Also, a serious question I have/dilemma. I do my best to keep the pool clean but since previous owner had a lot of landscaping, dirt and runoff finds it's way into the pool. Often spreads around in small spots and while I try to brush, it can spread again next day. I have a manual vac, but with how big the pool is, one vac session loses a few inches of the water. Is this inefficient? Does vacuuming to waste cause water significant chemical loss, and filling with new several inches affect chemistry a lot? A robot vacuum has been expensive to consider but might be open to it if that's my only solution.
Opened pool for second time after 3 years.
- Thread starter poolboyK
- Start date
If your pool water is clear and just trying to clean up those areas you mention it would not need to be vacuumed to waste. Not sure of your setup but with the skimmer adapter the crud too large to pass through the basket would get stuck there for you to empty when you're done.
Oh wow I didn't know this!! I have a skimmer adapter as well but I was always under the impression you have to filter to waste, so this is great to hear
- Jun 22, 2014
- 52,024
- Pool Size
- 17888
- Surface
- Fiberglass
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- CircuPool RJ-45 Plus
Nice. A CYA of 40 with an FC of 7 go well together per the FC/CYA Levels. The pH is fine as well. How does the water look?
It looks really clear!! With the exception of the fine dirt and silt I brushed into a pile in the deep end that I will be vacuuming to filter instead of waste as another member suggested.
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Is it worth raising alkalinity (50ppm) and pH (7.2), using baking soda and borax, respectively, according to the ideal levels in pool calculator?
- Jun 22, 2014
- 52,024
- Pool Size
- 17888
- Surface
- Fiberglass
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- CircuPool RJ-45 Plus
Awesome, tysm! I swam after vacuuming, it was awesome. I am truly grateful for your expertise!
Hi, I'm having trouble keeping pool balanced, I was sick last few days and unable to manage. I'm trying to use my sisters help for if I can't get out but she's more novice than me. After I added the CYA a week ago, we basically tested and maintained chlorine.
I had a pool party two days ago (did not get to participate unfortunately!), and heavy rain and wind after for 1.5 days.
I checked my current chemistry:
FC: 1.5 (last time chlorine was added was
CYA: 35 (I'm not sure if it fell because we filled the pool with some fresh water?)
pH: 6.8
Alkalinity: 50ppm
I'm sure I'm not doing enough, but am trying my best. Is chlorine supposed to be added frequently? I haven't used the floater chlorinater yet. My pool gets a lot sun coverage throughout the day. It is still clear.
What would be the best steps to get this balanced?
I had a pool party two days ago (did not get to participate unfortunately!), and heavy rain and wind after for 1.5 days.
I checked my current chemistry:
FC: 1.5 (last time chlorine was added was
CYA: 35 (I'm not sure if it fell because we filled the pool with some fresh water?)
pH: 6.8
Alkalinity: 50ppm
I'm sure I'm not doing enough, but am trying my best. Is chlorine supposed to be added frequently? I haven't used the floater chlorinater yet. My pool gets a lot sun coverage throughout the day. It is still clear.
What would be the best steps to get this balanced?
- Jun 22, 2014
- 52,024
- Pool Size
- 17888
- Surface
- Fiberglass
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- CircuPool RJ-45 Plus
Yes. A pool requires chlorine every day in the summer. You should add some liquid chlorine right away. In your 30K, I would add 3-4 gallons now to hopefully prevent algae if it hasn't started already.
Raise your TA up to 70 with baking soda, and also aerate the water if you can to help increase the pH quickly. It should never be below 7.0.
Let us know if you have any other problems.
Hi, thanks for the advice! I added 3 gallons of 12.5 liquid chlorine yesterday, I measured the Fc now and it's 7.5. Is it necessary to add more stabilizer, which was 35? And when you say add chlorine daily, would this be through floating chlorinator or physically adding liquid chlorine?
Going to add the baking soda. Thank you again, it's been very overwhelming!
Going to add the baking soda. Thank you again, it's been very overwhelming!
- Jun 22, 2014
- 52,024
- Pool Size
- 17888
- Surface
- Fiberglass
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- CircuPool RJ-45 Plus
We round-up the CYA, so let's consider your CYA 40 for now. According to the FC/CYA Levels, your ideal FC would be between 5-7 ppm, so you're in a great place right now. I would recommend sticking with liquid chlorine for now, adding just a little each day. Pools usually use between 2-4 ppm in 24 hrs. For your 30K pool, 1 gallon of 10% liquid chlorine is just about 3 ppm, so that's probably a good tool to go by.
If you find later the FC falling quicker that you like (more than 4 ppm in 24 hrs), it's either because of too much organics or not enough CYA to protect the chlorine. So you may need a CYA of 50, but before increasing the CYA, it's recommend to do an Overnight Chlorine Loss Test to be sure you have no excessive organics. If there is no thread of algae or organics, you could use the tabs for a short period which would also increase the CYA for you. Maybe use about 7-8 tabs in a floater at that time.
Hi, what defines organics? I have a lot dirt and debris and leaves that make it in, would that qualify? We had heavy rain last few days and I put in 1.5 gallons of 12.5% liquid chlorine and checked 15 mins after, it was 5. Today I checked in the afternoon and Fc was 3. I'm going to vacuum and clean it up but am wondering if I need to raise CYA or it's the organics?
- Jun 24, 2021
- 15,974
- Pool Size
- 29000
- Surface
- Vinyl
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- CircuPool RJ-60 Plus
- Jun 24, 2021
- 15,974
- Pool Size
- 29000
- Surface
- Vinyl
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- CircuPool RJ-60 Plus
Hi, I tested my water today, the results are:
PH: 7.0
TA: 50
Fc: 7
CYA: 60
Thankfully chlorine has been good, but I'm struggling with pH. I use 20 mule borax but was wondering if there's something else to sustain pH?
PH: 7.0
TA: 50
Fc: 7
CYA: 60
Thankfully chlorine has been good, but I'm struggling with pH. I use 20 mule borax but was wondering if there's something else to sustain pH?
That's the stuff.
It's been a while. Are you using tabs ? The CYA in them lowers the Ph. Without adding acid Ph usually rises.
What is your taget Ph ?
Bump this to 60 or even 70 and it will help a good deal. (Baking soda)
I was away for a week at a time twice for some vacation so yes I used tabs, and that's how my CYA went up too I assume. My target pH is 7.4? Whatever is safe on the eyes!