New Pool Build - Conroe, TX - LOTS of pics! Come say hi Y'all.

Wendy can you run to the dollar store? You can add hydrogen peroxide to the pool to bring down the FC. They stuff in the brown bottle. You will need to do a search for how much as I have not tried it but have heard of it.

I do like your idea of "oh how did it get that high" bat eyes and move on............

Even with the puck holder turn to 0 some of it can still get through.

Kim
 
C'mon Wendy, he's not gonna make you stand in the corner.
He'll give you that knowing smirk, and say "I knew you probably would, no big deal."
He put a lot of stabilizer in your pool, I don't see him apologizing.
I think you are square.
Enjoy pool school.
 
At least your not the kid caught sticking potatoes up the exhaust pipes in the faculty parking lot.
The Principal will forget all about your gum to go and bust me,...errrr, a guy that looks a lot like me but is definitely not me.
What were we talking about?
Oh look something shiny!
Move along nothing to see here.
 
At least your not the kid caught sticking potatoes up the exhaust pipes in the faculty parking lot.
The Principal will forget all about your gum to go and bust me,...errrr, a guy that looks a lot like me but is definitely not me.
What were we talking about?
Oh look something shiny!
Move along nothing to see here.

Oz, you get funnier by the post!

Wendy, while you're playing the FB game (wink, wink), text your PB and tell him you got a text from your boss that you have to go into the office or that you have a conference call. Reschedule for later in the week. I'm glad your hubby told you to stay home.

Take care,
Suz.
 
Well it looks like I missed yalls chemistry party! ( Had to help out frineds happy hour today), anyways....

Hey there is nothing to freak out about here. Your FC is fine. (as a FYI, you are good with FC as high as up to 40% of the CYA...up to that point its perfectly fine to swim, although FC that high isnt economical as it isnt needed unless you have algae).

So what if its higher than you expected? We all over-do it sometimes. The good thing is, its very easy stuff, easily fixable with little or no cost. There is a wide range of what the levels can be. :) It doesnt have to be perfect, or it wouldnt be TroubleFree!

I suspect your pool volume isnt what you estimated (BTW, I estimated too using your sig dimensions and came up high, apparently). But that's ok, no biggie Sunbaby. There are a lot of unknowns such as the angle of slopes, area of benches, sundecks etc, and that will be figured out in time. I would say to play around a bit at the bottom of pool math,where it says "effects of adding". You can change your pool volume around, and then play with "effects of adding", and in no time, nail your volume down to the nearest 500 gallons.

My money says that withing 8 weeks, you will make a post along the lines of "I dont know why I was ever so nervous to start with ". Once you get past the learning curve, its a piece of cake. If Im wrong, I will come and clean leaves from your pool for free for a year. ;)
 
Had to jump on quickly and update! My CL is down to 10 this morning! (Which helps get me out of the principals office today) I ran my pump and features all day/night, not sure if that helped or not.

Once I get done with pool school, I'm sure I'll have a million questions. Including is it normal to drop that much CL overnight.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Had to jump on quickly and update! My CL is down to 10 this morning! (Which helps get me out of the principals office today) I ran my pump and features all day/night, not sure if that helped or not.

Once I get done with pool school, I'm sure I'll have a million questions. Including is it normal to drop that much CL overnight.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

When you learn it all you can teach me because in about a month it will be my turn :)
 

Enjoying this content?

Support TFP with a donation.

Give Support
OK - so my pool builder just left - he gave me an abbreviated pool school - since he says I know more than he does. I pulled out my TF100 and he smiles and says that he has no doubt I know how to test - asked me if I knew how to adjust - I showed him the pool math, he said great. He took a deep breath and said - we can skip testing if you feel comfortable with it - since you have really been testing and caring for your pool for a couple of months with precision. :angel: Told me he felt my pool was probably around 13,000 and that would be a good place to start on size.

He said to focus on PH, CL first then TA and CYA, don't buy into what the pool stores are telling me to buy. That I can test there and verify my results but don't buy it unless it is the essentials (Acid, chlorine, soda ash, etc.) I liked that. But he did say that he suggests Metal out with our water. He would suggest 4-5 oz a week. Said we didn't even need to test - that our water needed it - because of the amount we are adding each week.

He also said that most people he suggests Phos-Free because they don't keep their numbers right and it is an easy way to help keep algae away for "lazy" people (lol, he really cracks me up sometimes). But if I am diligent about my PH and CL I shouldn't have any problems or need it.

I got a nifty folder with all my manuals in it, instructions and a CD with all our info on our pool - even the manuals are on it. He went over all the controls and valves - I got a little confused on the one that goes to the heater - he said they put it in because heaters have something that when steam builds up - it will pop - and my pump is so big that it can make the heater think that there is steam built up. So the valve can be turned to over-ride it. No, I really don't understand what I am saying or that I even understand. Maybe in the future I will understand that!

They still have a few things to do - little odds and ends to clean up - but pretty much it is my pool now! Very excited!

He said since I ordered the glass for my fire pit they are going to prep it for me and do a screen so that all we have to do is add the glass :eek:

Overall, I am pretty excited. The pool is mine!
 
OK now that "THAT" is over with. A few questions. First :whoot: my pool is now tab free! Here is a pic of PoolMath for my pool (using TFP numbers)

Pool Math TFP.jpg

I have my current numbers plugged in (except for FC - I accidentally put in 9 when I did the screen shot - it is actually 10).

Since changing from "traditional pool" to "TFPool" it looks like I need to raise my PH up a little and my TA - to keep within the recommended areas. Since everything else is okay - would you suggest I go ahead and up my PH first? Then, a few days later up my TA - so that everything is in range to start with?

:testkit:

For testing. I test in the morning - about 8AM. I know from reading your posts that most of you add a little bleach every day. What FC number do you focus on. Meaning - this morning I tested at 10 - so I do nothing. But lets just say tomorrow my FC is 7. It is still within range - but will I add bleach to up it to 8 or 9 just to make sure it stays within range? Does this make sense? I KNOW if it is low to add - but if the goal is to never get low - do I try to keep it on the higher end within the scope - and dose for that daily?
 
I test whatever I am testing that day.
Always FC/CC & pH
Weekly TA
Fortnightly CYA, CH (unless there has been an 'event')
The way I do it is adjust FC to the high end of the range so I don't risk dropping out the bottom of the range 24 hrs hence.
I put my bleach away.

(Not getting both Bleach & MA out at same time means I get separation of these two in handling and pool dosing. They don't play well together.)

As my pH only ever goes in one direction (No, not on Harry Styles head!)
I get out my MA and adjust it to lower end of range if necessary.
I put my MA away.

If anything else was out of whack, like TA being low, I would go get my Baking Soda. I have an plastic container that holds the amount of BS I need to raise TA 10 ppm, so easy to adjust.
Since I add my chems in front of my running swim jets, it is circulated very quickly.
While I was getting used to my pools reactions to dosing I would leave it 15 mins and retest.
For you wait 1/2 hr.

After retest record any learnings and put the kit away.
Once you get predictable reactions, you can stop the retesting.
 
Hi Sunbaby,
with your plaster being new, your pH is subject to rise fairly quicky. The TA helps control how quicly the pH rises, so, with a bit lower TA, like you have now at 60, that will help slow down the pH rise due to new plaster.

Also, running your waterfall makes the pH rise quick. So, another reason to keep your TA a little lower for now.

I would not recommend to adjust either the pH or the TA right now. The pH is going to go up by itself anyhow. Just keep an eye on the pH, and when it gets to 7.9, then lower it with muriatic acid to the recommended pH for plaster pool. AFter you get a feel for your pools appetite, then at that time, you can adjust the TA if you need to.

For Chlorine Level, the rule is the minimum FC is 7.5% of your CYA and a "target" of 11.5%. The target is just to give head room for it to drift down over the course of a day.
so with CYA of 70, your minimum is 5 and your target is 8.

And its OK if its a few ppm higher than recommended. Its just that that those few ppm arent normally needed and it wont harm your pool.

WIth CYA of 70, its safe to swim and safe for you pool if FC all the way up to 28.

Most folks test in the morning and add bleach to get to the "target". This gives them a few ppm of headroom for it to drift down to the minimum or just above it, at dark.

There are only two reasons why chlorine is used up.
First is that is gets burned off from UV from the sun (your CYA helps prevent that from happening so quick)

and Last, because it is oxidizing organic material in the water. Algae, leaves, bugs, dogs, full skimmers, people, ... all are orgaincs. The more people swim, the more chlorine you will use. The hotter the sun, the more chlorine you will use.

So, as you continue to use the pool and test, you'll get an idea of your pools appetite for chlorine. But ultimately - As long as you STAY ABOVE the recommended minimum FC, you are fine. As your PB said, the key is to be DILIGENT about it. If you get lazy, then thats when problems with algae occur. (BTW, great PB you have !)

Really though, your numbers are fine as they are. Your CSI is well within range too. So, until your FC gets down to the 5-6 range or your pH gets up to 7.9, there is no need to do anything except enjoy it. :)

I hope I haven't been too long winded, and that this helps,
 
I'm soaking up everything you post on Wendy's thread (well, elsewhere, too). I know some of the levels/ranges are different for a SWG pool, but does most of the above apply for my pool, too?

And yes, I've printed all of Pool School and have read and re-read, and continue to read depending on what's happening with my pool. It just takes repeated review and drill for me to learn something - especially in the science realm of things.

Thanks for all your info!!!
Suz.
 
Thank you Suz! Such a compliment! You just made my day! :)

Yes, it does apply to you and everyone else too. Sometimes we might need to adjust our levels because of the pools appetite and maybe bump up the FC or adjust the TA down (or up), but thats just part of learning. Really though, there are just some very basic rules to know, like the FC/CYA relationship, and the pH/TA thing, and dont let your CH get to high. But and once you know the basic rules, its a piece of cake.

If you have any question about your test numbers, send them to me or post them on your thread, and I will look at them if you want me to.
 
If you have any question about your test numbers, send them to me or post them on your thread, and I will look at them if you want me to.

Oh, that's great! Thanks. I've been working on raising the CH and CYA levels. CH began at 75 and CYA was up to 50 while manually chlorinating. Now raising the CYA for the SWG switchover. Just did a couple of additions for those yesterday and today. I'll watch things a couple of days and then post. Really appreciate it!

And thanks Wendy, for posting on your thread. And letting me post on your thread - I'll move off and put the rest of this on my thread. Glad we're good friends!!!
Suz.
 

Enjoying this content?

Support TFP with a donation.

Give Support
Thread Status
Hello , This thread has been inactive for over 60 days. New postings here are unlikely to be seen or responded to by other members. For better visibility, consider Starting A New Thread.