New Northeastern Pa Build

[Big Will]

You have a pool!!!
Congrats, looks great

 

[ctrav]

Thanks jimim...chems are fairly stable but can't wait to turn on SWG...I'm adding almost a gallon of bleach per day due to the heat (I think)...keep us updated on your build and pics.

Oh I don't see in your signature lines that you have the TF-100 test kit? I love having mine...

 

[jimim]

You have a pool!!!
Congrats, looks great

thanks man! 2/3's full! coning my first round of tests now.

can you please please check back in to see if i'm going ok. my builder was like don't worry tonight but the plaster manufacturer says to adjust ph and TA today when full.

- - - Updated - - -

Thanks jimim...chems are fairly stable but can't wait to turn on SWG...I'm adding almost a gallon of bleach per day due to the heat (I think)...keep us updated on your build and pics.

Oh I don't see in your signature lines that you have the TF-100 test kit? I love having mine...

thats man! i got one. using it right now! i got to add that. thanks man!

 

[jimim]

ok pool is 2/3's filled: diamond brite says to adjust pH to 7.2-7.4 first day and TA to 100ppm

my builder said we r now worrying about both tonight

1. thoughts on that?

my results of a 2/3's full pool:

pH: 8.2 plus off the chart
FC 1.5
CC 0
TC 1.5
TA 40
CH 75
CYA 0

how am i doing.

so if i have to lower pH a lot I'm dumping acid infant of returns. If I have to raise TA i'm using baking soda right?

this is a side note.

he said years ago if TA got too high and you didn't want to add a lot of acid in front of returns which would affect TA also he said they would pour acid in columns in the deep end. this would not affect pH as much but help to lower TA?

anyone hear of this?


So if I want to lower the pH I will add acid and if I want to higher the TA I will add baking soda tonight?

jim

 

[Big Will]

That sounds about right jim. If your water is being trucked in then it will continue to aerate until it's done which means PH will fluctuate . You can wait until it's full then do the test then can adjust from there
We are all here with you

 

[kimkats]

Jim, you are doing fine! You should not add the acid until your pump is hooked up and running. You do NOT want to take a chance at any of the acid sitting on the bottom. You CAN add the baking soda to work on the TA right away as it is easy to brush in and will not harm the plaster. I would shoot a little high on the TA and it will take a hit when you add the acid to lower the PH. Go for 80 to start with.

I am even more in love with the Mickeys now! They stand out so good now!!!! CUTE!

Suz, you have done a great job! THANKS!

Kim

 

[jimim]

ok filled! all systems are running! remember i have no spa or water features. just a pool

pH is off the chart.

pH: 8.2 plus sooooo bright pink!
TA:40


pool math app:
20000 gallons plaster

says to add 150oz volume or 12 lbs by weight of baking soda! really all at once? i'm sending wife to sam's now.
says to add 30 oz of acid

how's does that sound? i'm a nervous wreck here! lol

jim

 

[SuzfromTexas]

ok pool is 2/3's filled: diamond brite says to adjust pH to 7.2-7.4 first day and TA to 100ppm

my builder said we r now worrying about both tonight
What does he mean? Ya'll will take care of both, or just worry tonight about both? Why does he want to wait and worry?

1. thoughts on that?
Who holds the warranty for the plaster? If your PB tells you to follow diamond brite's instructions, then that's what you do. You need to follow directions from whomever has the warranty card, unless they give you some wiggle room. Then get that in writing (text, email, etc).

my results of a 2/3's full pool:

pH: 8.2 plus off the chart
FC 1.5
CC 0
TC 1.5
TA 40
CH 75
CYA 0
Don't test the CYA again until your PB or someone else adds CYA. That test uses more reagent than the others.
Those numbers are fine for now. Anything too low or too high can be adjusted.

how am i doing.
You're doing great!!! Don't forget to test again (not the CYA) when your pool is completely filled before anything is added.

so if i have to lower pH a lot I'm dumping acid infant of returns. If I have to raise TA i'm using baking soda right?
Correct and correct.

this is a side note.

he said years ago if TA got too high and you didn't want to add a lot of acid in front of returns which would affect TA also he said they would pour acid in columns in the deep end. this would not affect pH as much but help to lower TA?

anyone hear of this?
No I hadn't heard of it. I looked it up (the slug method?). That would not be good for a plaster pool. You don't want MA to fall down or sit anywhere on the plaster. Be especially careful with brand new plaster. It could damage the plaster. (etching, staining, etc)

So if I want to lower the pH I will add acid and if I want to higher the TA I will add baking soda tonight?
Correct and correct. Add each chemical one at a time. If you have large amounts of a chemical to add this first time, I would start by adding about half of the suggested amount; wait 30 minutes; retest to recalculate. Better to undershoot a target (you can go back and add more) than to overshoot.

Have you read how to be careful/cautious when you add MA? Protect your eyes, nose, mouth, hands?

jim

You're catching on quickly!!
Suz :sun:

 

[SuzfromTexas]

ok filled! all systems are running! remember i have no spa or water features. just a pool

pH is off the chart.

pH: 8.2 plus sooooo bright pink!
TA:40


pool math app:
20000 gallons plaster

says to add 150oz volume or 12 lbs by weight of baking soda! really all at once? i'm sending wife to sam's now.
says to add 30 oz of acid

how's does that sound? i'm a nervous wreck here! lol

jim

If you'd like, I can double check your Pool Math calculations. I will need your targets you set for TA and pH.

 

[jimim]

hi guys!

TA target is 100 but Kim you mentioned target 80. So 12 lbs for 80, but 100 is a lot more. 18 lbs. He said whatever target u pick to go half first and retest and decide to go to 100 tonight or 80. he said usually they don't get pools filled so fast. they hose fill but he wanted me to truck fill.

Ph target is 7.2-7.4 so went low cause it was so high and rising. so 7.2. says add 30 oz


so should i target 80 or 100 or even 50 tonight? which is half if i go 50 which he is thinking.

sorry if i'm all over the place. i'm kinda excited!

jim

 

[kimkats]

I say TA80 as we are not 100% on the gallons and that gives us some wiggle room.

Kim

 

[jimim]

ok cool 80 it is! so i'm dumping 150 oz volume or 188 oz wight. crazy! lol

i hope my gallons are right. i really think i'm really really close! i know for a fact 19000 went in plus what i did with hose. but frank's grandson is running my pool on the computer again tomorrow and will have another number to compare to.

jim


thanks sooooooo much everyone!

 

[kimkats]

You are going to closer on gals than most people are at the start. We will dial it in with your testing.

 

[jimim]

cool kim! awesome! thanks so much. just did acid. 28 oz. nice and slow! so waiting 30 mins before doing baking soda.

it's like christmas here. so excited. about chemicals. lol

- - - Updated - - -

i'll get pics up soon. i got to eat. i keep saying that and i keep forgetting!

jim

 

[jimim]

i added my baking soda. shooting for 80 Kim! added the proper amount. i scooped it from the bag and threw it out over the deep end like the pool school says, but it started to clump on the bottom. it gathered itself in areas. that normal. i got scared to a grabbed my whale brush and gentle broke it up. next time should i dissolve it in pool water placed in a bucket and then pour over the deep end or don't the clumps matter?

here is another question. i got a nice little pile of dirt in the deep end. is that going to bother the plaster? should i vacuum it up? i got to get one first. he didn't leave it today.

jim

 

[jimim]

so here are some finished pics.

i'll get up construction pics tomorrow. I'm tired.

first the tilted now fixed plug. they did a great job. one one the slope is what you are looking at.
IMG_8620 by Jim, on Flickr

IMG_8612 by Jim, on Flickr
IMG_8614 by Jim, on Flickr
IMG_8625 by Jim, on Flickr
Untitled by Jim, on Flickr
IMG_8617 by Jim, on Flickr
IMG_8628 by Jim, on Flickr

my kid taking pics with the camera
IMG_8632 by Jim, on Flickr

IMG_8635 by Jim, on Flickr
IMG_8638 by Jim, on Flickr
IMG_8646 by Jim, on Flickr

there ya go. we are filled. it's coming to an end.

i just want to thank everyone who has helped me on our journey. My wife and kids are so happy. Without everyone in this community this pool would have been no where near as good. I would have made so many mistakes from the beginning. Having a great builder helped, but most of the specs and plan came from here. And now the help you are both giving me Suz and Kim is so appreciated. I can't even tell you how much.

We want to thank you all again and I'll see everyone tomorrow! Good night TFP community. Thanks for tagging along today!

Jim, Kristen, Kathleen, and Kason

 

[SuzfromTexas]

Your pump is on and skimmers working, right?? You can gently stir up the dirt with your brush, and it will filter out.

Especially now, I wouldn't want anything sitting on the plaster - dirt, lumps of chemicals, anything. Dissolving the granules in a bucket first is a good idea. (that won't work for CYA)

I know you've been busy, but did you order the hair nets for your skimmer baskets? (they're on the list I pm'd) You can put those or ladies' hose or knee highs on the skimmer baskets. That will filter out most of the dirt before it gets to your pool filter.

 

[Foxy]

Great pool, backyard and kiddos, congrats!!

(funny thing, we are Kristin and Jim too)

 

[jimim]

thanks guys for the tips!

i just tested before I brush. It rained HARD last night!

pH: 8.2 +

TA 80

what should I do? TA target is 100 and pH 7.2

pH didn't move it seems wit the acid.

I'm going to brush! Everything is working on the pool. skimmers, drains I was told. Skimmer flaps are down in them he said which means they r working? All surface junk is gone from yesterday.

Untitled by Jim, on Flickr

jim

 

[ctrav]

Pool looks great...the more experienced folks will be along to address you water chemistry...Congrats and well done!