New pool owner!!

[PoolMama1989]

Hello!!! My husband and I just had an above ground pool installed. It’s an oval 18x34 and it’s on a frog leap system. I just ordered a Taylor k 2006 test kit. So I can stay on top of pool chemistry. I am very new to this so I know I have a lot to learn. My CYA is sitting at 40 ppm. My question is if you want to keep your CYA between 30-50ppm how do you do that? The frog system uses Trichloro in its torpedo pacs. How do you not get high CYA levels over a period of time? Because your constant pumping more Trichloro in. I have been trying to keep my FC at 3ppm…and only shocking with Cal Hypo when I get a reading of 0.5 CC. The lady at the pool store said she prefers to keep CYA between 70-80 ppm. Since we live in Savannah Ga. Not sure if that’s good advice or not.

 

[PoolStored]

You should not go above 50 for CYA with a Chlorine pool (non-salt water generator).

With Trichlor, you are adding CYA constantly. When your CYA gets too high, you will likely not be able to keep the pool free of algae. You may want to consider converting to using Liquid Chlorine.

Start here: ABCs of Pool Water Chemistry
Make sure you follow this advice - Maintain your FC at the right level for your CYA. FC/CYA Levels
Install this if you have a smartphone. Will tell you exactly what to add based on your new test kit. PoolMath

Come back here for help!!

 

[mknauss]

Welcome to the forum!
PoolStored has you in the right direction.
Do not replenish the mineral pack in the Frog thing. The metals in it will build up in your pool water and turn blonde hair green and stain your pool. The Trichlor packs are very expensive for what you get and are not a sustainable method of chlorinating your pool.

How to Chlorinate Your Pool

Before chlorinating your pool, you should know these simple tips. Learn the best way to add chlorine to your pool.

www.troublefreepool.com

Recommended Levels
I suggest you read through Pool School - Trouble Free Pool and even look at a few of our videos TFP-TV - Trouble Free Pool

 

[PoolMama1989]

You should not go above 50 for CYA with a Chlorine pool (non-salt water generator).

With Trichlor, you are adding CYA constantly. When your CYA gets too high, you will likely not be able to keep the pool free of algae. You may want to consider converting to using Liquid Chlorine.

Start here: ABCs of Pool Water Chemistry
Make sure you follow this advice - Maintain your FC at the right level for your CYA. FC/CYA Levels
Install this if you have a smartphone. Will tell you exactly what to add based on your new test kit. PoolMath

Come back here for help!!

Thank you! This is very helpful. I was thinking about following the BBB method and just bypassing the frog leap system. It seems much more cost effective. Do I need to add anything to the water to prevent algae? Would it be better to use Clorox bleach or actual Liquid Chlorine for pools?

 

[PoolMama1989]

Welcome to the forum!
PoolStored has you in the right direction.
Do not replenish the mineral pack in the Frog thing. The metals in it will build up in your pool water and turn blonde hair green and stain your pool. The Trichlor packs are very expensive for what you get and are not a sustainable method of chlorinating your pool.

How to Chlorinate Your Pool

Before chlorinating your pool, you should know these simple tips. Learn the best way to add chlorine to your pool.

www.troublefreepool.com

Recommended Levels
I suggest you read through Pool School - Trouble Free Pool and even look at a few of our videos TFP-TV - Trouble Free Pool

I will check this out!! This is good to know as we are a blonde haired family

 

[PoolStored]

Thank you! This is very helpful. I was thinking about following the BBB method and just bypassing the frog leap system. It seems much more cost effective. Do I need to add anything to the water to prevent algae? Would it be better to use Clorox bleach or actual Liquid Chlorine for pools?

That's what I did. (see my signature). It is a) easier, b) cheaper and c) more reliable. If you maintain the appropriate level of FC for your CYA level, you will never get algae. I run my pool 1-2 higher than FC/CYA target. No issues.

It all comes down to price and availability for LC vs. Bleach. READ THIS CAREFULLY ---> IF YOU USE BLEACH, DO NOT USE BLEACH THAT SAYS BLUE, GREAN, SOFTENER, SPLASHLESS...ANYTHING THAT MIGHT INDICATE IT IS NOT "JUST BLEACH." Ok, having said that, I have used dollar store bleach, Walmart bleach, Lowe's bleach, Ace. Check around and price compare, you will likely find a nice source nearby.

 

[PoolMama1989]

That's what I did. (see my signature). It is a) easier, b) cheaper and c) more reliable. If you maintain the appropriate level of FC for your CYA level, you will never get algae. I run my pool 1-2 higher than FC/CYA target. No issues.

It all comes down to price and availability for LC vs. Bleach. READ THIS CAREFULLY ---> IF YOU USE BLEACH, DO NOT USE BLEACH THAT SAYS BLUE, GREAN, SOFTENER, SPLASHLESS...ANYTHING THAT MIGHT INDICATE IT IS NOT "JUST BLEACH." Ok, having said that, I have used dollar store bleach, Walmart bleach, Lowe's bleach, Ace. Check around and price compare, you will likely find a nice source nearby.

This is perfect info!! Thank you so much! I’m glad I stumbled across this! My only other question I would have is about CC. Is it possible to get a false reading with the Taylor K 2006 kit? Or maybe I tested water to soon. I shocked my pool with one pound of Cal Hypo…as per dosage on the label. I tested after 24 hours and still had a reading of 0.4. Did I just not add enough shock. Or did I possibly test to soon. Everything else looked perfect.

 

[PoolStored]

Get the pool math app.
Stop adding anything to the pool, except LC/Bleach. While you are waiting on your test kit, add 5 ppm FC worth of liquid chlorine / plain bleach to your pool each evening with the pump running. This will replenish the FC lost each day to the sun and also inhibit any algae in the water from growing further (if there is any). Use pool math to figure out the amount for your pool.

Don't add anything else until you get your kit. Do not trust the numbers you have from the pool store.

Read up on pool school. Come back here with your numbers from your Taylor. We will help!

 

[PoolStored]

If you are questioning, "Am I in the right place?"

For your inspiration -->How Clear is TFP Clear? Let's See (Pics Please).

 

[PoolMama1989]

Get the pool math app.
Stop adding anything to the pool, except LC/Bleach. While you are waiting on your test kit, add 5 ppm FC worth of liquid chlorine / plain bleach to your pool each evening with the pump running. This will replenish the FC lost each day to the sun and also inhibit any algae in the water from growing further (if there is any). Use pool math to figure out the amount for your pool.

Don't add anything else until you get your kit. Do not trust the numbers you have from the pool store.

Read up on pool school. Come back here with your numbers from your Taylor. We will help!

I already have my Taylor kit! I got the pool school from Swim University. But I will take a look at this as well. 24 hours after shocking my pool I tested with my Taylor Kit. FC was at 5ppm but I still had a reading of 0.4 for CC. I wasn’t for sure if I tested to soon or just didn’t reach breakpoint.

 

[mknauss]

Read our Pool School. CC of under 1 is no issue and breakpoint is a pool store term.

 

[PoolStored]

I already have my Taylor kit! I got the pool school from Swim University. But I will take a look at this as well. 24 hours after shocking my pool I tested with my Taylor Kit. FC was at 5ppm but I still had a reading of 0.4 for CC. I wasn’t for sure if I tested to soon or just didn’t reach breakpoint.

I / we are generally unconcerned about CC. Essentially, anything .5 or less is not worth worrying about. I didn't even test my CCs at all last year. Kept everything in balance and didn't worry about the CC.

 

[PoolMama1989]

I / we are generally unconcerned about CC. Essentially, anything .5 or less is not worth worrying about. I didn't even test my CCs at all last year. Kept everything in balance and didn't worry about the CC.

Awesome! Thank you for your help. It is much appreciated

 

[Newdude]

Welcome PoolMama !!!

You have to start over here if you choose to do so. There is just too much nonsense out there being perpetuated. Check the water clarity link that PoolStored posted.

But please don't just get the point on page 2. Scroll the whole thread. They just keep.getting better and each and every one is a regular person, just like you. We can put any of those pools up against any brochure you can find.

And we can have you adding yours to the thread in no time. See the pics now. We will earn your trust as we go. I promise.

 

[PoolStored]

Great, for a CYA of 40, until you learn your pool, keep your FC at the high end of the range --> 7.

Your FC demand (how much FC gets used per day) is going to vary with sun, pollen, swimmers. Keeping it at 7 is not going to "irritate" but it WILL give you a buffer for those sunny, hot, pollen filled days with lots of swimmers that will eat up a bunch of FC.

 

[PoolMama1989]

Great, for a CYA of 40, until you learn your pool, keep your FC at the high end of the range --> 7.

Your FC demand (how much FC gets used per day) is going to vary with sun, pollen, swimmers. Keeping it at 7 is not going to "irritate" but it WILL give you a buffer for those sunny, hot, pollen filled days with lots of swimmers that will eat up a bunch of FC.

Great, for a CYA of 40, until you learn your pool, keep your FC at the high end of the range --> 7.

Your FC demand (how much FC gets used per day) is going to vary with sun, pollen, swimmers. Keeping it at 7 is not going to "irritate" but it WILL give you a buffer for those sunny, hot, pollen filled days with lots of swimmers that will eat up a bunch of FC.

Makes sense!

 

[PoolStored]

I got the pool school from Swim University. But I will take a look at this as well.

Can you point me at this "pool school" from swim university. Quick google gave me nothing. Is it an app? I'd be concerned using an app that varies from our methodology. Mixing programs/pool store/TFP has gotten lots of people in trouble. More frustration and confusion and $$. I would recommend PoolMath. It squares with all the advice you get here. It also allow you to share your logs so we can help troubleshoot. If you hover over my picture, you will see a button with "pool logs" that is from pool math. I also happy to take a look at pool school and see if it squares with TFP.

 

[PoolMama1989]

Welcome PoolMama !!!

You have to start over here if you choose to do so. There is just too much nonsense out there being perpetuated. Check the water clarity link that PoolStored posted.

But please don't just get the point on page 2. Scroll the whole thread. They just keep.getting better and each and every one is a regular person, just like you. We can put any of those pools up against any brochure you can find.

And we can have you adding yours to the thread in no time. See the pics now. We will earn your trust as we go. I promise.

Thanks this how clear my pool is currently!! I have doing my best to as a newbie…to keep all the levels where they need to be!!

Can you point me at this "pool school" from swim university. Quick google gave me nothing. Is it an app? I'd be concerned using an app that varies from our methodology. Mixing programs/pool store/TFP has gotten lots of people in trouble. More frustration and confusion and $$. I would recommend PoolMath. It squares with all the advice you get here. It also allow you to share your logs so we can help troubleshoot. If you hover over my picture, you will see a button with "pool logs" that is from pool math. I also happy to take a look at pool school and see if it squares with TFP.

<Link Removed per Moderator>

 

[PoolMama1989]

Read our Pool School. CC of under 1 is no issue and breakpoint is a pool store term.

Ahhh ok.. I learned about the term breakpoint….from the handbook. In my Taylor test kit. Thank you! One less thing to stress about.

 

[PoolStored]

Thanks this how clear my pool is currently!! I have doing my best to as a newbie…to keep all the levels where they need to be!!

I did a quick review. If you use both methods (swim univ (SU) and TFP) you will be confused. I think you should choose one method or the other.

As an example, SU recommends a FC of 1-3. The amount of FC to be sanitizing (kills stuff) is dependent on CYA levels. More CYA, more FC is required. SU talks nothing about CYA or its impact on FC requirements. With CYA of 40 and FC of 1-3, you will get algae. Ask me how I know.

Get the pool math app. It will help you.

Just my .02