New pool, new owner, always having issues...

[gregjobs]

Hey there, I'm new to the pool scene. Had a vinyl pool put in last summer. Immediately had mustard algae problems. Tried everything Leslie's suggested, never cleared up right. This year it's been open about 2 weeks and we're already starting to get slippery. I just ordered a Taylor kit and it won't be here for a few days.

That being said the test strips show no free chlorine and almost no CYA but everything else lines up perfect. What can I do until the test arrives to increase free chlorine and CYA immediately?

 

[Rancho Cost-a-Lotta]

Welcome to TFP!

Download and familiarize yourself with the PoolMath app. Try the free version first. Your first goal is to learn how much liquid chlorine you need to add to increase FC by 5 ppm. Do this each day until your kit arrives. This will help to keep things stable until we get some reliable test results.

Which kit did you get?

Your in good hands now. Read up and get ready to test. When you get your kit, post up some results and we'll guide you though the next steps.

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[proavia]

Welcome to TFP!

Which exact Taylor test kit did you order?

 

[Newdude]

Hey Greg and Welcome

no free chlorine and almost no CYA but everything else lines up perfect.

There is no 'everything else' with a vinyl pool on Long Island.

Calcium doesn't matter and perfect PH/TA water flows from the hose. The rain has a low PH which will help combat the pools natural rise and yeah. CYA and FC are about all that matters.

We'll be able to get them in line once the test kit comes. Add the 5ppm as said above to keep it from getting worse in the meantime.

 

[gregjobs]

I've been reading through the tips and stuff here so I downloaded the Pool Math app but I have no Numbers to add to it yet. I ordered the K-2006.

 

[Newdude]

Click the FC tab and enter 0 as your current FC and 5 as your target. Select 10% liquid chlorine (Walmart pool essentials in the pool aisle is the best for many) and it'll tell you how much to add daily for now.

 

[Rancho Cost-a-Lotta]

If you can't figure it out right away, provide the pool volume and we can give you the amount of liquid chlorine needed.

 

[gregjobs]

Like this?

 

[Newdude]

Like this?

For 15k gallons ? Then yes.

Eyeballing is fine. Add 3/4 gallon of 10%, daily, until the kit comes.

Read SLAM Process many times. Each time more sticks.

 

[gregjobs]

No we're at like 25,000 gallons. It's 18*36 standard shallow to deep.

 

[gregjobs]

I'm assuming the app based it on this?

 

[Rancho Cost-a-Lotta]

We didn't ask, but how do you normally chlorinate your pool?

For now, it's probably best just to add the liquid chlorine. In your last screenshot, just change SWG to bleach. Bleach and liquid chlorine are synonymous.

 

[Rancho Cost-a-Lotta]

For 25,000 gallons, it takes 1 gallon and 1 quart of 10% liquid chlorine/bleach. You can get away with one gallon per day.

 

[gregjobs]

It's an SWG pool. Hayward TurboCelll S325.

 

[gregjobs]

Does it matter where I pour the bleach in like my wife seems to think it gets poured directly into the skimmer baskets for distribution but whenever I put chemicals in I've walked the perimeter of the pool and poured everything in slowly.

What are the thoughts on this CYA bucket?

 

[Rancho Cost-a-Lotta]

Most liquid chemicals should be poured slowly in front of a pool return while the pump is running.

 

[Rancho Cost-a-Lotta]

What are the thoughts on this CYA bucket?

Clorox stabilizer is fine, but we haven't established that you needed yet. Wait until you get your test kit to see where you're at. Other Clorox products should be avoided. Their salt is known to have iron in it, and other products have copper.

 

[Newdude]

What are the thoughts on this CYA bucket?

Get 11 more lbs for the same price when the time comes

Amazon link

 

[gregjobs]

Ok, so liquid in the skimmer area, powder around the pool?

 

[ajw22]

It's an SWG pool. Hayward TurboCelll S325.

Note that to us a TurboCell 325 rated at 25,000 gallons is undersized for a 25,000 gallon pool.

We recommend a cell be 2X your pool volume. A T-15 340 cell rated at 40,000 gallons will be better.

The root cause of your continuing algae problems is likely you are not running your small cell at a high enough % long enough to generate the daily chlorine your pool needs. With a small cell you need to run it longer.