New Pool, Pre-open or Wait? (Pics included)

[splashpad]

No, it hasn't been added. I don't know what the CYA is yet. Good news is TFP just emailed back to confirm my kit will ship tomorrow.

Smart to add CYA stabilizer now? Or do we need to wait for tests?

Have you confirmed what chemicals (and dosage) the pool company added? I wouldn't add any until you know what is "already" there
Do keep adding FC for a target of 5 daily until your test kit comes. You can add it in the evening for the most effectiveness

 

[aug0211]

Have you confirmed what chemicals (and dosage) the pool company added? I wouldn't add any until you know what is "already" there
Do keep adding FC for a target of 5 daily until your test kit comes. You can add it in the evening for the most effectiveness

Got it. Message out to pool company to see if/what might already be in there from them.

 

[aug0211]

Have you confirmed what chemicals (and dosage) the pool company added?

Just got confirmation, only chlorine tabs were added. That's been over a week ago.

Less exciting news, Leslie's took my money online no problem and said they had inventory for the VRX iQ+... but turns out they don't actually have it in stock. Hopefully next Friday.

 

[splashpad]

Just got confirmation, only chlorine tabs were added. That's been over a week ago.

Less exciting news, Leslie's took my money online no problem and said they had inventory for the VRX iQ+... but turns out they don't actually have it in stock. Hopefully next Friday.

Did they tell you which ones? They either added CYA or calcium Keep up with small doses of FC until your test kit arrives

Of course they did, bummer :/

 

[aug0211]

Did not get a confirmation on exactly which chemicals, will try again when they're here next

Did some scrubbing today. Tried getting a vacuum hose/scrubber running off the pump but my dad (pool owner for 30+ years) said the pump isn't running high enough to merit the would-be effort. So I just scrubbed to break stuff up.

The panel is in "service mode" and I'm not sure how to increase pump speed so we left it for now.

 

[kimkats]

Keep taking pics of the pool from the same spot so we can really watch the water change. We can also help you set up the pump if they can't/don't help you out!

 

[aug0211]

Keep taking pics of the pool from the same spot so we can really watch the water change. We can also help you set up the pump if they can't/don't help you out!

Thank you!

I'll try to get consistent with photo locations

Just finished this video on YouTube, it did a pretty good job helping me understand the panel. Maybe others here have seen it, or maybe others can benefit from it.

Will try to get this pump flowing on high speed and see if I can stir this stuff up a bit again to let the filters do their thing.

Edit: added link to video, hope that's allowed.

Edit 2: Was not able to get it up and running, unfortunately. I don't think the pump itself is configured so the "end user" controls weren't doing much.

 

[aug0211]

Figured out pump action. Not controlled from my phone yet but able to run it to do a manual vacuuming.

Need to brush the beach area down into the water deeper so I can vacuum up that dirt without sucking in air. Played it pretty safe today and didn't push it with risking air getting in the hose.

Also picked up the Polaris VRX iQ+ today and have it running it's first learning cycle now.

Some photos from after the first manual cleaning.

No test kit yet so trying to stay patient on that front.

 

[kimkats]

That is clearing up nicely!!!

 

[aug0211]

Thanks to your help and the others here.

Can't wait for that test kit to come in so I can post some numbers and we can get into the next steps. Forgot to take a sample with me to Leslie's yesterday for them to do a test - oof!

Think it's possible to have this thing swimmable in the next 4-5 days for the holiday?

Oh - one other update: pool company said the autocover and motor are on backorder Optimistic date was this/next week. Next best guess was sometime in June.

 

[kimkats]

Too lazy to go look but did you get a cheap pH test kit from Walmart or such? If so you can test the pH on your own. If the pH is in the 7s then you can safely swim since you can see the bottom of the pool!

 

[aug0211]

Too lazy to go look but did you get a cheap pH test kit from Walmart or such? If so you can test the pH on your own. If the pH is in the 7s then you can safely swim since you can see the bottom of the pool!

Yes, did get one from Walmart and PH reads around 6.6-6.8.

 

[kimkats]

Roll your returns up so they roll the water good and that will get your pH in the 7s which is better for you pool as well as your body/eyes. Once it gets in the 7s it is CANNON BALL TIME!

 

[aug0211]

Roll your returns up so they roll the water good and that will get your pH in the 7s which is better for you pool as well as your body/eyes. Once it gets in the 7s it is CANNON BALL TIME!

Will do! Should I add pH up? Or just let the returns do it?

 

[kimkats]

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

Take a look at this link. This is what we use on our pools. IF you have pH up already I guess these is not harm in using it but don't go buy any. Turning the returns up is fun and it works.

 

[aug0211]

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

Take a look at this link. This is what we use on our pools. IF you have pH up already I guess these is not harm in using it but don't go buy any. Turning the returns up is fun and it works.

Thank you! From this read it looks like all this rain we're getting will help.

Happy with how the color is turning out too in terms of the sandy beach entry and Caribbean blue water.

The VRX iQ+ is really struggling in this pool unfortunately. It's not covering:
•Walls
•Water line
•Benches
•Beach area

All in all I think it's covering about 25% of the total surface area of the pool.

 

[B.lu]

The water color is really starting to look pretty. I love the beach entry

 

[aug0211]

Got my test kit and tried to test CYA.

Followed instructions (pretty straight forward), but seems like my CYA must be super low.

Here are some photos of what I'm seeing - black dot is visible from waist height with tube full to the brim.

Doing this wrong? Or is my CYA truly this low?

Note - pool is still open and exposed 24/7 currently. Lots of rain lately. Lots.

 

[kimkats]

Looks like you did it right. It is a bit cloudy so you have a tiny bit of CYA in there. I would call it 10 to be on the safe side. Get enough to get your CYA to 30. Add it by putting it in a sock (yeah like you wear) then putting it on the end of pole of some sort and hang it in front of the return. You can squeeze the sock after it has been in the water for a while to help it dissolve faster. Once the CYA is all dissolved wait until the next day to retest to just high we got it. We will adjust as needed.

 

[aug0211]

Looks like you did it right. It is a bit cloudy so you have a tiny bit of CYA in there. I would call it 10 to be on the safe side. Get enough to get your CYA to 30. Add it by putting it in a sock (yeah like you wear) then putting it on the end of pole of some sort and hang it in front of the return. You can squeeze the sock after it has been in the water for a while to help it dissolve faster. Once the CYA is all dissolved wait until the next day to retest to just high we got it. We will adjust as needed.

Thank you! I was looking at recommendations in the link you posted above for which products to use.

Seems like a liquid stabilizer for CYA up is also an option, including perimeter pouring followed by brushing or careful skimmer pours.

Careful skimmer pours seems quickest and easiest - any concerns or reasons not to go this route?

PoolMath has me at 2.19 lbs if I use solid product. That's a lot of sock