Just got filled

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hermsdad

Member
May 14, 2023
20
Raleigh
Good morning everyone. I just got my pool filled yesterday! Looking for some beginning help. I have a 14,500 gallon intex AGP with the intex 2650 gpm sand filter SWG.

Here is where I am with the cheapo test kits from Lowe's (Clorox brand). Yes my more expensive kit is on the way TFTest.
PH 6.8 (seems low. City says PH is currently at 8.2)
TC and FC: 3 (expected this to be higher, I added a gallon of 10% bleach yesterday. Pool math says that should have gotten me to 5)
TA: 6:8
CYA: Low (Kit doesn't really measure this very accurately. I added about 8-9 lbs of CYA yesterday via the hanging white t-shirt method,. I don't have white socks).

I ran the Filter for about 18 hours. Haven't started the SWG yet. Should I go ahead and fire up the SWG?

I'm a totally newbie here so I'm not even thinking about borates yet. Just learning about them.

Not sure how much I trust this cheapo kit. That low PH is bothering me though. Especially considering I was expecting a much higher PH.

Should I just wait until I get my TF test kits or should I adjust the PH a little now? I am installing a DIY PVC sprinkler/sprayer this am to hopefully raise the TA. My pool is in direct sunlight pretty much all day.
 
The CYA you added would have lowered the pH some. What is the TA? There is a typo in your post on that parameter.
Have you added salt?
Keep adding liquid chlorine to maintain a FC based on the amount of CYA you added.

You raise the TA with baking soda. You raise the pH with aeration.
 
My TA is basically 0 I think. At least according to the test strip.
I have added 360 lbs of salt. Although the salt test strip is saying I'm only at about 2,000 ppm which also seems crazy to me. I did turn on the SWG this am and it is also saying my salt content is too low. The water softener salt said it was 99% pure salt.

Can't I also raise the PH with 20 mule? Should I focus on the TA for now? Or should I add some 20 mule as well?
 
With a test strip I would not do anything. Except add 3 ppm FC worth of liquid chlorine each day. When you get your test kit, run a full set of tests and post them here.

The TA is not likely to be 0 by just adding CYA.
 
Got my test kit today and here's where I am:

PH 6.8
TA 30
FC 0 (Just poured in a gallon of 10% bleach)
3200 ppm salt

What should I focus on first PH or TA?
I have baking soda and 20 mule

Thanks everyone for your help!

Jim
 
I always recommend just using baking soda to raise TA and the pH will follow. So you might use PS's recommendation but just do the baking soda and then after a day test pH and if not in 7's, add some borax.

What was the CYA?
 
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MK, that's what I was thinking in regards to TA and PH. I just dumped 6 lbs of baking soda in the pool. Well spread out across the surface is more like it. Pool math says that should get me to 60 TA. I turned on my "sprinkler" to help aerate. I'll check PH in the am and maybe add some mule slowly throughout the day.

I just did my first CYA test. So with that in mind, I want to say CYA is around 60? Maybe a little less?

Now to start diagnosing why my SWG keeps giving a low salt warning.

Jim
 

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I am happy to report the following results:
FC: 6
TA: 70
PH: 7.2

I feel much better today about the pool chemistry.

I'm going to let it stir some more today and test this evening and then maybe up the PH a little according to Pool Math's recommendations. Not so worried about CYA at the moment as it looks like I'm in the target range. I'll test again for CYA tomorrow and then on Monday after I get back from the beach.

Quick question. Seeing as how I'm leaving for three days, granted they will be rainy days supposedly, should I get FC up to 7-8 as a safeguard while I'm gone?

I did have a smaller SWG and pump from my small pool last year. It only does about half the gpm of the larger pump and swg but it is not throwing the low salt warning. I'll be trouble shooting the bigger one but for now this smaller pump should hold me.

Thanks everyone for the help.
Jim
 
hermsdad said:
I'm going to let it stir some more today and test this evening and then maybe up the PH a little according to Pool Math's recommendations
Click to expand...
Don't micromanage pH. Anything in the 7s is fine. It will rise on its own.
hermsdad said:
. Not so worried about CYA at the moment as it looks like I'm in the target range. I'll test again for CYA tomorrow and then on Monday after I get back from the beach.

Quick question. Seeing as how I'm leaving for three days, granted they will be rainy days supposedly, should I get FC up to 7-8 as a safeguard while I'm gone?
Click to expand...
Raise it to SLAM level before you leave.
 
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