New Geometric IG Pool in DFW
- Thread starter LeighHop
- Start date
@shrid - It's Ocean Blue PebbleSheen
@Adam - I really hope this weather clears up enough for you to get your gunite.
Thanks for the kind words guys. We had an amazing time this weekend enjoying the pool. The water was right at 88, which felt perfect. This is pretty personal, but in general I deal with quite a bit of anxiety. Being in that pool is like therapy for me. I have just been sleeping so well and my brain has actually been shutting off. I'm completely in love. I've been brushing a lot and yesterday got so into it that I missed the corner of the spa and fell in! Hopefully the huge bruise on my leg will remind me to be more careful.
So here's my first set of results. The PH is not surprisingly high. I'm itching to work on fixing it, but I'm going to hold tight until Friday when the pool startup folks are here again. (They were super nice, but told my husband about the wonders of free testing at Leslie's.) I'll present my results and talk to them about managing things in between visits.
Anything worrying?
FC 3
CC 1
Ph 8.2
TA 160
CH 75 (Does this seem really low? Maybe I did it wrong?)
CYA 40
@Adam - I really hope this weather clears up enough for you to get your gunite.
Thanks for the kind words guys. We had an amazing time this weekend enjoying the pool. The water was right at 88, which felt perfect. This is pretty personal, but in general I deal with quite a bit of anxiety. Being in that pool is like therapy for me. I have just been sleeping so well and my brain has actually been shutting off. I'm completely in love. I've been brushing a lot and yesterday got so into it that I missed the corner of the spa and fell in! Hopefully the huge bruise on my leg will remind me to be more careful.
So here's my first set of results. The PH is not surprisingly high. I'm itching to work on fixing it, but I'm going to hold tight until Friday when the pool startup folks are here again. (They were super nice, but told my husband about the wonders of free testing at Leslie's.) I'll present my results and talk to them about managing things in between visits.
Anything worrying?
FC 3
CC 1
Ph 8.2
TA 160
CH 75 (Does this seem really low? Maybe I did it wrong?)
CYA 40
- Apr 23, 2017
- 2,400
- Pool Size
- 22000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Hayward Aqua Rite (T-15)
Congrats again on your new pool...
I totally agree that relaxing in the pool is a stress relief! First off since the pool is still under the builders care not much for you to do except ask that the FC be kept up to a certain level based on your findings using test kit and pool math. I would also have PB bring the pH down using MA. I see no reason for the PB to object to any of that. Remember that you will fight pH rise for the good part of a year so have some MA on hand (I don't think it goes bad just store in a dry place but not next to bleach). Once you are within just a few days of taking over the pool stock up on bleach (at least 8-10 jugs) and have some baking soda on hand (I get a large 2 bag at Costco. If your CH is really that low ( I would re-check) you will need lots of CH increaser so may be best to decide on which brand you want to use. I get mine at Walmart as they always have it in stock or I order it from Amazon (see pic). Speaking of CH did you test your fill water to see what it contains using the test kit? Good job staying ahead of the game...
I totally agree that relaxing in the pool is a stress relief! First off since the pool is still under the builders care not much for you to do except ask that the FC be kept up to a certain level based on your findings using test kit and pool math. I would also have PB bring the pH down using MA. I see no reason for the PB to object to any of that. Remember that you will fight pH rise for the good part of a year so have some MA on hand (I don't think it goes bad just store in a dry place but not next to bleach). Once you are within just a few days of taking over the pool stock up on bleach (at least 8-10 jugs) and have some baking soda on hand (I get a large 2 bag at Costco. If your CH is really that low ( I would re-check) you will need lots of CH increaser so may be best to decide on which brand you want to use. I get mine at Walmart as they always have it in stock or I order it from Amazon (see pic). Speaking of CH did you test your fill water to see what it contains using the test kit? Good job staying ahead of the game...
That is a pic of the CYA aka stabilizer.
Your CH is low. Here is the info on increasing it. I would call/text the PB about this and the high pH. Here the info for increasing the CH: "Calcium hardness can be raised with calcium chloride or calcium chloride dihydrate. They are available in some areas as Peladow, Dowflake, Tetra Flake, or Tetra 94, often sold as a deicer by hardware stores, and some big box stores, in colder climates. Pool stores will carry either calcium chloride or calcium chloride dihydrate under a variety of names, including Hardness Plus, Balance Pak 300, Calcium Hardness Increaser, etc. Calcium products should be spread across the surface of the deep end of the pool."
I SO get you on zoning out and keeping the voices quiet with the pool. It IS my happy place for sure! SO glad it is working for you also!
Kim
Your CH is low. Here is the info on increasing it. I would call/text the PB about this and the high pH. Here the info for increasing the CH: "Calcium hardness can be raised with calcium chloride or calcium chloride dihydrate. They are available in some areas as Peladow, Dowflake, Tetra Flake, or Tetra 94, often sold as a deicer by hardware stores, and some big box stores, in colder climates. Pool stores will carry either calcium chloride or calcium chloride dihydrate under a variety of names, including Hardness Plus, Balance Pak 300, Calcium Hardness Increaser, etc. Calcium products should be spread across the surface of the deep end of the pool."
I SO get you on zoning out and keeping the voices quiet with the pool. It IS my happy place for sure! SO glad it is working for you also!
Kim
- Apr 23, 2017
- 2,400
- Pool Size
- 22000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Hayward Aqua Rite (T-15)
My bad on the pic as that is indeed CYA...I meant to state this is the brand I use for CH increaser and CYA. I try to stay in the same product line. Sorry if it caused confusion...
- Apr 23, 2017
- 2,400
- Pool Size
- 22000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Hayward Aqua Rite (T-15)
THANKS!
- Apr 23, 2017
- 2,400
- Pool Size
- 22000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Hayward Aqua Rite (T-15)
Thanks Kim but you are the expert and you keep me and others in check and on point. Your the queen of TFP awesomeness :bowdown:
Okay, so I did end up adding 32 oz of Muriatic Acid and 5 lbs of Calcium Chloride yesterday. (I used the Clorox brand like ctrav posted.)
I decided to go slow with the calcium in case I'm doing the test incorrectly. I have a speed stirrer and yesterday I did the test twice. On the third drop, boom blue. I was following the instructions on the laminated card that came with my kit. It said to add drops until it turned blue. Doing a little research, I found on the site here that you're supposed to keep adding until the color doesn't change any longer. Today, my solution turned blue after five drops. I kept adding drops to see if it would keep changing, but to my eye... it stayed the same blue.
So today I'm going to go with pool math's suggestions on muriatic acid and chlorine, but I'm going to leave the calcium alone and talk it over with the pool startup people tomorrow. Somehow the water still looks absolutely gorgeous. I just don't want anything to get out of hand.
Here are today's results:
Ph 7.8 (We had a decent storm last night)
FC 1
CC .5
CH 125
TA 140
CYA 40
(Thanks to this site, I know to add the MA and chlorine at different times, thanks guys!)
I decided to go slow with the calcium in case I'm doing the test incorrectly. I have a speed stirrer and yesterday I did the test twice. On the third drop, boom blue. I was following the instructions on the laminated card that came with my kit. It said to add drops until it turned blue. Doing a little research, I found on the site here that you're supposed to keep adding until the color doesn't change any longer. Today, my solution turned blue after five drops. I kept adding drops to see if it would keep changing, but to my eye... it stayed the same blue.
So today I'm going to go with pool math's suggestions on muriatic acid and chlorine, but I'm going to leave the calcium alone and talk it over with the pool startup people tomorrow. Somehow the water still looks absolutely gorgeous. I just don't want anything to get out of hand.
Here are today's results:
Ph 7.8 (We had a decent storm last night)
FC 1
CC .5
CH 125
TA 140
CYA 40
(Thanks to this site, I know to add the MA and chlorine at different times, thanks guys!)
Startup company came today and I was thrilled that his test results matched my own. Thanks so much to everyone on this forum!
Still waiting on punch list items, hoping to get some banged out next week. The plumber didn't run the gas line for the heater when he did the rest of the work. No one else wants to do their part of the punch list until he makes his mess. I get it, just a little frustrating. (But hanging in that pool makes the frustration melt away a bit.)
Still waiting on punch list items, hoping to get some banged out next week. The plumber didn't run the gas line for the heater when he did the rest of the work. No one else wants to do their part of the punch list until he makes his mess. I get it, just a little frustrating. (But hanging in that pool makes the frustration melt away a bit.)
gurrrrrrrrrr on him not doing HIS part but.................nope just gurrrrrrrr on him!!!
Kim
Kim
Hey, Love your pool and we are thinking about going with ocean blue pebble sheen and the same pool tile surround. Do you have any recent photos? Did you have any additives added to the standard ocean blue because it sparkles really nice!!! Thank you
Hey Guys! I've been enjoying the pool so much that I haven't been back on the forums for a bit. I've received some requests for finished photos, so I'm posting a few now. These were taken around 8:00 am on an overcast day. Our backyard faces due west, so we get the afternoon sun. I'll post some good water/plaster photos when the sun is out. Could not recommend the Ocean Blue PebbleSheen more highly. Gorgeous color and even though we get full afternoon sun, we have not found the water to be too warm. (We did not add any extra "shimmer" to the PebbleSheen.)
- Apr 23, 2017
- 2,400
- Pool Size
- 22000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Hayward Aqua Rite (T-15)