New Owner to an Older Pool - Questions about Cleaning & Plumbing!

[kimkats]

Here are videos of the tests:

https://www.youtube.com/user/tf100testkit?feature=results_main

Let us know if you have any problems.

Kim

 

[jglonek]

Hi!

So I did the tests today. I did each one twice to make sure I was doing it right. Also, the quick test for chlorine seems to confirm the numbers from the actual test. Here's a photo of the quick one: http://imgur.com/a/YMP48

FC - 18.5
CC - 1
pH - 8.2 (at least, see the photo of the quick test above. Is there not a test for more accurate numbers in the kit?)
TA - 140
CH - 350
CYA - Somewhere between 48 and 52 (do I actually wait until I'm 100% sure it's gone or stop when I need to squint to see it?)

 

[kimkats]

We will take these one by one:

FC-nice! Die algae, die!
CC-that is the FC working to kill the algae. It may go up as things change
PH-I hold a white plastic plate up behind the tube to help me "dial" in the color match.

More on PH-it does not test correct with FC over 10 so do not do anything with it yet.

TA-we will work on this one when the SLAM is done

CH-good!

CYA-GLANCE in only when looking at the dot. If you stare you will see it LOL For now lets call it 50. We go from line to line. No middle road for this one.

How does the water look now?

Kim

 

[jglonek]

The water might be a smidge more blue, but it's definitely still cloudy, and the stairs are starting to look like they did in that photo from Tuesday. What should my next steps be?

 

[Caco]

The next step is pool math (at the top of the page)

Enter all of your pool data into the 'now' column of the table
In the yellow box at the bottom of the table select suggest goals from trouble free pool, primary chlorine source as bleach and pool surface as vinyl
If you scroll down a little more you can enter your pool dimensions to get and idea of your volume if you are unsure of that

Recheck your FC, it should be under 10 by now
If it is under 10 check your ph and enter that in the now section of poolmath

First step is to bring ph to 7.2.
So in the poolmath target area for ph change that to 7.2
It should then tell you how much muriatic acid you need to add to the pool

I add this by going to the side of the pool with the acid and a measuring cup
Being careful not to breath in the fumes I measure it out at the side of the pool
I then slowly pour the acid into the pool, near a return so it mixs quickly
I then rinse the acid cup in the pool
Everything then goes back to its storage area, away from the other pool chemicals

Wait half a hour with the pump running between adding chemicals

Then check the Chlorine/CYA Chart.
It shows you need a SLAm level of 20FC for CYA of 50
Put a target of 20 in the FC target level in pool math
Check the % listed in poolmath is correct
It will tell you how much bleach / chlorine you need to add
Slowly pour that amount of FC into the pool at a return

Start by measuring every couple of hours and top the FC level back up to the slam level
As the algae gets killed off the testing can be spread out more

Brush the whole pool at least daily

Check the pressure on your filter. When it rises 25% above your clean pressure clean your filter

Read and reread these instruction on how to SLAM until they make sense and you have all the steps down
Test and dose your pool with chlorine as often as possible to make the process as fast as possible

 

[kimkats]

What she said ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ LOL

Coca THANKS!

Kim

 

[Caco]

No worries Kimkits, lol

 

[jglonek]

To start off this update I have a confession - I haven't done anything since my last update until today My pool picked the worst week to go nuts, it was way way off my normal schedule. But I am back on it now!

So, I noticed yesterday the pool seemed clearer but didn't have time to dig into it. I did today - definitely algae, you guys win! Had a big die-off it looks like, my poor pool sock was done for, and my filter was pretty mucky - I sprayed it off.

There is still some stuff on the bottom. I did vacuum it up today, and will begin sweeping it daily tomorrow. The only test I did today was chlorine and it was at 8. Starting tomorrow should I proceed with stabilizing everything with the list Caco provided, or should I be pumping in bleach still to try and kill off the rest?

 

[kimkats]

Go with what Caco said.

Your end goal is to get everything ready for the SLAM. Your PH has to be close to 7.2 to start.

Kim

 

[jglonek]

SLAM is in progress!

 

[kimkats]

Beat that algae back! A good SLAM will turn that pool back into a jewel!

Kim

 

[Caco]

jglonek, how is it going? is the colour changing?
if you take a photo daily of something in the water, like your steps you will be able to compare your progress. Sometimes its a bit hard to remember what shade the pool was the day before

 

[jglonek]

The pool is looking MUCH better. I've only been here a few months so I'm honestly not sure I've ever seen it this clear! Here's a photo from this morning: http://imgur.com/a/fAXLO

When I brush the bottom in the mornings I am still brushing up some algae, though, so I guess we are not quite done this process yet.

 

[Caco]

Sounds like you are making great progress, keep up on the fc and the brushing. I would also wipe your returns and skimmer, to ensure there is no algae hiding there. Your pool is starting to look really good

Sent from my C1904 using Tapatalk

 

[jglonek]

I did the overnight chlorine test last night/this morning and the pool passed! So I think I defeated the algae (with your guys' help!). Here's a picture from this morning: http://imgur.com/a/ZlybU

So now I should let the chlorine come down and also test everything else (besides pH, which needs to have chlorine below 10) right?

 

[kimkats]

That looks awesome!!! NICE Job!

You are correct. Test everything else (except PH) and get it all dialed in. Once the FC goes below 10 test PH.



Kim

 

[jglonek]

Hi all! Hopefully it's okay I'm responding to my thread even though it's been a few weeks. Just wanted to give some updates.

The pool still looks good, and so do the chemicals! The main thing I am still struggling with is getting down a good number for how much bleach I should put in the pool each day to keep it between 5 and 7. Hopefully I will figure that out soon.

I also got the light fixture replaced yesterday! I know it's a small thing but it actually made me pretty happy, the pool is "whole" again. The original light fixture was an Amerlite, and I'm glad I decided to go the full replacement route because once we pulled the old one out we saw it was filled with water. It was still hooked up to the electric too, so it's amazing it wasn't shocking anyone or constantly tripping the breaker. I replaced it with a Pentair 601105 IntelliBrite 5G White Underwater LED Pool Light, 12v, 300 watt equivalent. It's pretty nice Oh and I got a light switch installed too, because for some reason there wasn't one?? I can't imagine running the pool light 24 hours a day, or switching the breaker on and off each time, but it wouldn't be the strangest thing we've found from the old owners.

Here are some photos of how the pool is looking, plus some old/new lights for anyone who's interested! http://imgur.com/a/YA7If

 

[triptyx]

Yes, please keep responding here!

Have you looked at PoolMath yet? Given the FC reading you have, your pool size, type, chlorination method (e.g. what percentage of bleach or chlorine you're using), you can get the exact amount you need to add to go from your current reading to your target. Check it out! https://www.troublefreepool.com/calc.html

 

[PrairieGirl]

Your pool looks great! our friends here helped me through my own foreclosed, sad pool, and missing, mysterious equipment. I'm still learning new things! I look forward to seeing more updates!

 

[jglonek]

Hi all!

So it looks like I have algae again. I am really confused. Since my last post I have been keeping the pool clean - sweeping it every day, vacuuming every week. The chlorine has always been above 5 (heck, I've had trouble keeping it below 8 because I have still been working on a good routine), and all the other tests have been fine. I cleaned it real well last Wednesday, dropped a whole bottle of chlorine in, and then went out of town until Monday. I came back Monday to green all over the bottom of the pool again. I vacuumed it up, tested the chlorine and it was at 9. I swept it the past two days and then when I went to sweep it today I pushed up A LOT of clouds of green gunk. I checked it just now with the pool light and it's cloudy.

I have been fighting with A LOT, A LOT, A LOT of tree seeds. It's been a nightmare. And I did hose down the pool cage Monday (before I cleaned the pool) to try and get the last of the seeds and other junk off.

I will start the SLAM again tomorrow I guess. I'll test all the chemicals again beforehand. I just don't understand what happened in two months to get back to this.. I felt like I was doing things right.