New to me pool looks good, slam recommended?

[gear_scott]

Hi new forum user here. I'll be taking over a pool at the end of this week. From my untrained eye, it looks great. Should I plan to slam the pool to sanitize it since it will be new to me and my family?

I plan on getting the TF100 kit and use pool math to establish a baseline and build up from there. Any suggestions on best steps to take as a new pool owner? Thanks for your time.

 

[mknauss]

Welcome to the forum!
Run a full set of pool water chemistry tests and post the results here when you get your test kit.
I suggest you read through Pool Care Basics - Trouble Free Pool and even look at a few of our videos TFP-TV - Trouble Free Pool

 

[Rancho Cost-a-Lotta]

Welcome Scott!

While you're waiting for your test kit, take a look at the links Marty posted. They will give you a good head start. Take a few minutes to create your signature. It will help others provide you with tailored advice.

Create Your Signature - Further Reading

www.troublefreepool.com

 

[gear_scott]

Excellent, thanks for the advice. Ill inventory what I have, update my signature, and read the links recommended. I appreciate the help!

 

[gear_scott]

Hi - While I was waiting for my test kit to arrive I had Leslie's run a water test. Yesterday my test kit arrived and I ran a water test today. Below are the results for both, I've replaced water for about 4hrs so far to try and help the high CYA and Calcium hardness levels. Not sure how to bring the FC level down with the CYA being so high. I appreciate any advice to help me get my pool in balance so the kiddos can jump in! I'm keeping track of everything in pool math app also, works great.

6/30/24
Leslie Free Water Test
FC: 18
pH: 7.5
TA: 46
CH: 312
CYA: 123
Temp: 85
CSI: -1.08

7/1/24
Added 6lbs of baking soda to raise TA
Replaced water by draining water out of the return side of the pump with a 3/4 hose bib, refill using manual refill hose bib into pool.

7/2/24
TF-Pro Test
FC: 22
CC: 2
pH: 7.5
TA: 100
CH: 625
CYA: 105
TEMP: 86
CSI: .2

 

[mknauss]

You would be best off to drain about 50% of the pool volume and refill. What you are doing with drain from the hose bib and add water in the pool is not going to be very successful. There is a method to doing it, but you need to pull water from the deep end (bottom) of the pool and add at the surface.

There was no need to add baking soda. You will now need to add acid to lower the TA.

 

[gear_scott]

Got it, thank you for the help. Ill get to work on draining and refilling.

 

[mknauss]

How did you get 105 for your CYA test result?
You should do the dilute test. Cut the pool water 1:1 with tap water. Use that mixture as your sample. Run the CYA test as before. Double the result.

 

[gear_scott]

The 105 was an estimate since during the test the water level did not come up to the gradients on the side of the cylinder. But now that you mention it, I realize that was an incorrect assumption since the gradients on the test cylinder are not equally distanced apart.
Ill use the dilute method as you described on the next one, thanks for catching that.

 

[gear_scott]

@mknauss - I'd like to clean my de filter to get off to a good start since this pool is new to me. Would you recommend I hold off on cleaning the de filter until after the CYA level is brought down by replacing the water?

 

[PoolStored]

Doesn't matter, clean away! You should generally clean the filter and note clean pressure. When pressure rises, backwash or clean again when pressure rises 25%.

 

[wireform]

Gear, we recommend to clean filter when there's rise of 25% from clean pressure. If you do it now establish what clean pressure is at a given pump speed if you have a vsp (no mention in signature) then going further you have a reference point.

 

[gear_scott]

Thanks PoolStored and wireform, i appreciate your insight and help!

 

[gear_scott]

50% drain and refill complete, new test results below:

7/7/24 TF-Pro
FC: 2.5
CC: 0.5
PH: 7.5
TA: 100
CH: 425
CYA: 60
TEMP: 85
CSI: 0.11

CYA came down significantly but still at the upper end of the range. Shall i leave it for now or continue to work on lowering the CYA?

I plan on adding liquid chlorine to bring FC up and Muratic Acid to help lower TA along with aerating to bring PH up. Does that sound like a reasonable plan?

 

[PoolStored]

Leave the CYA if you are going to use liquid chlorine.

Your plan is fine, but I would do this test tonight to rule out algae, even if you can't see it. Link-->Overnight Chlorine Loss Test

Always follow this for your FC levels...Link-->FC/CYA Levels

 

[gear_scott]

Will do, thanks PoolStored!

 

[gear_scott]

My pool is looking very green and I'm starting to get algae growth. My current pool stats are:

FC: 5
CC: 0
pH: 7.2
TA: 70
CYA: 50
CH: 525
CSI: -.27
Temp: 84

Do you recommend I SLAM next? Are the other parameters in the correct range for a SLAM? Thanks for the help.

 

[TinFoilHat]

You never reported your OCLT result but now it's time to SLAM for sure. Follow this link fhttps://www.troublefreepool.com/blog/2019/01/18/free-chlorine-and-cyanuric-acid-relationship-explained/ or the proper FC level you need to do the SLAM with.

 

[gear_scott]

Your right, i forgot to run the OCLT. Been distracted with working on the remodel inside the house before moving in. I added the chlorine for the SLAM this afternoon and took the de filter apart for cleaning. Lots of algae inside the DE filter. Would it be worth soaking the de filters in chlorine before reinstalling them in the housing?

 

[PoolStored]

Would it be worth soaking the de filters in chlorine before reinstalling them in the housing?

No, just clean them and re-install. Do you have the capability to backwash or bump the filter?

With algae, you may be cleaning often. Note clean pressure. When pressure rises 25%, clean them again...