Just joined TFP, new pool and new pool owner

[Big G]

Hello all. I just joined and wanted to start off by saying this place is great and the information learned here has already saved me from getting steered in the wrong direction numerous times with our new pool. Our build was completed here in February and, as I wanted to DIY all pool care like I do on my cars, I quickly had to get up to speed on educating myself on pool equipment and water balancing. I made a few minor mistakes along the way, but hey, that is what makes life interesting. I sure would like some input on my water balancing needs from some more experienced members, especially anyone from the DFW area to chime in, to confirm that I am on the right track.

Current numbers as of yesterday

FC -3
PH - 7.4
TA - 90
CH - 230
CYA - 80

Since starting the pool I have had to add MA or PH down every couple days and it just seems like the PH constantly hunts back to 8 in a day or two. It seems like the pool has a constant appetite for acid. LOL

Further, no one helped educate us, including our pool school team, on the "limited use" of chlorine tabs. Just last week learned through lots of reading on this site about the CYA problem they create so I quickly discontinued that plan and made the move over to liquid chlorine; hopefully before it pushed us into a partial drain and refill situation. I hope this most recent move was a good one to keep us on the right overall path.

thanks and look forward to contributing,
Greg

 

[kimkats]

HI Greg! You have come to the right place for DIY for pools! I have a set of links I put together for new pool owners just like you! Some of it I am going to guess you have seen but I don't want to take a chance of missing any for you.

Print these out:
Pool School - Basic Pool Care Schedule

Pool School - Recommended Levels

Bookmark these:
Pool School - Recommended Pool Chemicals

PoolMath

Pool School - ABCs of Pool Water Chemistry

Make sure to ask any and all questions you might have no matter how small! We have all been where you are at one point.

The next thing is for you to help us help you by filling in your signature. Put in your pool specs kind of like I did in my siggy below. Go to:

-settings-upper right
-edit signature-middle left

Make sure to list what test kit you are using as well.

Kim

 

[Arizonarob]

Fill in all your pool information in your signature line, so everyone will have the information to give you advice. Look at other posters sig lines to get an idea of what to put in yours.

~Rob

 

[Big G]

HI Greg! You have come to the right place for DIY for pools! I have a set of links I put together for new pool owners just like you! Some of it I am going to guess you have seen but I don't want to take a chance of missing any for you.

Print these out:
Pool School - Basic Pool Care Schedule

Pool School - Recommended Levels

Bookmark these:
Pool School - Recommended Pool Chemicals

PoolMath

Pool School - ABCs of Pool Water Chemistry

Make sure to ask any and all questions you might have no matter how small! We have all been where you are at one point.

The next thing is for you to help us help you by filling in your signature. Put in your pool specs kind of like I did in my siggy below. Go to:

-settings-upper right
-edit signature-middle left

Make sure to list what test kit you are using as well.

Kim

Fill in all your pool information in your signature line, so everyone will have the information to give you advice. Look at other posters sig lines to get an idea of what to put in yours.

~Rob

Thanks for the info and links - most appreciated.

Test kit is Taylor K-2006

 

[YippeeSkippy]

Ok, well, your CYA is high for a non-salt water pool. Have you considered going salt? If you added that you'd be in an ideal CYA situation! Otherwise draining and refilling a bit of water is necessary unless you want to add a lot of extra liquid bleach?

Your FC is too low for a CYA that high. See here --> [FC/CYA][/FC/CYA]

Your other numbers are fine. All new plaster/cement pools have their own curing time tables. You just keep treating that pH until it slows down. Later on you may find dropping your TA a tad will slow down the pH rise.

Maddie

 

[Big G]

Ok, well, your CYA is high for a non-salt water pool. Have you considered going salt? If you added that you'd be in an ideal CYA situation! Otherwise draining and refilling a bit of water is necessary unless you want to add a lot of extra liquid bleach?

Your FC is too low for a CYA that high. See here --> [FC/CYA][/FC/CYA]

Your other numbers are fine. All new plaster/cement pools have their own curing time tables. You just keep treating that pH until it slows down. Later on you may find dropping your TA a tad will slow down the pH rise.

Maddie

Thanks all for the comments and suggestions. I think after taking in all the info I will do some moderate drain and refill to work down the CYA here over the next month. I did another check today after adding some liquid chlorine to get it more in the aligned zone per the last comment from YippeeSkippy.

FC - 9
CC- 0
PH - 7.6
TA - 80
CH - 250
CYA - 80

 

[Philo]

I predict that Big G will have a SWG before October.

 

[kimkats]

I think I agree with you ^^^^^^^^^^

Big G, make sure to dose for the target FC each and every day. Me? I add my FC in the last afternoon, early evening so it has all night to do it's work without the sun taking any of it. It works for me. Some people like to add it in the morning. There is no wrong time so long as it is added each day once the water temp gets over 55 or so.

Kim

 

[peirek]

Hey G. Welcome from fellow DFW'er.

Two things are causing your pH to rise. 1) TA @ 80 & 2) new plaster. Use MA from Lowes/Home Depot etc. PM me if you need any face-to-face help.

TFP is the DIY'ers paradise to pool care.

 

[Big G]

Thanks everyone for all the tips and advise. We are off to a great start now and there is no looking back. Pool looks great today and water balance is holding great!

 

[kimkats]

OH MY! That is PRETTY!!!! Has it looked this good before?

Kim

 

[Big G]

OH MY! That is PRETTY!!!! Has it looked this good before?

Kim

This is a brand new pool build that was just completed in February so we have not had a problem but started going sideways with using pucks... and with y'alls help got off that sideline and now are back on track. Thanks!

 

[kimkats]

So you have never had the joy of being "Pool Stored" as we call it............take your water in to the Pool $tore and buy everything they tell you to........have to have a cart to carry it all out............come back in a week with another cup of water...............totally different results and more and different chemicals to "fix" your water.

What test kit did you end up getting? Can you please put it in your siggy so we can see it at a glance? THANKS!

Kim