New pool owner help!

[Vldowns]

I am a new pool owner. We bought the house in January. Me not knowing anything hired a pool company to open my pool. We have a auto cover and the pool was dirty but the water was clear. When they left the pool was super cloudy and they didn’t clean it well. Still a ton of leaves and dirt. They didn’t explain what they did just took my money and ran. So they are now booted but I have a cloudy pool. According to the invoice this is what they added 8 gallons 8.5% bleach, 1.75 lbs stabilizer, 2 lbs dry acid, 32 ozs of algaecide.

I got my test kit today and got these numbers
FC 10.4
pH 7.6
TA 310
CH 500
CYA 33
temp 54

I live in Indianapolis and yes it’s early to open but I wanted to make sure everything worked and I had time to replace any broken parts.

So what do I do? Because it is cloudy do I slam it?

 

[Texas Splash]

Welcome! well, the good news is YOU are testing now. So about your numbers:
Having just opened and with cloudy water, we can safely assume you an algae issue going on (cloudy). Nothing in the chemicals they added would indicate otherwise. To remove algae we follow the SLAM Process. In preparation for a SLAM, you first want to lower your pH to about 7.2. Use muriatic acid from now own (not dry acid). If you've never used liquid muriatic acid before, let us know if you have any questions. Just pour it slowly near the return jets with pump moving water well. It's strong, so watch your face, eyes, skin, and nose for vapors. But it's the best tool to manage pH. Always use our PoolMath APP (or the PoolMath web page) to figure out dosage amounts.

Once the pH is lowered a bit, let's call your CYA 30 for now (we round up or down), which means you probably should have your FC at 12 for the SLAM Process. You can see where I got those numbers from the FC/CYA Levels. From there, follow the SLAM page until you pass all 3 criteria.

Now if you have any doubt about if that is actually algae, you can also do an Overnight Chlorine Loss Test. If you fail that, algae is confirmed. Make sure to not add any more calcium products to your water. Your CH is high enough. In a vinyl pool, you don't need calcium. You have a heater, so your biggest threats there are too much CH (scale) or too low pH (erosion). Your TA is also a bit elevated (common for your area), but that can be addressed later.

Sorry, length reply, but basically, either start the SLAM now, or if you have doubts, do the OCLT. Once the water is clear, we can help you fine-tune any other items. Oh, and for future reference ... no more algaecides unless it's in preparation for closing. For maintaining the proper FC levels and for the SLAM, use pool chlorine (aka regular bleach).

 

[Vldowns]

I tested this morning and the FC was 9.4 and CC was 0.8. I added liquid chlorine to SLAM it. I used the Pool Math app on my phone and I added a gallon of liquid chlorine 12.5% at 8:15am I tested the water at 10 and the FC is 16.4 and CC is .2. I still have leaves/dirt at the bottom of my pool and am waiting on a leaf eater to get the leaves, until then I've been manually vacuuming each day.

I wished I had seen this before I started. Should I still add the muriatic acid?

 

[Texas Splash]

Should I still add the muriatic acid?

Yes, but that was supposed to be the first thing. Now that your FC is over 10, the pH will not read accurately. So you can either leave it and press-on with the SLAM Process, or let the FC fall to 10, validate/adjust the pH, then increase the FC back to SLAM level.

Remember, the FC must be maintained as best as you can 24/7 until you pass all 3 SLAM criteria. Follow that SLAM Process carefully and it will work. Good luck!

 

[mknauss]

It would be best if you start using a 10ml water sample for your FC testing. One scoop of powder and each drop to clear is 0.5ppm.

Otherwise, you will run out of reagents very quickly.

 

[Vldowns]

So is this clear enough to do the overnight test?

 

[Texas Splash]

So is this clear enough to do the overnight test?

No. I would wait until you can see the drain clearly. Screws around the over, or if a quarter is heads or tails.

 

[mknauss]

For an example -- see this thread. TFP Clear in North Dallas - there is water in there

 

[Vldowns]

Wow that is clear, ok I’ll keep going!

 

[Vldowns]

Getting there maybe another day?

 

[mknauss]

Close. Keep going.