New pool owner, kinda overwhelmed

[MiraAnne]

Hi! My name is Miranda, I live just south of Fort Worth, Texas.

We just set up an above ground pool, 6000 gallon. I didn't realize I was going to have to become a chemist, lol.

My ph on my pool is high and it's not holding chlorine. I have a floater, and I have used a shock bag from Costco but doesn't seem to be helping. I think my alkalinity is high too.

I did get water conditioner and pH Down. Just confused on how long I have to wait between adding them.

Open to any and all advice and suggestions! I've never had a pool before so this is all brand new to me.

Thanks!

 

[HermanTX]

Welcome to TFP, There are many people here to help. You do not need to be a chemist. Just follow some basic solutions that work for thousands of TFPers.
We need to see proper testing values as we cannot interpret comments such as "my pH is high" or "my alkalinity is high too"

Suggest you purchase a proper test kit - Test Kits Compared
Then read ABCs of Pool Water Chemistry and Recommended Levels

Then come back with your test results and your specific questions.

 

[Wobblerlorri]

Welcome to TFP!

We really need test results to give you an any advice. Please read Test Kits Compared and when you have your kit, post results in the format

FC
CC
PH
TA
CH if non vinyl pool
CYA

I'm willing to bet either your CYA is low or you're nursing an algae bloom, but we need data in the form of test results to know for sure.

While you're waiting for your test kit to arrive, read up on

ABCs of Pool Water Chemistry
SLAM Process
PoolMath

Also, add 5 ppm FC to your pool every day until your test kit comes. You can calculate how much that is in PoolMath.

Again, welcome to TFP! Well get your pool sorted out in no time!

 

[YippeeSkippy]

There are far better ways to chlorinate your pool= try liquid chlorine. It won't add excess stabilizer like pucks and granular products can.
Add x amount daily. Test often and you'll probably see that you need a certain amount daily at least, and tweak it more if your testing shows a need.

 

[TexEdmond]

Hey, Miranda. I'm from Fort Worth too, but it's been a long, long time since I lived there. We just got a house with a pool last October, and it's been really fun and awesome and confusing and counterintuitive and frustrating and terrifying. I'm brand new to this website too, my wife found the website and loves it, and she really encouraged me to get an account because she trusts the folks that are here, because I'm the one that's doing most of the work on the pool.

 

[MiraAnne]

Welcome to TFP!

We really need test results to give you an any advice. Please read Test Kits Compared and when you have your kit, post results in the format

FC
CC
PH
TA
CH if non vinyl pool
CYA

I'm willing to bet either your CYA is low or you're nursing an algae bloom, but we need data in the form of test results to know for sure.

While you're waiting for your test kit to arrive, read up on

ABCs of Pool Water Chemistry
SLAM Process
PoolMath

Also, add 5 ppm FC to your pool every day until your test kit comes. You can calculate how much that is in PoolMath.

Again, welcome to TFP! Well get your pool sorted out in no time!

Ok I'll order that kit. I just retested with the kit I have and my FC was .6 and pH was 7.6 ....I can't figure out how to test for alkalinity, and it doesn't have an option for CYA.

 

[MiraAnne]

Hey, Miranda. I'm from Fort Worth too, but it's been a long, long time since I lived there. We just got a house with a pool last October, and it's been really fun and awesome and confusing and counterintuitive and frustrating and terrifying. I'm brand new to this website too, my wife found the website and loves it, and she really encouraged me to get an account because she trusts the folks that are here, because I'm the one that's doing most of the work on the pool.

Haha that sounds like the range of my emotions right now too.

 

[MiraAnne]

There are far better ways to chlorinate your pool= try liquid chlorine. It won't add excess stabilizer like pucks and granular products can.
Add x amount daily. Test often and you'll probably see that you need a certain amount daily at least, and tweak it more if your testing shows a need.

Ok ill get some liquid chlorine. Is there anything specific I should know or is regular household bleach ok?

 

[mknauss]

Ok ill get some liquid chlorine. Is there anything specific I should know or is regular household bleach ok?

Recommended Pool Chemicals

Which should I buy? TFP's recommended pool chemicals are cheap, easy, and won't unbalance your pool water.

www.troublefreepool.com

 

[YippeeSkippy]

Yeah- DON'T buy Clorox bleach. It now has polymers in it which are meant to "coat" your clothes to stay cleaner longer they say. But even Clorox says its not for pools.

Get the absolute plainest, non-scented, non-thickened, fresh bleach you can find. Check date codes, so its not older than 3 months. It often uses Julian Dates. Today is the 166th day of the year. So figure 90 days back and that will show up like "21076" so get anything over that day.

Maddie

 

[stricttime]

Walmart has liquid chlorine available in the FW area (I bought 8 galllons yesterday to prepare for the rolling blackouts ) Look for it in the garden section (ours is inside the store where the garden chemicals are).This will give you the best bang for your buck, since the chlorine is at a much higher concentration than household bleach. Don't fret-- follow the protocol taught here and your pool will be clean, clear and cheaper to operate than your neighbor's lol!