New Fill off city water

[Fire]

Hello all!

Can someone inform me of the steps to be taken when first starting up a new pool install off of City water? 20,000 gallon in-ground vinyl with Hayward heater, sand filter and swg.
I'm going to run the pump once the water reaches the skimmer (tomorrow morning) bit have no clue as to when to add the salt and start the swg. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Or if someone could point me in the right direction as the steps that need to be taken to open a new pool filled with city water. Thanks!

 

[jblizzle]

Start with a full set of test results with one of the recommended test kits: Test Kits Compared although CYA is 0 so no need to test. Balance the pool prior to dealing with the SWG. You can add salt any time, test salt level first.

ABCs of Pool Water Chemistry
FC/CYA Levels
PoolMath

 

[Fire]

Start with a full set of test results with one of the recommended test kits: Test Kits Compared although CYA is 0 so no need to test. Balance the pool prior to dealing with the SWG. You can add salt any time, test salt level first.

ABCs of Pool Water Chemistry
FC/CYA Levels
PoolMath

Thanks.
The earliest I can get the Taylor 2006 test kit is middle of June (I live in Canada). Is there anything I can do until I get the kit?

 

[Fast7]

It's going to be hard to do without proper test kit. As long as your pool volume is correct, you can at least use PoolMath to find out how much stabilizer to add.
Set target to 30 CYA. Put some liquid chlorine in your water ASAP. To do anything else you need to check and maintain your levels with proper test kit.
Since you will have heater installed, it's very important to keep close eye on your pH level as low pH can damage your heater quickly.

 

[Fire]

It's going to be hard to do without proper test kit. As long as your pool volume is correct, you can at least use PoolMath to find out how much stabilizer to add.
Set target to 30 CYA. Put some liquid chlorine in your water ASAP. To do anything else you need to check and maintain your levels with proper test kit.
Since you will have heater installed, it's very important to keep close eye on your pH level as low pH can damage your heater quickly.

Thanks for the info!
I'm going to put in liquid stabilizer and chlorine today once the water reaches the skimmer and I can circulate water. One more question:
There are spots all over the bottom of the pool- I read on another thread that if you brush it and it dissolves that it is probably alage (which it does). My question is should I vacuum it up prior to putting in the chlorine and stabilizer or leave it and let the chlorine "kill" it? Thanks!

 

[DorsalSpine]

Unless you are talking about vac to waste your filter gets it either way. Get the chlorine and stabilizer in ASAP.

 

[Fire]

Unless you are talking about vac to waste your filter gets it either way. Get the chlorine and stabilizer in ASAP.

So I put in the recommended amount of liquid stabilizer (192 oz.) and liquid bleech (121oz @ 6%) as per the pool math calculator yet my cheap test strips are still showing from what I can tell 0 for both. Should I add more? And I took measurements and my pool is 18,500 gal.

 

[mknauss]

If you add CYA, it is in the water no matter what your strip says. Yours is now 30 ppm. Keep your FC at 3 or above. Any way you can get a two way drop tester from Canadian Tire or Walmart until you can get a proper kit? Strips are truly worthless.

 

[Fire]

If you add CYA, it is in the water no matter what your strip says. Yours is now 30 ppm. Keep your FC at 3 or above. Any way you can get a two way drop tester from Canadian Tire or Walmart until you can get a proper kit? Strips are truly worthless.

I have a Pool Style brand 3-way test kit that came with some pool equipment. It's a dropper style that measures PH, Chlorine and Bromine. I just did the test and from what I can tell the chlorine is less than 1. Should I just add more bleach and if so how much? Or should I try to get out to a pool store tonight to get my water tested?

 

[mknauss]

Add 5ppm FC worth of bleach. Use Poolmath. That will compensate for some loss during the day.

I see no need for a pool store test. You have what you need. You want your FC no lower than 3 ppm each day you test. Then add enough liquid chlorine/bleach to raise it up for the loss each day. Most likely 2-3 ppm FC will be lost each day.

 

[Fire]

Add 5ppm FC worth of bleach. Use Poolmath. That will compensate for some loss during the day.

I see no need for a pool store test. You have what you need. You want your FC no lower than 3 ppm each day you test. Then add enough liquid chlorine/bleach to raise it up for the loss each day. Most likely 2-3 ppm FC will be lost each day.

Thanks so much for the quick reply and walking me through this. It is greatly appreciated.
I'm guessing my next step is to add the pool salt? I have 200kg. From what I've read I should wait 24h after adding salt before starting up my swg correct?

 

[mknauss]

Did not know about a SWCG. Issue I see is you do not have a test kit to manage FC and CYA levels. Up to you. Add the salt and circulate for 24 hours. Raise your CYA to 70 ppm. Follow FC/CYA Levels

 

[Fire]

Add 5ppm FC worth of bleach. Use Poolmath. That will compensate for some loss during the day.

I see no need for a pool store test. You have what you need. You want your FC no lower than 3 ppm each day you test. Then add enough liquid chlorine/bleach to raise it up for the loss each day. Most likely 2-3 ppm FC will be lost each day.

Another quick question. I have a Hayward high rate sand filter. The pressure is showing 15psi and the returns and skimmer are working fine from what I can tell. Only issue is that there is no water in the sight glass. When I do a backwash it is swirling around in the sight glass but when I switch back to filtration it slowly empties and stays that way. Is this normal?

 

[mknauss]

I do not have experience with sand filters. Let’s ask @woodyp and @CJadamec

 

[Fire]

Should I message them directly?

 

[mknauss]

Should I message them directly?

That should alert them when they get on the forum.

 

[jblizzle]

Sight glass only gets water when you are pumping out the waste pipe so you can monitor water clarity. It is behaving normally.

 

[Fire]

That should alert them when they get on the forum.

Great thanks! I did a rise of the sand filter and then back to filtration and now the water seems to be staying in the sight glass.
Sorry to keep picking your brain, but I have a 2 speed Hayward Super Pump. When I have it on HI everything seems fine, but when I switch it to low water stops circulating properly. You can hear it through the pipes, but it almost seems like there are not enough RPMs to move the water around. The sand filter PSI drops to 0 and the returns and skimmer have no flow. Any ideas why it wouldn't work on the LOW setting?

 

[Fire]

Please disregard the last message, I realized that the pool is circulating on low, just that the sand filter PSI dropped from 15 to 2

 

[Fire]

Sight glass only gets water when you are pumping out the waste pipe so you can monitor water clarity. It is behaving normally.

Thanks!