I’m new and overwhelmed.

[SERK51]

Folks here give excellent advice on maintaining your pool. Also, looking at your picture of the filter pressure gauge you might want to do a backwash on it.

 

[kimkats]

I would use the end of a butter knife as the dipper. That should just about enough.

 

[Trex48]

I highly recommend getting a speed stir! Best invention for testing your pool. These guys and gals on TFP have helped me tremendously and repeatedly.

 

[LawDog09]

Guys, I’m gonna be honest with you. I read the directions to the test kit and I watched YouTube videos using the test kit. It’s a foreign language. I still don’t know where to start.

 

[mknauss]

Get a sample of your water in a clean bottle or plastic measuring cup. Put 10ml of the pool water in the vial labeled Chlorine Only. Add the small amount of R0870 powder. Swirl water with powder in it until most of the powder is mixed in. Some power "rocks" may still be in there. Sample should turn pink/red. Use the R0871 reagent, hold bottle vertical, the drops should form and drop into the vial naturally. Count the drops to turn the sample clear. Swirl the sample while dropping in the reagent. Divide the number of drops by 2, that is your FC.

For the rest - just carefully follow the Extended Test Kit Directions Archives - Trouble Free Pool

 

[Oly]

Organize your kit by grouping all the same colored capped reagents.
Follow the directions inside the lid of the test kit.
Start with pH, fill to the 25ml line add five drops, cap, shake and compare to colored squares.
Be sure to rinse the vial well after each test.

 

[LawDog09]

So the FC was 1.0 ppm
When I add the R-0003 it turned back to pink.

 

[mknauss]

Then add R0871 until it gets clear and that tells you the CC.

 

[LawDog09]

So the FC was 1.0 ppm
When I add the R-0003 it turned back to pink.

PH is 7.0

 

[LawDog09]

Then add R0871 until it gets clear and that tells you the CC.

2 drops

 

[LawDog09]

Ok final results
FC 1.0
CC - took 2 drops to turn back clear
P.H. 7.0 - 2 drops to get to 7.4-7.6
Alkalinity - 30

 

[Mr Bruce]

CYA? Do it outside with your back to the sun holding the measuring vial at your waist. Sounds crazy but that's the best way to measure.

 

[mknauss]

Are the pucks still in the pool? What was the 'shock' you used, dichlor or calhypo?

Fill out your signature so we can better provide guidance.

 

[LawDog09]

Ok final results
FC 1.0
CC - took 2 drops to turn back clear
P.H. 7.0 - 2 drops to get to 7.4-7.6
Alkalinity - 30

CYA 50 ppm

 

[Mr Bruce]

That's actually not that bad. Raise TA with baking soda to 50 and I'd say you are good to start the SLAM.

 

[LawDog09]

Are the pucks still in the pool? What was the 'shock' you used, dichlor or calhypo?

Fill out your signature so we can better provide guidance.

I apologize. I believe I have filled my signature.
I turned the pucks off the day I joined and have been putting 1 gallon of bleach each day. Haven’t done it today.
Shock was CalHypo

 

[mknauss]

Great. I moved your details to the Signature portion of your profile.
OK -- follow what Mr Bruce said.

 

[LawDog09]

Great. I moved your details to the Signature portion of your profile.
OK -- follow what Mr Bruce said.

Umm... do I put one cup of baking soda directly into pool and how long before I test TA again?

 

[Mr Bruce]

I get more like 8 lbs of baking soda. I think they're 4 lbs a box? As always, check behind me in pool math!

 

[Mr Bruce]

How we doing? Any updates?