Hey everyone just wanted to introduce myself and ask a few questions, also very grateful to have found this community. I just bought a house with a pool, first pool I've owned but I've grown up taking care of pool in most houses we lived in so not totally new but no expert by any means. First issue, no one was living in the house when we bought it and the way the investors were keeping it chlorinated was filling the skimmer basket with chlorine tabs with the pump running 24 hours. As you can imagine this destroyed the intelliflow pump that it had, destroyed the seal and corroded the housing so bad it fell apart when I tried to rebuild. I replaced the pump with a jacuzzi VSP (not my first choice) but I needed this fixed ASAP and most pentair pumps were weeks out shipping. Added chlorine to get over 5PPM FC and acid to 7.4 PH, I tested CYA but I initially thought I did something wrong because the dot disappeared before I got anywhere near 100, now from reading here and them using all those tabs.....it probably is sky high well over 100. The water is pretty clear, I also installed new filters and brushed and skimmed profusely. Overall the pool looks pretty good except for what appears to be some sort of pinkish splotchy staining on the plaster, mostly on the sun shelf and some on the walls, I have no idea what this is or what it's from hoping you guys can help, need to figure out how to attach images, guess the file size is to large? Also I need to figure out some kind of vacuum system for debris on the bottom, but I'm trying to let my wallet recover a little after the pump fiasco before I buy a robot. Thanks in advance for any input.
New pool owner slowly addressing issues
- Thread starter PorpoisePool
- Start date
Yikes - not to hijack your thread but I just had my pool installed with an intelliflow pump and have been told to keep 2 tabs per week in the skimmer running 10 hours a day. Supposed to do this for another 3 weeks until they add the salt. Am I looking at trouble?
I'm no expert by any means but it's always been my understanding that you do not want to add any chemicals straight into the pump like that, which is essentially what your doing because the skimmer is the pump intake for the most part maybe someone with more experience will chime in
MITBeta
Gold Supporter
- May 28, 2020
- 1,239
- Pool Size
- 13000
- Surface
- Vinyl
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- CircuPool RJ-45 Plus
You should run a diluted CYA test. You may need to dilute 3 or 4 to 1:
Add pool water to bottom of sticker.
Add tap water to top of sticker.
Shake.
Pour out half so mixture is to bottom of sticker.
Add reagent to top of sticker.
Shake.
Test outside with back to sun and tube at waist level.
Pour back and forth a few times to see if you get the same result.
Double the result.
Add pool water to bottom of sticker.
Add tap water to top of sticker.
Shake.
Pour out half so mixture is to bottom of sticker.
Add reagent to top of sticker.
Shake.
Test outside with back to sun and tube at waist level.
Pour back and forth a few times to see if you get the same result.
Double the result.
Do NOT put the tablets in the skimmer! If you feel the need to use tablets put them in a floater or have a tablet dispenser put in your plumbing AFTER the filter. As seen by the OP they can ruin your $$$ pump and such. TFP suggests using liquid chlorine or SWG as seen here: SWG How It Works - Further Reading
What a pretty pool!!! We will get it looking like it should with your help!
I am going to hit your wallet a bit more with this suggestion. You really need to "up grade" your test kit to the Taylor 2006C as the one you have does not have all of the tests your really need to get the pool up to snuff.
Vacuum-Get a simple hose and vacuum head like this:
A simple hose that will reach from the skimmer to both ends of that pretty pool:
Then a skimmer adapter to get the hose attached to the skimmer:
Oh and you need a pole to attach to the vacuum head.
What you will have to do is fil the hose up with water with the head and pole already attached to it THEN the *fun* part begins..............getting the other end of the hose through the skimmer opening onto the skimmer plates. Please note the ** stand for sarcasm as it make take a couple/few times to master this move.
I am going to hit your wallet a bit more with this suggestion. You really need to "up grade" your test kit to the Taylor 2006C as the one you have does not have all of the tests your really need to get the pool up to snuff.
Vacuum-Get a simple hose and vacuum head like this:
A simple hose that will reach from the skimmer to both ends of that pretty pool:
Then a skimmer adapter to get the hose attached to the skimmer:
Oh and you need a pole to attach to the vacuum head.
What you will have to do is fil the hose up with water with the head and pole already attached to it THEN the *fun* part begins..............getting the other end of the hose through the skimmer opening onto the skimmer plates. Please note the ** stand for sarcasm as it make take a couple/few times to master this move.
I was gonna order that test kit or a TF100, just curious what the kit I have now won't do that those will?? I'll order that vacuum setup, should I pull the filter drain plug before vacuuming ??? Seems like a lot of junk to suck straight into the filters. Anybideas what this pink staning is ??
The TF-100 is really your best bet because it has more of the regents we use most often. The 2005 does not have the powder FC test. That is what you need to test for FC above 5.
You should not pull the filter drain plug before vacuuming as you need the pressure to make the vacuum work. What you can do is get some hair nets, yes hair nets, from Amazon. They are cheap and easy to use. They fit inside the skimmer basket to help catch more of the stuff. Just know you might have to stop vacuuming more often to take it out and clean the stuff out if there is a lot in the pool.
You should not pull the filter drain plug before vacuuming as you need the pressure to make the vacuum work. What you can do is get some hair nets, yes hair nets, from Amazon. They are cheap and easy to use. They fit inside the skimmer basket to help catch more of the stuff. Just know you might have to stop vacuuming more often to take it out and clean the stuff out if there is a lot in the pool.
No idea on the pink stuff yet. Can you get in the pool or is it too burrrrrr still? I want you to feel the pink stuff to see if you can feel it is raised or feels different than the not pink areas.
The pool is pretty cold, I hopped in today because it was almost 100 but the water is still cold, the pink stuff doesn't feel like algae or anything, it is not raised or lowered or slimy, feels the same as the plaster...very strange.....maybe some type of bacteria ??
- May 3, 2014
- 62,727
- Pool Size
- 6000
- Surface
- Fiberglass
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-40
Get a handful of vitamin C tablets, put them in a thin sock, crush them up a bit, and set the sock on the stain for a few minutes.
Our water has some iron in it. The white goods in my pool turn dingy after 18 months or so.
Our water has some iron in it. The white goods in my pool turn dingy after 18 months or so.
Will pick up some vitamin C on my way home today, didn't think about iron staining, I saw it ALOT when I lived in the south but it was always much more orange than this is but that makes sense, also will do diluted CYA when I get home, hopefully the TF100 kit will be here soon
Also I'm pretty sure I'm just gonna go ahead and buy a cleaning robot of some sort, it's inevitable that I'll need one it seems and I want the pool to be as low maintnance as possible, I've used pole vacuums in the past, they work but there a chore in my opinion. Any suggestions for a solid unit for a decent price that will get the job done ?
Low work does NOT equal manual vacuuming for sure!!!
Here is our go to place for find the best robot for YOUR pool. Marina Pool, Spa & Patio CALL them and tell them about your pool and they are will let you know what will work best for you. If you call them and order over the phone you get the FULL warranty unlike other internet sales.
Here is our go to place for find the best robot for YOUR pool. Marina Pool, Spa & Patio CALL them and tell them about your pool and they are will let you know what will work best for you. If you call them and order over the phone you get the FULL warranty unlike other internet sales.
Maybe I missed something was there supposed to be a link or something ??? Not showing up on my end
sigh................it did not take. Here is another try Home - Marina Pool Spa & Patio lets see if this one works. If not you can google them.
Strawberryshortcake
Bronze Supporter
- Apr 22, 2019
- 424
- Pool Size
- 25000
- Surface
- Vinyl
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- CircuPool Core-55
I bought a Dolphin Nautilus CC Plus shortly after buying my house that came with a pool... expensive! But I would replace it IMMEDIATELY if it broke. It's been fantastic.
Well today I performed diluted CYA test, mine tube does not have sticker so I mixed half cup of tap with half cup of pool water and did the test as described above, got to 100 mark PPM mark when dot disappeared, so this would mean 200 PPM CYA???? Seems ridiculously high but I guess possible since I'm fairly sure this pool was being heavily chlorinated with tablets by the investors who owned it. Also the sock with vitamin C did nothing to the staining so still no idea what that is
I assume next step is partial drain and refill??? I'm not exactly sure how to even drain this pool and I'd probably have to get In touch with the water company as we have very strict water restrictions out here so it would likely be a fortune to do that