New Member & Pool Owner

javierm01

Member
May 30, 2023
10
Ringwood, NJ
Pool Size
15000
Surface
Vinyl
Chlorine
Liquid Chlorine
Hello,

I am a new member and pool owner! I'm very new to this so please be kind. lol

I have a vinyl 15k gallon kidney bean shaped pool.
Pool pump: JVS 165S
Pool Filter: Pentair FNS Plus 48

The winterization done on the pool was terrible and it took a few weeks to get the water clear.

My pool water keeps turning green after shocking. I'm using "Leslie's Power Powder Plus Calcium Hypochlorite Pool Shock" I hadn't added anything in a week and there's been a lot of rain so I added 1lb last night and woke up to a green pool.

This is the 3rd time my pool turns green after adding the shock. I get it back to clear by adding about 2lbs of "Leslie's - Soda Ash pH Up". It normally clears up after an hour or two.

I also notice that my fiber glass steps get yellowish when the water turns green. I've read that it could indicate high levels of metal, how do I test for that?

I used the TF-Pro to conduct my tests this morning and have the following results:

Chlorine Only
8 drops of R-0871
8 x 0.5 = 4ppm (FC)

Combined Chloramines
3 drops of R-0871
3 x 0.5 = 1.5ppm (CC)

Calcium Hardness
5 drops of R-0012
5 x 25 = 125ppm (CH)

Total Alkalinity Test
9 drops of R-0009
9 x 10 = TA 90

CYA Test
Black dot is partially visible so it's >0; <30

PH
7.5

Cl Br
5 10

I used to have Leslie's test my water and buy all the things they "recommended" but my levels never get ideal so I decided to start testing myself. I'm hoping to get some assistance with what I can use/add to my pool to get it to ideal levels.

I've spent a ton of money already trying to get the water right and I'm still having some issues. Please help!

Thank you!
 
Hello and welcome!

You're off to a great start with the test kit. Let's ditch that Leslie's stuff and stick to liquid chlorine only for this point forward. You're in a good spot for a SLAM but just bump up that CYA to 30. If your CYA is 0 then the LC will burn off faster
 
What's the best way to bump up the CYA to 30 prior to starting the SLAM process?
Get dry stabilizer. Put it in a sock, tie it off and hang in front of a return. (carrot on a stick style). After about 30 minutes start squeezing. Add 30ppm

You can start slam with a target of 10 FC. When sock is dissolved, use 12 for your target.
 
Yup. What he said. You can buy dry stabilizer at Walmart in the pool section. I assume you have the Pool Math app? If not, get it! It will tell you how much stabilizer to add to get to a CYA of 30.
 
Will do, Thank you for the suggestions!

I just downloaded the Pool Math App and added my signature!

I have another question... Since the SLAM process takes while and I have an event this weekend for the holiday. Is it okay to just get the water back to clear with soda ash and start the SLAM after this weekend?

I haven't used the pool since opening. With the results I posted, is it even okay to use the pool or should I just wait till I do the SLAM process and get my levels up?

Thanks again!
 
Soda ash raises TA and pH. So if that causes your 'green' to go away, they are metals. Though it is odd that raising pH does it as that is what usually makes the metals show. Something is not adding up. But do what you need to do to get by the weekend and then sort it out.
 
Soda ash raises TA and pH. So if that causes your 'green' to go away, they are metals. Though it is odd that raising pH does it as that is what usually makes the metals show. Something is not adding up. But do what you need to do to get by the weekend and then sort it out.
Yes, it is very odd.. When Leslie's did the water test a couple of weeks ago the metals didn't appear to be high. They recommended I use soda ash to raise the pH but it also cleared my water as well.

Is there a way I can test for metals myself?

I will just get by this weekend and then sort it out later as you mentioned. Even if only for cosmetic purposes! lol


Thank you for your response.
 

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That CuLator thing does not work. Waste of money.
A house filter will not remove iron. A water softener can.
 
Oh okay, I added it on a recommendation from my neighbor who uses it on his pool. Any recommendation what I can use to eliminate metals if there is any? Should I just wait till after I perform the SLAM to deal with it?

The water added to the pool is the city water so I'm not sure what exactly is in that water.
 
You can filter out iron if it is visible. Otherwise best way is to remove the metal laden water and replace with water without metals.
 
When the pH rises (from your cal hypo) the iron turns to rust. That is when it shows in the water.

Yes, drain the pool water and refill with new, no metal water. But if your fill water has metal, you have an issue. And a vinyl pool cannot be drained.
 
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