Opening Pool Tomorrow?

oledan

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Bronze Supporter
Aug 8, 2024
103
Central Indiana
Pool Size
10140
Surface
Fiberglass
Chlorine
Liquid Chlorine
Tomorrow will be my first time opening pool and I have questions about the process.

First how long after the pump is running should I wait before checking chemistry?

I'm sure my FC is still high so if it is above 10 disregard the ph test until it comes down to under 10?

I had plumber connect my outside water fill hose to house water softener will this help with my high CH levels?

Any issues with using last years supply of LC to get rid of it (1 case left) even though I am not sure how much it has degraded?

I can't wait to post pic's of my first opening and what pool looks like! :):)

Wish me luck!
Dan
 
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First how long after the pump is running should I wait before checking chemistry?
24 hours
I'm sure my FC is still high so if it is above 10 disregard the ph test until it comes down to under 10?
Yes.
I had plumber connect my outside water fill hose to house water softener will this help with my high CH levels?
Yes.
Any issues with using last years supply of LC to get rid of it (1 case left) even though I am not sure how much it has degraded?
No. Just test FC after 30 minutes and see how much the addition raised your FC. You can use "Effects of Adding" in reverse in pool math to give you the current % in the bottle. (add, test, if raise is 2FC, change % until your addition amount gives you FC raise of 2)
 
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Any issues with using last years supply of LC to get rid of it (1 case left) even though I am not sure how much it has degraded?
I have 2.5 leftover jugs myself. I have done well to date counting the first add as half strength, and then confirming after.

Its no rush when you already have plenty of FC in there like it would be if you opened with low FC.
 
Well....pool is opened! I won't be swimming for a while yet as temp is 51dg and I am too tight to use my new pool heater. First pic is when I cracked open the cover and before vacuuming and before pump was running, just opened cover and took a pic.

Next pic is the ph of my well water. I'm saying around 7.5-78? What say you?

I recently had my outside hose spigot hooked up to my water softener, so I had to retest my fill water.....
TA: 300
PH: 7.5-7.8?
CH 75

This helped CH levels no doubt, but my TA is still sky high. So will I always have to fight my TA?

Will test my first pool water for the year tomorrow and post my results after water has circulated 24hrs.

Thanks TFP!

thumbnail_IMG_1416.jpgthumbnail_IMG_1419.jpg
 
I'm saying around 7.5-78? What say you?
More peach than 7.8

Screenshot_20250328_152946_Chrome.jpg
Less purple than 8.2.

Screenshot_20250328_153000_Gallery.jpg

We assign it the best we see it between the 2, I'd go for the middle of the 2. Try it with 4 drops for giggles and see if it's aligned more to the color scheme.
So will I always have to fight my TA?
Yeah, but at least you don't have up to 2X volume evaporation like they do in the dessert each season. I'd let it ride as is. If the Ph was rising to the point it bothered me, I'd beat down the TA by running low 7s. Then I'd compare which process was more of a PITA and go from there.
 
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Ok, did my first pool testing after opening yesterday and after the pump/filter ran for 24hrs. The results are:

FC 12
CC 0
TA 90
CYA 40
CH 500 (How this rose over winter is beyond me but it's playing havoc with my CSI)
Temp 58
CSI 40
Ph Unknown until my FC comes down a tad.

My CH actually rose over winter as it was 400 at closing time? Looks like I should have hooked my pool fill spigot up to water softener a little sooner. How can I lower my CH as I believe its causing my CSI to be SCALING condition???

Water other changes would you make to get me at a good CSI number?
Also I'm leaving my cover open to help bring down my FC so I can test ph.

Thank you for your input,
Dan
 
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Well....pool is opened! I won't be swimming for a while yet as temp is 51dg and I am too tight to use my new pool heater. First pic is when I cracked open the cover and before vacuuming and before pump was running, just opened cover and took a pic.

Next pic is the ph of my well water. I'm saying around 7.5-78? What say you?

I recently had my outside hose spigot hooked up to my water softener, so I had to retest my fill water.....
TA: 300
PH: 7.5-7.8?
CH 75

This helped CH levels no doubt, but my TA is still sky high. So will I always have to fight my TA?

Will test my first pool water for the year tomorrow and post my results after water has circulated 24hrs.

Thanks TFP!

View attachment 634802View attachment 634803
You should post the pics to my thread! Your pool looks fantastic!
 
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My CH actually rose over winter as it was 400 at closing time?
How old are your reagents...when they go bad, your results go up because the reagents aren't as potent.

I wouldn't do anything until you get a good pH.

Only way to lower CH is to replace water with lower CH.