Let the Games Begin

[ag60135]

Enjoy as I briefly share my concrete pond return to a beautiful pool by following the guidance of TFP. (I'm not even one of the experts here, and I was just blessed to inherit this pool at the end of last summer (no it did not look like this then, but it was not sparkling either). Thankfully, I found TFP quickly in my search then and have been grateful for all the awesome folks and material here. Yes, it can feel a bit overwhelming at first, and yes, this will be my first battle with a swamp... but I'm confident this will end in my favor - so if you're new and feeling unsure, feel free to follow this little thread--it's meant to boost confidence, encourage, and demonstrate what goes on here at TFP! If I mess up at some point, you'll see me shoot up a flare and call in support, and you'll see great folks virtually jump into the muck with me.

With the right knowledge and some diligence, this pool will be opened and sparkling without all the craziness and costs of excess chemicals, trips to the pool store, or even pool service. Oh yes, there will be a good bit of regular old liquid chlorine...bottles and bottles of it. But that's pennies on the dollar compared to the endless cycle I could end up with if not following the principles here. The real challenge and enemy will be time - I was unfortunately unable to begin this Friday afternoon or Saturday morning. So I'm stuck with this one day before the weekly grind returns. Challenge accepted.

Here are my initial pics (a valiant effort will be made to transport all creatures big or small to a habitat of their choice):

 

[PoolStored]

 

[ag60135]

 

[ag60135]

Never fun with outside things get you behind but we’re still progressing here. Equipment pad was inspected and reset. Pool tools drug out and PPE donned (shoulder length pond gloves and eye pro). I utilized my shop vac to suck out antifreeze where I could (skimmer to filter, skimmer to main drain/floor, auto valve box, etc.). There are some historic threads on this if you’re looking and concerned about it — perhaps a mod/expert can link, but the bottom line is that it sounded like if it was truly a personal preference and a little pool/RV antifreeze (ethyl alcohol, propylene glycol, glycerine, and water) that happens to enter back into the pool isn’t dangerous). Personally if I can suck that stuff out, why not?

I then began the skim and drudge process (b/c it’s not going to be a one and done obviously when you’re dealing with a light swamp); removed the rest of the return plugs throughout (that I didn’t already quickly remove and suck antifreeze from); gathered many a toad into a large bucket (who were kindly transported to an actual pond nearby, along with as many tadpoles and egg sacks); and then I fired up the equipment pad monitoring for any water leakage of things I didn’t get an o-ring set properly for, etc., as well as initial filter housing pressure. I started a hose on the pool and I let things circulate for a good half hour while I did more skimming, some brushing, and some initial manual vacuuming near the deep end main drain—this actually must have sucked up something good because it jacked up pressure for a bit and then dumped some real goodness into the pump basket. I shut things off and cleaned out the skimmer and pump baskets, then fired things back up again. Went back to skimming vs vacuum and got more scoops of goop that shifted from my initial attempts. It was then time to get some water samples:

FC: 0 (duh)
CC: (if really trying: 0.25) (0 lol)
pH: 8.5+ (other tool not recalibrated yet)
TA: 110
CH: 360
CYA: 30 (always the most subjective—maybe closer to 20)

Water temp: 74
Air temp: 82

I was sort of hoping the CYA would be super low, so I could get rid of a couple 1lb bags of 72% Clorox dichlor I have hanging out from last summer before I found TFP (I found TFP so quickly I didn’t even use these and forgot to return them). I suppose if I toss a couple in, it’ll probably be fine, but for anyone new, it pushes up the CYA, when then means you have to up your liquid chlorine to reach those wonderful FC and slam FC levels.

With my pool size and all things said, handy use of the Pool Math app related I only needed 3 gallons of LC. But because I’m fighting time, I pushed that straight off with 4 (before I did this, I also utilized a half gallon of 31.25% acid to try and drop the pH). Immediately back to brushing.

An hour later:
FC: 15
CC: 0.5

I know those are both going to drastically change for the worse at the next test, and that’s okay, b/c I know the chlorine is working (and I can already smell it as I paused to post).

Here’s the next pic. It’s not wonderful, but hey, there’s a sun ledge and a step.