Northlake, TX New Pool Build

[ctrav]

Hi Kim...yes we all had a great time. The girls have two more lessons for a total of 9. They are 100% better now than when they started and they love the water! I would like it very much for any instructions for the girls so please share...

LOVE the pics! Those two cuties are what it is all about! Looks like your pool was a big hit! I am glad to hear the girls are getting swim lessons. Have they taught them what to do IF they do fall in? Roll on to their backs and head to the side. If not let me know so I can give you some pointers how to teach it to them. It could save their lives if they do fall in when someone is not around. Better safe than sorry!

Kim

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AmyJo those are very kind words and much appreciated!

 

[kimkats]

We call it the "alligator roll". Teach them to roll from their back to their tummy like an alligator with their face in the water when they are on their tummy. In the beginning you might have to use your hands to show them how to do it. Once they can do it on their own then have them roll onto their back and "swim" to the side.

Once they can do that then drop/throw them into the water and have them do the roll onto their back and swim to the side. What you want is for them to know what to do without thinking about it. Muscle memory will take over panic is the hope.

Let me know how it goes. I can break it down even more if you need me to.



Kim

 

[ctrav]

Thanks Kim...I'm going to check youtube for alligator roll

 

[ctrav]

Current numbers after adding 182 oz of 8.25% bleach...

FC 4
pH 7.8
TA 80
CH 175
CYA 40
CSI 0.00
Temp 91

This was using the new PoolMath App. When I use the Poolmath on TFP site it shows CSI at 0.12 and suggest to use 311oz of calcium chloride to increase CH. PB says to only add bleach at this time?? Any thoughts on this???

 

[SuzfromTexas]

Current numbers after adding 182 oz of 8.25% bleach...

FC 4
pH 7.8
TA 80
CH 175
CYA 40
CSI 0.00
Temp 91

This was using the new PoolMath App. When I use the Poolmath on TFP site it shows CSI at 0.12 and suggest to use 311oz of calcium chloride to increase CH. PB says to only add bleach at this time?? Any thoughts on this???

A couple of 'fill in the blanks' for you to answer now.
FC: looks good; definitely check again this evening with the sun and heat (102 near Dish...) Keep in mind with CYA of 40, you don't want your FC to go below, what?______
pH: good, also check again this evening; When it it gets up to __________, then lower it to __.__ - __.__
CH: sit tight on the CH
CSI: I also got 0.12. We match!

 

[ctrav]

FC not below 3.0
If pH gets above 7.8 then lower to 7.0 - 7.2
CSI matched because of web based TFP site the phone app shows 0.00

Hope I passed the test...

A couple of 'fill in the blanks' for you to answer now.
FC: looks good; definitely check again this evening with the sun and heat (102 near Dish...) Keep in mind with CYA of 40, you don't want your FC to go below, what?______
pH: good, also check again this evening; When it it gets up to __________, then lower it to __.__ - __.__
CH: sit tight on the CH
CSI: I also got 0.12. We match!

 

[Mcow]

Love your pool! I really wish I would have gone with the scuppers. My wife didn't like them at our builders model pool so we went with a sheer decent which I am hoping looks ok once the water is running but now it is just a white piece of plastic.

 

[SuzfromTexas]

FC not below 3.0
If pH gets above 7.8 then lower to 7.0 - 7.2 x
CSI matched because of web based TFP site the phone app shows 0.00

Hope I passed the test...

Pretty good. When pH gets above 7.8, then lower to 7.5 - 7.6.

Keep up the good work!

 

[kimkats]

Cliff since your PB holds you warranty card I would do as he says UNLESS it is REALLY bad advice. We WILL tell you for "fix" something if we really thought is needed it. Some things can float for now. Once you are 100% in control we will tweak as needed.



Kim

 

[ctrav]

Thanks Mcow...we thought about sheer but they are more prone to clogging (according to some folks). Sheer looks just as good and I'm sure you will like them as well. BTW I don't care for my tile or I should say I'm not in love with it. There will always be something

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What?? I can't believe I missed it...oh well I will just have to stay late in pool class for extra credit

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I know Kim and I'm keeping my opinions to myself with PB. Just so you know I can't wait to become 100% TFP although my water looks pretty darn good (to me).

 

[pooldv]

Nice quiz, Suz. The difference in the CSI calculation is that one assumes a different amount of salt than the other one does. Enter 250 for salt in both and they'll match.

 

[SuzfromTexas]

Nice quiz, Suz. The difference in the CSI calculation is that one assumes a different amount of salt than the other one does. Enter 250 for salt in both and they'll match.

Ahhh, that explains it. I've been using 0 for salt and borates.

 

[ctrav]

Thank pooldv.

 

[ctrav]

This Texas heat is brutal...I added 182 oz of bleach yesterday (it was already warm out when I added it) and now my FC is down to .5 at best. I did top off the water last night due to July 4th activity but that was less than 2 inches. Also my pH has started to rise to 8 or 8+...any ideas as to what to do?

 

[kimkats]

Cliff you need to feed your new baby every day. Find the time of day that works best for you.....some like the morning with the first cup of coffer, some like the end of the day to give the FC the advantage of not having to fight the sun. Aim for your upper level for your CYA. Keep a log of your tests and look to see if you can see a pattern. Do you need to add more to have it NOT go below your min. level for the day? If so then you might want to up your CYA to help the FC last a little longer.

Ph-muratic acid is your friend for this one.

Use Pool Math (my siggy and in the oval at the top of the page) to find out the amounts you will need to add for each of them.

Keep checking and asking questions. You are on the up side of the learning curve. We are here to pull you up and over the top!

Kim

 

[ctrav]

Thanks so much Kim because at this moment i"m barley treading water I do keep the logs from the mobile app should I keep a pencil and paper log? Great advice on feeding my baby and I will start doing this in the evenings around 9 pm and run the equipment on high then shut off in the mornings until around noon and run on low speed for a few hours.

Knowing that posting here will always get me some help is priceless....

Cliff you need to feed your new baby every day. Find the time of day that works best for you.....some like the morning with the first cup of coffer, some like the end of the day to give the FC the advantage of not having to fight the sun. Aim for your upper level for your CYA. Keep a log of your tests and look to see if you can see a pattern. Do you need to add more to have it NOT go below your min. level for the day? If so then you might want to up your CYA to help the FC last a little longer.

Ph-muratic acid is your friend for this one.

Use Pool Math (my siggy and in the oval at the top of the page) to find out the amounts you will need to add for each of them.

Keep checking and asking questions. You are on the up side of the learning curve. We are here to pull you up and over the top!

Kim

 

[SuzfromTexas]

This Texas heat is brutal...I added 182 oz of bleach yesterday (it was already warm out when I added it) and now my FC is down to .5 at best. I did top off the water last night due to July 4th activity but that was less than 2 inches. Also my pH has started to rise to 8 or 8+...any ideas as to what to do?

This is normal for a brand new pool in the summer heat.

FC: use PoolMath for how much bleach to add to move it up from 0.5 to 5. Add the bleach NOW. Don't wait.

Make sure pump is on high and let circulate for 15 to 30 minutes. Then add the MA.

pH: use PoolMath also for pH move up down from 8.1 to 7.5. Add the MA.

It's fine to top off the water level like you did. A couple of inches of hose water or rain doesn't have any affect on the levels. A rain flood of 15 or more inches will.

With the heat and sun, you will want to test the FC at least twice a day. As you said, the heat and sun are brutal on chlorine levels. And your pH will definitely keep rising. I'll be back.

 

[kimkats]

Cliff, I am old so like paper and pen logs. I forgot all about the app..........how far back can you see your results? What a new pool owner needs to be able to see and track is their tests over quite a bit of time. This helps them start to see the patterns for THEIR pool. After a while you will know what your pool needs just from the weather and how it looks. With your pool being brand new it will take a while for it to level out. The plaster has to cure and you have to find your rhythm with the pool and it's needs.

Now go throw the kids in and let them have fun and get good and wore out from swimming!

Kim

 

[Brentr]

Your back yard is perfect for a pool. Please plumb for a future summer kitchen i.e. Water and electrical outlets and make sure you tell the pb you want an extra large pool equipment pool pad for future addition of a heat pump and or solar.

 

[SuzfromTexas]

Test for CC this evening. With the FC down to .5, just reassure me that nothing is trying to grow. I know, I'm over cautious.

Here are more details about testing:

Testing: Test for the chem levels. Plug levels into PoolMath. Add needed chems AT THAT TIME, whatever PoolMath tells you to add. If you wait several hours to add the necessary chemicals, the levels may have changed during those hours. What you add after waiting for hours may not be the correct amount.

Chlorine: Pour slowly in front of a return with the pump on high. Let it circulate 30 minutes or so before adding MA if MA is needed. Other chemicals may be added soon after or before adding chlorine/bleach.

MA - Muratic Acid: MA is a bully. It does not play well with others, especially chlorine. To be fair, MA may get along with others, it's just easier for me to treat MA by itself. Use extra caution when handling MA. Wear eye, nose, and mouth protection due to the strong fumes. Safety glasses and a bandana work for me. Pour in front of a return with the pump on high. Make sure to use a return where breezes are not blowing toward you. Don't add MA during strong winds. Pour the MA as slowly as possible so the return can carry it away into the pool rather than letting the MA sink to the bottom. Let it circulate a good 30 minutes before retesting or swimming.

When to test during these early weeks of your new plaster: Let your results drive what and when you test. If you're losing chlorine fast and/or pH is rising quickly, you will need to test more often. If the results aren't changing, then you can stretch out the wait between testing. Just don't let the FC get to 3 or below. Don't let the pH get above 8.

First test; 6:30am test FC
result 3 or 4
bring it back up to 5 and add chlorine NOW; test again in about 4 hours
OR
if result is 5, then you're ok; test again in about 6 hours
[same thinking for pH using the pH low/high limits]

2nd test test FC and pH
same steps/decisions as first test

3rd test test FC and pH
same steps/decisions as first test

If you test first thing in the morning, you shouldn't need to test near dusk the night before. You can try it to check, but you shouldn't have much chlorine loss over night. OR... if you do test near dusk, you shouldn't need to test until mid morning, say about 10:00am - for the same reason.

I looked back at my old testing logs, and I had some days where I test 3 and 4 times a day. Other days were twice a day. Then it eventually tapers off. You want to stay on top of it.