Newbie With Questions On Initial Startup

[mknauss]

Add baking soda to raise TA to 60 ppm. That should raise the pH a bit.
Follow FC/CYA Levels. 2 ppm FC is too low.

 

[Bkndsdl]

oops, sorry I entered TA on the PH tab. I've loaded the 30 onto the TA tab, and with a target of 60 I need 6 lbs 3 oz of baking soda. which one do I add first? borax or baking soda?

 

[Bkndsdl]

Ok, thanks Mcnauss. 2 FC was what I was told to add to begin with while the CYA gets distributed.

 

[mknauss]

Just the baking soda. Most likely will not need the borax.

 

[mknauss]

2 FC was what I was told to add to begin with while the CYA gets distributed.

Add 30 ppm CYA via the sock method and 3 ppm FC worth of liquid chlorine.

 

[Bkndsdl]

So I added the baking soda, but PH still at 6.8, maybe 6.9 or 7.0. My TA is now at 70. borax?

 

[mknauss]

The pH will rise now that your TA is higher. No need to chemically raise the pH.

 

[Bkndsdl]

Ok. So here are my results as of now, the first full day of adding chemicals and testing:

FC 2.5
CC 0.5
PH 6.8
TA 70
CYA 42

 

[Bkndsdl]

When do you suggest I test for pH again?
Also, is it safe to swim in?

thanks!

 

[mknauss]

A CYA of 42 is rounded up to 50. Follow the FC/CYA Levels for 50 ppm CYA. Raise your FC now to target range.

Go swimming. It will make your pH rise a little.

Test pH every day with FC for a week or so until you see if it changes.

 

[Bkndsdl]

Ok guys, pool has been awesome and clear until about a week ago when we got a ton of rain. I had to drain the pool several times. I unfortunately was not able to dose chlorine and got an algae bloom. I shocked as the app told me to, did the OCLT and got the algae gone. Unfortunately it is still cloudy. Once I got the algae bloom dead I returned to normal chlorine levels. Could this be why it’s still cloudy? Running the pump 25/7 it’s a filter sock thats cleaned daily. My current test results are as follows:

FC - 3
Ph - 7.5
CC - below .5
CYA - 45-50
TA - 80
CH - 25

I need to know what to do to get the water back to clear. Please help!

 

[Texas Splash]

That's unfortunate, however cloudy typically means algae. Can you confirm when did you start the SLAM Process?

 

[Bkndsdl]

4 days ago. I did the chlorine loss test; it dropped 1 point So I stopped the SLAM as recommended. I scrubbed the walls, ladder and vacuumed.

 

[Bkndsdl]

4 days ago. I did the chlorine loss test; it dropped 1 point So I stopped the SLAM as recommended. I scrubbed the walls, ladder and vacuumed.

Any ideas?

 

[Texas Splash]

It sounds as though even though your passed the OCLT, the water remained cloudy which is also one of the 3 SLAM-passing criteria. My recommendation would be to go back to SLAM level for your current CYA (see the FC/CYA Levels) and continue with the SLAM Process until the water is crystal clear. Don't even bother with an OCLT until the water has that clarity you expect. Don't forget to lower the pH to about 7.2 (if needed) before starting the SLAM. Good luck.

 

[Texas Splash]

If after maintaining the SLAM FC level for the next few days, you find that there is no improvement in water clarity, let us know. In some cases, a pool owner can ride the SLAM Process and still find the water "slightly" cloudy (and pass the OCLT) which can sometimes be an issue related to filtering. But it's important to exhaust the SLAM Process protocol first.

 

[Bkndsdl]

Thank you sir.
One question, my PH is 7.5, I thought it needed to be 7.2-7.5 prior to slam? Just wondering, why does the PH need to be lowered? Will that adversely affect the SLAM?

 

[rldaniel]

You lower the pH because once you enter the SLAM, your FC will be over 10ppm and the PH Test doesn't give accurate results with the FC over 10ppm. By lowering the PH you have a room for the PH to rise some while the SLAM is going on so you are not likely to get into the 8s with PH.