Opening my pool and want to do it real nice this time

[monsterman]

ok, people here goes-- I did the tests this morning and I am not crazy but they are not great so I needed to know my next steps--- The pool is a little cloudy today- NOT as clear as yesterday-remember I added about 64 ounces of liquid chlorine last night at 9 PM and had the filter going for over 24 hours now.
Here are
the results to the best of my knowledge.
TA- 120- I believe that is Ok
the pH and chlorine tests in that color-coded box with the yellow and red sides-- the pH was to the top at 8.2-- that magenta color
on the chlorine side was totally off the charts at orange-- and just to back that number up- I did the chlorine test with the chlorine only bottle and the drops and counted the drops 2 times- the number was 34 drops so the chlorine is at 17 ppm. So we have 2 different tests that show the chlorine is out of whack The pH- not so sure- is a little high but nothing horrible.
My CYA test also showed as yesterday a bit better- it is now 90 (not 100 like yesterday) So things are simmering down- I just need to get that chlorine level down-- how do I do that-- do I STOP adding liquid chlorine for a while and see what happens -like do not add it today and test again tomorrow morning?
My wife knows how the pool looks for the last 15 years and she said to put some clarifier in -` and I said that is not the answer- but she said it always worked for all these years-- But we had an argument over that.

I just need a really simple game plan that I can understand

By the way- when I did the swirling of the tubes as I was putting the drops in My wife swirled while I added the drops and she counted- I really do not understand when the stirrer comes into this process. And is that X-shaped white piece- is that the stirrer bar? if there is any video on this please tell me

Any help with any fixes for my chlorine number would be of great help- and turning the water blue again would help immensely. Thank you

 

[monsterman]

CYA level is 90 or higher, repeat the test adjusting the procedure as follows:

1. Fill the mixing bottle to the lower mark with pool water.
2. Continue filling the mixing bottle to the upper mark with tap water.
3. Shake briefly to mix.
4. Pour off half of the contents of the mixing bottle, so it is again filled to the lower mark.
5. Fill to the upper mark with R-0013. The upper mark may be labeled as 14 ml, or not labeled, or there may not be a mark and you fill to the base of the neck of the bottle.
6. Cap and then shake the mixing bottle for 30 seconds.
7. Stand outdoors with your back to the sun and hold the view tube at about waist level.
8. Slowly fill the view tube to each marked level, GLANCING in the tube.
9. The test is complete when you can no longer clearly see the black dot with a GLANCE when held at waist level.
10. Multiply the final result by 2. Example 50 x 2 = CYA level 100

I was just comparing your dilution test to NEWDUDES procedure- all the same except step 2-- he said step 2 was to fill with reagent drops but you said with pool water BEFORE dumping out half---- it is kind of reversed-- but I guess both are OK?

 

[monsterman]

I just did the test strips to see if my numbers made sense and lo and behold everything was matching- EVEN the Free chlorine- the chart was PURPLE- very high as the TF100 test showed- so now my new problem is how to lower the FC? any advice here guys>?

 

[Newdude]

TA- 120- I believe that is Ok

Yup. As you manage the PH, it will come down on its own.

the pH was to the top at 8.2-- that magenta color
on the chlorine side was totally off the charts at orange

FC needs to be below 10 for the PH test.

Skip the block test for FC for now. (The orange one) and only use the powder test for FC.

We will revisit the PH once the FC falls.

we have 2 different tests that show the chlorine is out of whack

It's not out of whack, just a little high. It's safe up to SLAM level, 40% of your CYA. (36 FC at 90 CYA or 40FC at 100 CYA)

My CYA test also showed as yesterday a bit better- it is now 90

90 is still sketchy to read. Do the dilution test above.

- I just need to get that chlorine level down-- how do I do that-- do I STOP adding liquid chlorine for a while and see what happens

Yes. You will lose a few ppm a day.

I just need a really simple game plan that I can understand

We need to rule out algae. To do that we need to see if the pool loses FC without sunlight. So you test at night, and again before the sun is up. With no loss you pass. With FC loss, we SLAM.

- I really do not understand when the stirrer comes into this process

The vial goes on the stirrer and stirs/swirls for you. Then all you do is make the drops and count.

I was just comparing your dilution test to NEWDUDES procedure- all the same except step 2

I think I messed mine up above.
Use squirter bottle
Make a 50/50 mix of pool and tap water Dump half out
Fill bottle back up with r0013
Test in the tube
Double the result.

so now my new problem is how to lower the FC? any advice here guys>?

Wait it out. It will fall by itself. Again, patience and not over reacting save the day. It's a common theme here.

everything was matching- EVEN the Free chlorine- the chart was PURPLE-

Purple is not a test result #.

 

[monsterman]

Yup. As you manage the PH, it will come down on its own.

FC needs to be below 10 for the PH test.

Skip the block test for FC for now. (The orange one) and only use the powder test for FC.

We will revisit the PH once the FC falls.

It's not out of whack, just a little high. It's safe up to SLAM level, 40% of your CYA. (36 FC at 90 CYA or 40FC at 100 CYA)

90 is still sketchy to read. Do the dilution test above.

Yes. You will lose a few ppm a day.

We need to rule out algae. To do that we need to see if the pool loses FC without sunlight. So you test at night, and again before the sun is up. With no loss you pass. With FC loss, we SLAM.



The vial goes on the stirrer and stirs/swirls for you. Then all you do is make the drops and count.



I think I messed mine up above.

Make the 50/50 mix per the instructions. Dump half out
Fill bottle back up with tap water
Test in the tube
Double the result.

Wait it out. It will fall by itself. Again, patience and not over reacting save the day. It's a common theme here.

Purple is not a test result #.

I like your waiting-it-out advice quite a bit-- I think since I opened the pol about 4 days ago and added all that Liquid chlorine and then if you remember I drained 12 inches and then refilled and then again kept adding Liquid chlorine in AM (some and 64 ounces at night- I really added way too much. So I think I need nature to take its course and for it to go down by itself by process of ELIMINATION- NOT adding chlorine until it settle down and then see what happens. ( I added too much and now I need to stop adding- is the best way to go.)



And as for the CYA - test- so I will add to the lower label with pool water then to the upper label with R0013- THEN dump out half THEN refill with TAP water- then test

 

[monsterman]

and lastly-- for my wife's sake- can I add that capful of clarifier just this ONCE to kick off the season with my BEAUTIFUL clear blue pool- and then let it ride after-- If I do- I will vacuum the pool to waste and brush and that will be thata>

 

[dfwnoob]

Please do not add random chemicals to your pool. They have not helped before and they are not helping now. Newdude is giving you exact directions on how to proceed. Again, patience is a big virtue here. Adding anything other than what is being recommended is likely just going to prolong the pain.

 

[monsterman]

so the basic recommendation- is to leave everything alone and wait for the FC to come down to manageable levels and then start from there? So NO adding chlorine today or tomorrow because the level is SO high--? is that the recommendation for this weekend?

 

[monsterman]

so the basic recommendation- is to leave everything alone and wait for the FC to come down to manageable levels and then start from there? So NO adding chlorine today or tomorrow because the level is SO high--? is that the recommendation for this weekend?

should I leave my filter on or give it a break through the daytime hours and turn it back on tonight? It hs been on for well over 24 hours now.

 

[Kaylee34]

And as for the CYA - test- so I will add to the lower label with pool water then to the upper label with R0013- THEN dump out half THEN refill with TAP water- then test

Monte, please do the CYA test exactly like the step by step instructions I posted above.

You want 50% pool water, 50% tap water and 100% reagent for the extended test. You want to dilute the water and then test by adding the reagent.

 

[monsterman]

Monte, please do the CYA test exactly like the step by step instructions I posted above.

You want 50% pool water, 50% tap water and 100% reagent for the extended test. You want to dilute the water and then test by adding the reagent.

what do you think about the filter being on for 48 hours? or should I turn it off for the daytime?

 

[clambert1273]

what do you think about the filter being on for 48 hours? or should I turn it off for the daytime?

My filter runs 24/7 so doesn't seem to hurt anything

 

[Kaylee34]

You can let it run for now or turn it off for awhile if you wish.

Mine runs 24/7/365 and doesn’t hurt anything. I only shut it off when I have to for some reason. But I have a variable speed pump that’s dirt cheap to run.

Unless there’s a problem and you need to filter, you truly only have to run the pump and filter long enough to mix chemicals and skim the surface. After that, it’s personal preference and how much you want to spend on electricity.

 

[monsterman]

I also have the Hayward variable speed pump.. Just don't want to burn out anything?

 

[Kaylee34]

Very Nice!! You won’t burn out anything by letting it run

 

[clambert1273]

Very Nice!! You won’t burn out anything by letting it run

Yup let it ride lol I run mine 22 hours @ 2000 and 2 hours @ 3000 every day all year

 

[Newdude]

To recap:

1) Run diluted CYA test
2) Overnight Chlorine Loss Test
3) Wait out FC falling on its own.

 

[monsterman]

Just sayin--my grandson is over all day today- so my world is a ton brighter- BUT my pool is sinking fast.. I am not touching it at all as you guys recommend. But please let me know what you think my next steps should be-- I did another strip test for the HECK of it( so don't yell at me)- I know u guys hate strips- BUT just for a guideline range- and my ph seems better than earlier and my TA does also and CYA looks a lot less purple than two days ago and the chlorine seems better as well- BUT and I repeat BUT- the color is as my son (who is my bright shining star and a brilliant lawyer0 said it looks totally aqua to him and when I told him what you guys said- he also said to be patient and wait it out. But for me - why is the color is so greenish? or turquoise?? What will be my next steps- in your best guess???

 

[Newdude]

What will be my next steps-

Overnight Chlorine Loss Test and run the diluted CYA test.

 

[monsterman]

can u explain to me in layman's terms exactly what this overnight chlorine loss test is-- step by step - I am so nervous and kind of uncertain-- I was actually hoping to pack it in for the evening and test again tomorrow- my wife is really getting annoyed that I am spending so much time on this..