New Home Owner/Pool Dilemma.

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OK, so you have already ordered a test kit. Now comes part 2 of the TFPC method. DON'T BUY TABS. They have an undesired effect in that they include stabilizer, or CYA, and this is an issue in the long run. The CYA does not evaporate, and once it builds up over time, it becomes difficult to properly chlorinate your pool. You should read this section. It shows you the relationship of CYA to FC, and how much extra FC you need to keep in yoru pool to hold off algae. Most people with tabs have a story that goes somethign like this. "I have used tabs for a while, never had an issue before, and now my pool is green. What do I do?" What likley has happened is that the CYA has built up so much that they no longer have enough FC in the pool, and the algae starts to win.

Smarter people than me will weigh in here, but re-read the Pool School, and concentrate on the FC/CYA relationship. The reality is that the only thing that you shoudl need to buy in terms of chemicals are

Chlorine - Liquid Bleach or Liquid Chlorine
PH - Either muratic acid to bring it down, or sodium carbonate to raise it.
TA - Baking Soda to increase if needed

The exception about tabs is that if you are going to be away for a vacation, you can use a couple of tabs just to maintain the FC while you are away, since a couple of tabs won't hurt you.
 
So I didnt see the picture of yoru pool. First of all, that is a nice looking pool. Second, your water looks very good. When you get your test kit, you may get lucky, and you might not even need a SLAM. Here is my advise, others will offer their opinions on these thigns.

1.) Your pool shape is basically called an L-Shaped pool. I would guess its volume to be 25,000 to 30,000 gallons.
2.) While you are waiting on yrou kit, rake out all of the leaves. You have to do this manually, and it needs to be done.
3.) If you dont have yoru test kit yet, and you havent added any chemicals at all, I would at least add some bleach. Not knowing any numbers, its hard to say how much, but if this were my pool, based upon your pool size, I would probably add 3/4 to 1 gallon of 8.25% liquid bleach to the water. This will probably add 3 to 4 ppm of FC into the pool. You shoudl probably have your test kit tomorrow, so take yoru tests, and then used the pool math calculator to determine what you need to do. If your kit does not show up until Monday, then probably Saturday, I would add at least another half gallon of bleach just to be safe. I dont like to tell you to add chemicals into the dark, but if this were my pool, I would like to at least do something if you havent added any chemicals for a couple of weeks.
 
I was arranging stuff in my new home and i found that the previous home owners have left some chlorine. I think they are what you call tablets. Large ones at that! Can i jusr use them and finish them off and then get bleach for my next round!

I was thinking would getting a pool vacuum be a good idea? I see a lot of dust settled at the bottom surface along with the leaves.

Thanks for the compliments! :)

- - - Updated - - -

Oh... one question! What is the full form of SWG?
 
Do not put anything in your pool except for bleach/Chlorine for right now please.

Tablets/pucks can cause long term problems. Until you have tested your pool do not use them.

A pool vacuum is a must. There is no vacuum that you can find?

I do not know how your wallet is feeling right now so I will go to the cheap side. Get this head from Walmart or Lowes.

Deluxe Blue Contour Weighted Swimming Pool Vacuum Head 11 - Walmart.com

This kind of hose. Go longer than you will think you need as you can always cut some off.

Pool Essentials Vacuum Hose, 1-1/2 - Walmart.com

Make sure the hose has a swivel connector. It will keep the hose from tangling up.

Now if you want to go big time there all kinds of vacuums out there. Do a search in the search box on the home page.

What about a net? There are two you will want-------a "flat" one for every day top of the water cleaning and a "leaf rake" net that has a deeper net so the leaves from the bottom of the pool does not come out.

SWG=Salt Water Generator Here is a link to explain

Pool School - Salt Water Chlorine Generators

So what else can I help you with????? You are fun to work with!

Kim
 
No....you don't want to use tabs. They will raise your Cya in addition to your chlorine until the point where no amount of chlorine is effective and you have to drain your pool to lower the cya. Only use liquid bleach to treat your pool.
 
Hi hellstorm2004, same situation as you....new homeowner with a pool. Haven't done pool maintenance myself in darn near 30 years. Mine hasn't seen TLC in way too long. In the DFW area too. If you are a vet and have either a retiree ID card, the notation on your driver's license, or a VET advantage card, Home Depot has all of the poles, rakes, regular bleach, and hoses for 10% off.
 
Sometimes i get the feeling i bit off more than i can chew! But i guess as low grade novice, its normal to feel lost.

Dang.. i wish i listened to my mom and entered med school! Unfortunately i am just a lazy IT guy. No discount for me! :(

I was looking at pool cleaners. The robotic ones do look like a delicious option and a long term solution. I looked up pool vacuuming videos on YouTube, looked more complicated than i thought. Or maybe at the very least pressure ones are an option too.
 

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The head does not really matter so long as it had soft bristles. The hose is a good one. Make sure it has a swivel part. That part goes on the vacuum head to keep the hose from twisting.

When you get the hose STRETCH it out in the sun and have a way to make it stay straight for a day to help it learn to uncoil.

Kim
 
OK... My Kit arrived. Did the test for Total Chlorine. Looks like it turned out to be around or maybe more than 5, i don't know (if my eyes are not deceiving me). Is that good or woeful?

Its a pretty bright yellow in the tube. Filled the water to the black line on the top and then added 5 drops. I hope that's the right procedure.

Cant upload a pic. Says i only have a 14.7KB limit.
 
The test you did is the OTO chlorine test, and that test was in the small blue box. It is a good quick daily type of test. What you should do is to perform the DPD test and test your FC and CC.

Actually, what you need to do is open the clear box you got, adn perform all of those tests, and also perform the PH test from the blue box. Then post those results here, and people will give you some feedback.

As for the hose, I am not sure if that one is long enough for your pool, as yours is a big L shape. Do you have a skimmer near teh center of your L, or do you only have the 1 skimmer that is close to the diving board?
 
Ah! Will do! The problem with photo bucket is that my username is in the url! And the application takes it as a curse word and does not allow me to post a reply! :D

But I am planning to do all the test and then collect the evidence and then post all at once. After i get a lawn mower today. It also needs some loving. You probably can go duck hunting in my lawn right now.
 
It is a nice one. It is a lot like the one I have.

The main thing about vinyl is to make sure your do NOT get wire or such bristles as they can hurt the vinyl.

Do you know you still have not fill in your pool info? Chop, chop! Get to it please! LOL

Kim
 

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