oz baking soda Don't worry about this until after your pool is clear
46 oz stabilizer (I have to go to the pool store for this right?) scared... You can stick with your current CYA, but you might loose more FC to the sun. It is up to you whether you add it now or later. Sometimes get this at Wal-Mart, usually available Home Depot, Lowes sometimes called conditioner, can get a pool store, but don't let them talk you into anything else, pool stores aren't scary once you are in control

- - - Updated - - -



Before the SLAM?
Click to expand...

Bottom line, the biggest issue right now is your PH. Once it is in range, you can start the SLAM. While SLAMing at your current CYA level, you can add the new stabilizer to a sock and place it in front of a return. Once the new stabilizer is dissolved, you can assume it is there and adjust your SLAM to the new CYA level. Don't bother testing CYA until a week after the stabilizer dissolves.
 

Attachments

  • Muriatic Acid Gallon.jpg
    Muriatic Acid Gallon.jpg
    20.7 KB · Views: 176
yes I did test in the house in bad light-alright going to test again today for CYA the way you suggested

kcindc said:
Well, first add acid to reduce your PH down to the recommended range. Use pool math to determine the amount of acid: http://www.troublefreepool.com/calc.html

Retest after 30 minutes to see if you PH is back in range.

Once your PH is in range, bring your FC back up to 12.

For the CYA test, you should use the CYA value that is closest to the line, for example, if the line is closer to 20, use 20, if the line is closer to 30 use 30 as your CYA. You should do the CYA test in the sunlight, put your back to the sun, hold the container at waist height. Any variation in testing procedures can produce inaccurate results. Did you test in the dark or dusk?

Don't worry about testing for CH and TA until you get your water clear.
Click to expand...

- - - Updated - - -

aha-I did add stabilizer but I did not dissolve properly and with so much back washing I probably got rid of it.
kcindc said:
Bottom line, the biggest issue right now is your PH. Once it is in range, you can start the SLAM. While SLAMing at your current CYA level, you can add the new stabilizer to a sock and place it in front of a return. Once the new stabilizer is dissolved, you can assume it is there and adjust your SLAM to the new CYA level. Don't bother testing CYA until a week after the stabilizer dissolves.
Click to expand...
 
I am on my way to Home Depot for Muriatic Acid. Not going to worry about anything else until I bring down PH. I am going to add acid and then wait 30 minutes and check it. If it is alright I will start SLAM. Thankfully I did not add the 324 oz of baking soda I listed last night due to test results from Pool Math because I did it wrong and listed that I needed TA of 120? What was I thinking?
Lastly, am I ever going to use this huge container I bought 2 weeks ago of chlorine tabs? can not find if I will be maintaining with these? If not going to take them back to Home Depot and get my $80 back. Will I just be maintaining with bleach? Oh just too easy and cheap to be for real? I might be able to open pool every year if I get this down pat.

- - - Updated - - -

I used 3 boxes of baking soda (4oz each) for a cost of $6.80 to accomplish what I used to spend $19 (cost of one box of Total Alkalinity) I am just looking at my costs and getting very happy.
Do not have a trouble free pool quite yet but it is getting there and the savings have been GYnormous
 
Alright back from Home Depot. Bought 6 gals of bleach (10% for 2.99 each) Bought 1 gal of Muriatic ($10.99)
added about 1/4 of the acid-maybe 25 oz, maybe not quite. Hard to tell and I am scared of it. Added it in front of a return line. Pump is on. pool looking clear but maybe a little greener than yesterday when it was blue. Not worried yet because if PH lowers as supposed to I am going to be hitting it hard with bleach right? Can somebody chime in with how much bleach I should start with (10%) and CYA level is 30 ish)
Just like to second guess myself and hear it from others :)
THANK YOU whoever can help
 
Using MAth calculator it looks like 300 oz's of 10% bleach is what I need to bring my pool to shock level?
I am using 11 as shock level because CYA tested 25 once (11 level) and 30 once (12 level)?
These are the figures I get.


chanelvaps said:
Alright back from Home Depot. Bought 6 gals of bleach (10% for 2.99 each) Bought 1 gal of Muriatic ($10.99)
added about 1/4 of the acid-maybe 25 oz, maybe not quite. Hard to tell and I am scared of it. Added it in front of a return line. Pump is on. pool looking clear but maybe a little greener than yesterday when it was blue. Not worried yet because if PH lowers as supposed to I am going to be hitting it hard with bleach right? Can somebody chime in with how much bleach I should start with (10%) and CYA level is 30 ish)
Just like to second guess myself and hear it from others :)
THANK YOU whoever can help
Click to expand...
 
Using MAth calculator it looks like 300 oz's of 10% bleach is what I need to bring my pool to shock level?
I am using 11 as shock level because CYA tested 25 once (11 level) and 30 once (12 level)?
These are the figures I get with test now 30 minutes after adding Muriatic
FC 1.5
CC .5
TC-2
TA-60
CYA 20 or maybe even below?
PH yay 7.2 ish


chanelvaps said:
Alright back from Home Depot. Bought 6 gals of bleach (10% for 2.99 each) Bought 1 gal of Muriatic ($10.99)
added about 1/4 of the acid-maybe 25 oz, maybe not quite. Hard to tell and I am scared of it. Added it in front of a return line. Pump is on. pool looking clear but maybe a little greener than yesterday when it was blue. Not worried yet because if PH lowers as supposed to I am going to be hitting it hard with bleach right? Can somebody chime in with how much bleach I should start with (10%) and CYA level is 30 ish)
Just like to second guess myself and hear it from others :)
THANK YOU whoever can help
Click to expand...
 
jmbradwell said:
You could always save them for when you go on vacation. A lot of people do that. They will last for years if kept dry.
Click to expand...

+1, use them if you'll be gone and can't be there to add bleach.

The acid does need respect but try not to fear it ;) The big thing with it is fumes. When you uncap it watch to see if it smokes and if so which way that smoke is blowing. Always hold it downwind. Even safer if you hold your breath while measuring it and then immediately add it to a bucket of water as then you can breathe and the dilution will make it much safer to be around. After all we are only talking about holding your breath for 15-30 seconds. If you get some in your nose you'll understand why I recommend it. I would use gloves and especially safety glasses if it splashes. I don't do gloves but I know I should. :hammer:
 

Enjoying this content?

Support TFP with a donation.

Give Support
You can also use the tabs later on when you need to add CYA, like after backwashing a lot and your CYA does down again. It takes longer for the CYA to get back up using tabs. Make sure you use Pool Math so you know how the tabs will affect your chems (FC, CYA and it will bring down you PH and TA).
 
I'm coming up with 272 oz of 10% using CYA 20 as in the test. Are we using 20, 25 or 30 for CYA ?? :confused:

I would go ahead with the 300 oz as it's not a bad idea to be one or two over your shock level as it will drop rapidly at the beginning of the SLAM.

Do you have some stabilizer ?? You might be a little low for being in Georgia and the sun if you are actually under 20. It's best to be low so you don't need as much bleach but if you're too low the sun will eat the heck out of your bleach all day. I'm thinking you should go to 30 but I'd see if anyone else agrees with that before bumping it up ;)

Do you have a floater to put the tablets in or do you put them in a skimmer ?? This might be a good use for them.
The reason I ask about a floater is I've been coming across more posts recently of people with plumbing problems from pipes deteriorating/cracking below their skimmers from the tables sitting in there. Made me go inspect mine as I know the PO and the present owner used chlorine tablets in the skimmers !!
 
I also see now you've posted three recent CYA numbers so it would be important to be sure where you are before we consider adjusting it.
 
I do not have a floater and have always just used the skimmer. How would I bring CYA up to 30? Yes I have stabilizer but I added it wrong last time and think I probably backwashed it out. Someone said something about a sock? very unfamiliar with this? I added 272 of bleach at 1:00pm
kiss4afrog said:
I'm coming up with 272 oz of 10% using CYA 20 as in the test. Are we using 20, 25 or 30 for CYA ?? :confused:

I would go ahead with the 300 oz as it's not a bad idea to be one or two over your shock level as it will drop rapidly at the beginning of the SLAM.

Do you have some stabilizer ?? You might be a little low for being in Georgia and the sun if you are actually under 20. It's best to be low so you don't need as much bleach but if you're too low the sun will eat the heck out of your bleach all day. I'm thinking you should go to 30 but I'd see if anyone else agrees with that before bumping it up ;)

Do you have a floater to put the tablets in or do you put them in a skimmer ?? This might be a good use for them.
The reason I ask about a floater is I've been coming across more posts recently of people with plumbing problems from pipes deteriorating/cracking below their skimmers from the tables sitting in there. Made me go inspect mine as I know the PO and the present owner used chlorine tablets in the skimmers !!
Click to expand...

- - - Updated - - -

these are the numbers at 11:30-12:00pm
FC 1.5
CC .5
TC-2
TA-60
CYA 20 or maybe even below?
PH yay 7.2 ish



kiss4afrog said:
I also see now you've posted three recent CYA numbers so it would be important to be sure where you are before we consider adjusting it.
Click to expand...

- - - Updated - - -

Going to test again at 3:30 and will check the date on the bleach then
 
IF ... you are at 20 you would put 32 oz by volume into a sock and tie it closed and then toss the sock in the skimmer and knead it once in a while. 32 oz should get you to 30. The squeezing helps it dissolve quicker and then you want to try and not backwash for a week. It can take the week for all the CYA to dissolve and get into the water and show up on the tests. Once it's dissovled out of the sock it still needs to get past the filter and into the water.

The other method is to hang it in front of a return jet.
 

Attachments

  • CYA in sock return jet.jpg
    CYA in sock return jet.jpg
    18.9 KB · Views: 148
Before you worry about not being able to backwash for a week how about you get a repeatable accurate measurement of the CYA so we know IF you need any.

If you need some then you add it because you need it and you go as long as you can without backwashing. In a perfect world that is a week. Maybe you can only go two days. Then two days it is.
Remember, it's only water. :calm:

If you need more than one sock that is TFP approved to use multiple socks or just get a guy with big feet to give you one ;)

If you pour it into the skimmer you just hope it doesn't clog the pipe, damage the pumps impeller as if it makes it through the pipe it's going into your pumps impeller and then it's going to sit in the filter till it dissolves. If you pour it loose in the skimmer it might be more than a week as the particles of CYA are larger then they would be if you helped dissolve them some by using the sock.
 
If you need to use two socks. Or use one sock and refill it when all of the first set is gone.

Skimmer=not so good. Sock way it gets into the water so is diluted before it gets to the equipment. Putting it into the skimmer means it is not diluted so could cause problems.

Kim
 

Enjoying this content?

Support TFP with a donation.

Give Support
You must log in or register to reply here.
Thread Status
Hello , This thread has been inactive for over 60 days. New postings here are unlikely to be seen or responded to by other members. For better visibility, consider Starting A New Thread.
Top Bottom
Back
Jump to latest Follow Reply