New Pool Owner looking for Help

[PoolStored]

The pool is from 1967. I have owned the home for a year. I do not know if light was built with it or anything about it or the pool, to be honest. I will try to take a picture tomorrow

If it is that old, it may has a silver ring around it and a single screw on the top. Take a pic and look for one screw on the top of the chrome ring like this:

 

[Petcher]

Tested this morning.

Less than 0.5 CC
BUT…FC went down from 20 to 11 overnight so massive drop.

I am sure there is an explanation, perhaps CC takes a while to show up in tests, I do not know. You tell me.

I will not stop the process obviously, I am just curious about how this all works

 

[duraleigh]

Welcome to the forum. Please re-read the SLAM article. That process should be followed word for word. It begins with posting a complete set of test results so there is no more guessing. You are on the right track but the SLAM process should be your ABSOLUTE guide. Don't waiver

 

[PoolStored]

Tested this morning.

Less than 0.5 CC
BUT…FC went down from 20 to 11 overnight so massive drop.

I am sure there is an explanation, perhaps CC takes a while to show up in tests, I do not know. You tell me.

I will not stop the process obviously, I am just curious about how this all works

You may not see high CC at all during the process. Just follow the process, word for word, The more often you can test and replace your FC, the better. Every 1-2 hours would help. Do what you can.

You got this and we got you.

 

[ShallowWater]

The pool is from 1967. I have owned the home for a year. I do not know if light was built with it or anything about it or the pool, to be honest. I will try to take a picture tomorrow

Is it a big round light? (Most likely from the 60's). It has a niche behind it where algae can hide. Remove the screws on the bezel and the light. Clean inside the niche and clean the light.

Like others said, nothing but chlorine for now, especially no CyA. Adding CyA will only increase your chlorine requirements and most likely create Chlorine lock where it is bound to the CyA and not available to sanitize your pool.

 

[Petcher]

Will try to do the light today. First I have to find the breaker in the panel and that’s a job.

I left it last night at 21 FC

Woke up to 16. So progress from previous day when I lost 9PPM overnight, but probably just a fluke. Will find out tomorrow.

Topped it up to 20 again. And brushed like crazy.

 

[Petcher]

It looks absolutely disgusting…anything specific to do other than leaving it open and keep the light in the pool floating so it gets chlorine?

 

[PoolStored]

Scrub the niche and the light to break the biofilm…then scrub a couple more times!

 

[Petcher]

Ha thanks.

How should I think about the really small microparticles that are just floating around. Will the filter pick those up or is there some sort of trick to push them to floor so they can be vacuumed?

I clean the filter yesterday, it was really brown despite being only 3 weeks old.

Lastly, how clear should this pool get? The greenish old stained plaster makes it tougher, to me at least.

 

[PoolStored]

Ha thanks.

How should I think about the really small microparticles that are just floating around. Will the filter pick those up or is there some sort of trick to push them to floor so they can be vacuumed?

I clean the filter yesterday, it was really brown despite being only 3 weeks old.

Lastly, how clear should this pool get? The greenish old stained plaster makes it tougher, to me at least.

Focus on the FC and keeping it at slam level. Clean your filter. Note clean filter pressure. When you filter pressure rises 25% (percent) over clean pressure, clean the filter again. If you have a robot, that can help. Keep brushing and pumping. There is no pushing trick, filter will work.

Trust the slam process and the OCLT...that will tell the tale.

How clear? Link-->How Clear is TFP Clear?

 

[Petcher]

Lost 5ppm overnight, just topped back up to 20.

Seems like a good result considering I opened the light yesterday and was so dirty

 

[PoolStored]

Seems like a good result considering I opened the light yesterday and was so dirty

Yeah, SLAMs are a funny thing. They are on, until they are over. Don't get encouraged or discouraged by any OCLT.

If you are diligent (test and replace FC often (every 2 hours is not too much)) and scrub everything (Did you remove the weir doors and scrub the foam in the doors?), you will be successful.

 

[Petcher]

Woke up to 16. Lost 4ppm in 11 hours overnight.

Now I see what you mean by crystal clear.

No CC.

There is a smell but it’s different than the previous days. It is more like bleach rather than chloramines. Any ideas what it could be?

 

[PoolStored]

Woke up to 16. Lost 4ppm in 11 hours overnight.

Now I see what you mean by crystal clear.

No CC.

There is a smell but it’s different than the previous days. It is more like bleach rather than chloramines. Any ideas what it could be?

The "smell of chlorine" indicates organics being actively attacked, and you can have 0 cc and still have algae. Chlorine is doing it's job!

 

[Petcher]

Lost only 1 overnight.

Topped it up to 20. And then down to 17 six hours later. Could it be losing that due to normal conditions? Its 85 and sunny

 

[PoolStored]

Lost only 1 overnight.

Topped it up to 20. And then down to 17 six hours later. Could it be losing that due to normal conditions? Its 85 and sunny

Yes, normal. At 1, I would continue slam one more day for insurance.

 

[Petcher]

Welcome to TFP! Here is what I am seeing from your description:
1 - How are you testing your water now? Do you have a TF-100 or Taylor K-2006C test kit? That is a priority.
2 - Your cloudy water is most likely the onset of algae. Your FC has been too low for much too long. This is why you can't maintain a good FC level. Also, your SWG will never be able to keep-up with an excessive organic level.
3 - Add some liquid chlorine right away. Try to get the FC up to about 8 ppm.
4 - If you have a proper test kit, I would recommend doing an Overnight Chlorine Loss Test once you increase the FC to about 8. If you fail, which is likely, then a SLAM Process would be in order to kill and remove algae.
5 - Take a moment to update your signature with all of your pool and equipment info. It will help later.

If you have any questions please let us know.

Completed it. Thank you!

Zero loss overnight
Crystal clear for days now
And 0 CC

I have a couple of questions now about:

Solar cover - before I let the chlorine drop, should I submerge the cover for a couple of hours or overnight to kill anything that is on it?

Overall balance - is it now just a matter of letting chlorine come down and then add CYA to reach 70-80, then start balancing the PH and then the other aspects?

Thank you

 

[Texas Splash]

Solar cover - before I let the chlorine drop, should I submerge the cover for a couple of hours or overnight to kill anything that is on it?

Good question. I'd be reluctant to put it in the water in fear of introducing algae back to the pool. Are you able to remove the cover and clean it elsewhere?

Overall balance - is it now just a matter of letting chlorine come down and then add CYA to reach 70-80, then start balancing the PH and then the other aspects?

Basically yes, but you can increase the CYA now if you wish.

 

[Petcher]

Good question. I'd be reluctant to put it in the water in fear of introducing algae back to the pool. Are you able to remove the cover and clean it elsewhere?


Basically yes, but you can increase the CYA now if you wish.

Got it.

Thank you.

I could remove and clean it but I should probably do it with something strong enough that kills any organics, like bleach or something. With just water, if the cover was “infected” from the pool situation I had a week ago, that probably would not cut it.

 

[PoolStored]

I could remove and clean it but I should probably do it with something strong enough that kills any organics, like bleach or something. With just water, if the cover was “infected” from the pool situation I had a week ago, that probably would not cut it.

Removing and scrubbing with a 10:1 Water:Bleach solution would kill anything on it.