New to trouble free pool

[Texas Splash]

We are at a point where we may ask several repetitive questions. Please be patient and try not to get too frustrated. The progress (or lack thereof) does not make sense with a pool properly chlorinated as you have described. Something is amiss so we have to be very critical on just about every little thing done to the pool and water. When you get a moment, please reply to the questions in Post #79 and we'll go from there.

 

[Texas Splash]

Also, which brand of liquid chlorine have you been using?

 

[ko8310]

Also, which brand of liquid chlorine have you been using?

Sorry for the delay. I just got home. I just tested the water at 6:47 EST. I took a sample from about 1 foot deep in the deep end. I use the graded milliliter vessel for chlorine only and filled it to 10 mL with the pool sample then added one scoop of R – 0870 powder to the 10 ml sample. I turned on the speed stirrer that I bought with the TF – 100 testing kit. I proceeded to add one drop of the R-0871 until the pink color went clear. there were a total of 52 drops
Which translated to the FC of 23 PPM at 6:47 pm EST. I checked to CYA today at 11:41 AM.EST. After testing for FC I added 7.5 mL of pool water into the squeeze bottle with the red top. I added R-0013 to the 15 ml line and shook it and let it sit for the instructed 30 seconds, shook again and squirted the mixture into the CYA VIEW TUBE. At 50 I could no longer see the black dot at the bottom of the tube. The FC dropped 5 ppm from the 11:47 am reading of 31 ppm to the 26 ppm 6:47 pm reading about 30 minutes ago. I hope I’ve been using the right liquid chlorine, please see attachment. please note there is no way I’m taking this personally and I’m very grateful for the patience that has been and is still being extended to me in order to help me clear my pool.

 

[ko8310]

Sorry for the delay. I just got home. I just tested the water at 6:47 EST. I took a sample from about 1 foot deep in the deep end. I use the graded milliliter vessel for chlorine only and filled it to 10 mL with the pool sample then added one scoop of R – 0870 powder to the 10 ml sample. I turned on the speed stirrer that I bought with the TF – 100 testing kit. I proceeded to add one drop of the R-0871 until the pink color went clear. there were a total of 52 drops
Which translated to the FC of 23 PPM at 6:47 pm EST. I checked to CYA today at 11:41 AM.EST. After testing for FC I added 7.5 mL of pool water into the squeeze bottle with the red top. I added R-0013 to the 15 ml line and shook it and let it sit for the instructed 30 seconds, shook again and squirted the mixture into the CYA VIEW TUBE. At 50 I could no longer see the black dot at the bottom of the tube. The FC dropped 5 ppm from the 11:47 am reading of 31 ppm to the 26 ppm 6:47 pm reading about 30 minutes ago. I hope I’ve been using the right liquid chlorine, please see attachment. please note there is no way I’m taking this personally and I’m very grateful for the patience that has been and is still being extended to me in order to help me clear my pool.

Sorry, 52 drops translates to 26 ppm!!!

 

[Texas Splash]

Sorry, 52 drops translates to 26 ppm!!!

Ha ha. We saw that too. Looks like you're doing things correctly. One more question about the CYA test. Are you doing it outside on a relative bight day? Sun at your back, etc?

 

[Texas Splash]

By the way, the chlorine you are using is perfect.

I just realized after going through your entire thread that we have no pics of your equipment pad. When you get a chance, please let us see your equipment pad from a couple angles. Thank you.

 

[Texas Splash]

Also, going back to a previous post, but I think you might have missed it ....

Take a regular Vitamin C tablet and drop it on one of the steps. If it lifts the stain, you have iron in the water. I'm curious.

 

[ko8310]

I will get the picture of the equipment pad to you in the morning (wife’s birthday tonight)with my PPM and CYA readings. Also, I have never done the CYA test outside only inside where I bring the Pool sample in to test for the FC and CYA. Obviously that makes a difference.Thank you all

 

[Texas Splash]

Obviously that makes a difference.

It surely could! Now go take care of the wifey before you get in trouble and vanish from TFP.

 

[PoolStored]

Ok, the green and the ability to hold chlorine troubled me. You have two primary issues.

Your CYA is likely 70, not 50. Obscured at 50 means that it was obscured between 60 and 50, so you need to round up to 60. Doing the test in low lux light indoors also tends to be 10 low.

The second is the frequency of testing. 2-4 times a day isn’t going to cut it.

 

[Texas Splash]

"ko", good morning. Hopefully all went well last night with b-day activities. Today, back to the pool. The reason I asked that question above in Post #85 about the CYA is because algae simply cannot survive in highly chlorinated water. It just can't. The only time it has a change to thrive is if the FC-to-CYA ratio is off, or there is a tremendous amount of junk hiding somewhere. While eventually you do have a couple places in the pool to get to (later), I don't think those alone are responsible for the drastic change from cloudy blue water back to a murky green. I think that's simply chemistry.

When you try the CYA today, refer to the following notes:

Proper lighting is critical for the CYA test, so you want to test for CYA outside on a bright sunny day. I personally like to do it between the hours of 11:00 am and 4:00 pm for a higher sun angle. Use the mixing bottle to gently mix (don't shake) the required amounts of pool water and R-0013 reagent, let sit for 30 seconds, then gently mix again. Recommend standing outside with your back to the sun and the view tube in the shade of your body at waist level. Then, begin squirting the mixed solution into the skinny tube. Watch the black dot until it completely disappears. Once it disappears, record the CYA reading. To help the eyes and prevent staring at the dot, some people find it better to pour & view in stages. Pour some solution into the viewing tube, look away, then look back again for the dot. Repeat as necessary until you feel the dot is gone. After the first CYA test, you can pour the mixed solution from the skinny view tube back to the mixing bottle, gently shake, and do the same test a second, third, or fourth time to instill consistency in your technique, become more comfortable with the testing, and validate your own CYA reading. Finally, if you still doubt your own reading, have a friend do the test with you and compare results. Let them do it 2-3 times and don't tell each other your result until each person is done, then pick the average number.

Because you were making such good progress, I think it's something related to the CYA test and chlorine ratio, but we'll watch for you to report back later after performing the test.

 

[ko8310]

"ko", good morning. Hopefully all went well last night with b-day activities. Today, back to the pool. The reason I asked that question above in Post #85 about the CYA is because algae simply cannot survive in highly chlorinated water. It just can't. The only time it has a change to thrive is if the FC-to-CYA ratio is off, or there is a tremendous amount of junk hiding somewhere. While eventually you do have a couple places in the pool to get to (later), I don't think those alone are responsible for the drastic change from cloudy blue water back to a murky green. I think that's simply chemistry.

When you try the CYA today, refer to the following notes:

Proper lighting is critical for the CYA test, so you want to test for CYA outside on a bright sunny day. I personally like to do it between the hours of 11:00 am and 4:00 pm for a higher sun angle. Use the mixing bottle to gently mix (don't shake) the required amounts of pool water and R-0013 reagent, let sit for 30 seconds, then gently mix again. Recommend standing outside with your back to the sun and the view tube in the shade of your body at waist level. Then, begin squirting the mixed solution into the skinny tube. Watch the black dot until it completely disappears. Once it disappears, record the CYA reading. To help the eyes and prevent staring at the dot, some people find it better to pour & view in stages. Pour some solution into the viewing tube, look away, then look back again for the dot. Repeat as necessary until you feel the dot is gone. After the first CYA test, you can pour the mixed solution from the skinny view tube back to the mixing bottle, gently shake, and do the same test a second, third, or fourth time to instill consistency in your technique, become more comfortable with the testing, and validate your own CYA reading. Finally, if you still doubt your own reading, have a friend do the test with you and compare results. Let them do it 2-3 times and don't tell each other your result until each person is done, then pick the average number.

Because you were making such good progress, I think it's something related to the CYA test and chlorine ratio, but we'll watch for you to report back later after performing the test.

Apologies are in order for being off the grid for about eight days. Sunday, June 23rd through Sunday the 30th was the worst week because no matter how much chlorine I put in the pool, no matter how much I tried to balance everything I got no progress. I decided I was having a filtration problem because there was plenty of chlorine in the pool. That Sunday. I took apart the filter and completely cleaned off the brand new grids believing it was my last hope. That night for the first time I saw a glimpse of the main drain. Monday, July 1 the water was finally clear. I did drop a vitamin C tablet on the steps and it immediately dissolved the brown. We’ve had the pool for 20 years and I can’t remember seeing this brown color on the steps and on the liner like it is now. However, it does appear we have iron in our water. I’m hoping there is a way to get our blue liner back. There’s no bleaching that I can see just the brown and peekaboo blue liner in between. Of course, we are leaving town for the Fourth of July holiday and won’t be back until Monday. You folks have been so caring and helpful. I just was unable to post anything to the forum I was so busy with other stuff. I did check the FC 2 to 3 times a day as best I could and it has been 23 to 29ppms solidly. My Cya in the sun has been 35-40 also. Latest photos from today are attached again. I’m hoping there is something to dissolve that brown considering the tablet was amazing. My imaginary self wishes there was some liquid vitamin C to flush it all away. again I am sorry For dropping off the forum, but I am very happy to have learned all about the science and moving forward, I will be more in control. Unfortunately, there is a ways to go with the brown. that’s my only concern. not to mention wifey’s. I still have a lot to learn. Thank you for all the support time and consideration, I have been extended. Hopefully, I won’t have to start over on Monday’s return.

 

[Mattikuss]

Apologies are in order for being off the grid for about eight days. Sunday, June 23rd through Sunday the 30th was the worst week because no matter how much chlorine I put in the pool, no matter how much I tried to balance everything I got no progress. I decided I was having a filtration problem because there was plenty of chlorine in the pool. That Sunday. I took apart the filter and completely cleaned off the brand new grids believing it was my last hope. That night for the first time I saw a glimpse of the main drain. Monday, July 1 the water was finally clear. I did drop a vitamin C tablet on the steps and it immediately dissolved the brown. We’ve had the pool for 20 years and I can’t remember seeing this brown color on the steps and on the liner like it is now. However, it does appear we have iron in our water. I’m hoping there is a way to get our blue liner back. There’s no bleaching that I can see just the brown and peekaboo blue liner in between. Of course, we are leaving town for the Fourth of July holiday and won’t be back until Monday. You folks have been so caring and helpful. I just was unable to post anything to the forum I was so busy with other stuff. I did check the FC 2 to 3 times a day as best I could and it has been 23 to 29ppms solidly. My Cya in the sun has been 35-40 also. Latest photos from today are attached again. I’m hoping there is something to dissolve that brown considering the tablet was amazing. My imaginary self wishes there was some liquid vitamin C to flush it all away. again I am sorry For dropping off the forum, but I am very happy to have learned all about the science and moving forward, I will be more in control. Unfortunately, there is a ways to go with the brown. that’s my only concern. not to mention wifey’s. I still have a lot to learn. Thank you for all the support time and consideration, I have been extended. Hopefully, I won’t have to start over on Monday’s return.

I checked in yesterday wondering if you had updated us. Glad to see this post. Pool is looking great, compared to the last pictures. I'm super interested to hear what the guru's have to say about the status. Thanks for the update!

 

[ko8310]

I checked in yesterday wondering if you had updated us. Glad to see this post. Pool is looking great, compared to the last pictures. I'm super interested to hear what the guru's have to say about the status. Thanks for the update!

Thank you and Happy 4th everyone!

 

[Texas Splash]

Yes, good to see clear water. When you get back from your trip, we'll follow-up on the SLAM process to see if you've completed all 3 criteria. After the SLAM, we'll circle back and get you up to speed on how to treat for iron in the water and staining.

Be safe and enjoy!

 

[ko8310]

Yes, good to see clear water. When you get back from your trip, we'll follow-up on the SLAM process to see if you've completed all 3 criteria. After the SLAM, we'll circle back and get you up to speed on how to treat for iron in the water and staining.

Be safe and enjoy!

Hello, just got back from five full days away. Held my breath when I looked at the pool and found the water to still be clear, as you can see in the photo. On 7/3/2024 the ppm was 29.5 at 8 AM. the Cya was about 35. Today at 2:54 EST After five full days of being away the read was 10 ppm and I could see the black dot at 30 in the CYA cylinder tube. The Pool Math calculator indicates I’m right at slam level at 10 ppm. I’m going to put in two more gallons of liquid chlorine to come up to 20ppm. does the forum feel I should keep the PPM at least 20ppm? I believe the CYA is low and the Pool Math calculator indicates I should put in 2 pounds to bring the CYA up to 40. I have to go to Walmart to get some more stabilizer so I will hold off to see what the forum suggests I do until I get back from Walmart. I will move forward with 2 gallons of chlorine and 2 pounds of stabilizer and vacuum the pool otherwise. Thank you for keeping your interest and helping me get the pool balanced, maintained and up to speed so we have ability to swim through at least Labor Day.

 

[Texas Splash]

You can take the CYA to 30 or 40. A CYA of 30 requires an FC of 12. A CYA of 40 requires an FC of 16. No need to go any higher.

 

[ko8310]

Thank you!

 

[ko8310]

Thank you!

Good morning. it is hard to believe but my readings today indicate I have achieved the three slam criteria. I tested for FC last night at 0227 am And was at 18.5 ppm. At 10:27 AM the read was 18.0 ppm. water is clear, I put five drops of R-0003 into my FC solution and it remained clear. What do you think? thank you

 

[ko8310]

Good morning. it is hard to believe but my readings today indicate I have achieved the three slam criteria. I tested for FC last night at 0227 am And was at 18.5 ppm. At 10:27 AM the read was 18.0 ppm. water is clear, I put five drops of R-0003 into my FC solution and it remained clear. What do you think? thank you

Also my CYA is 50