Overwhelmed and needing some help.....

[jamieNnick]

Hello pool gurus!

My husband and I are bit overwhelmed with trying to figure out how to summer-ize our first pool ever and are needing some help.

We have a 15,000 gal, vinyl, above-ground pool that the previous homeowner was using TruBlue Copper to maintain. After reading on here and having 6 & 13 year old boys, we want to use chlorine moving forward because little boys are gross!

We do have some lovely black-green algae that we found when we uncovered it and our test strips are giving us the following readings (I did also test the water from our hose out of curiosity & for comparison, not that I have any idea if it will be of any assistance).
Pool: Hose:
Total Chlorine 0 0
Free Chlorine 0 0
pH 8.4 7.6
Total ALK 240 120-180
Cyanuric Acid 150-240 30-50
Total Hardness 1000 500-1000

These numbers are from after refilling the pool from starting at about 1/3-1/2 full to now just under fully filled.

From what I have been reading, it sounds like we should start with draining and refilling again to drop the CYA levels and then retest and go from there, but I am not sure how much to drain or if we just need to dump the whole thing and start over?

I just don't want to make an expensive mistake and ruin our pool before we even get to use it! Thank you!!!!!

 

[mknauss]

Welcome to the forum!
You may need to do some draining to lower CYA, but for now, I suggest you get a proper test kit. I suggest the TF-100 or Taylor K2006C. A proper test kit is needed to get the accurate water chemistry results needed to follow the TFP protocols.

While you are waiting on your test kit, add 5 ppm FC worth of liquid chlorine / plain bleach to your pool each evening with the pump running.

I suggest you read through Pool Care Basics - Trouble Free Pool and even look at a few of our videos TFP-TV - Trouble Free Pool

 

[Bperry]

Hello pool gurus!

My husband and I are bit overwhelmed with trying to figure out how to summer-ize our first pool ever and are needing some help.

We have a 15,000 gal, vinyl, above-ground pool that the previous homeowner was using TruBlue Copper to maintain. After reading on here and having 6 & 13 year old boys, we want to use chlorine moving forward because little boys are gross!

We do have some lovely black-green algae that we found when we uncovered it and our test strips are giving us the following readings (I did also test the water from our hose out of curiosity & for comparison, not that I have any idea if it will be of any assistance).
Pool: Hose:
Total Chlorine 0 0
Free Chlorine 0 0
pH 8.4 7.6
Total ALK 240 120-180
Cyanuric Acid 150-240 30-50
Total Hardness 1000 500-1000

These numbers are from after refilling the pool from starting at about 1/3-1/2 full to now just under fully filled.

From what I have been reading, it sounds like we should start with draining and refilling again to drop the CYA levels and then retest and go from there, but I am not sure how much to drain or if we just need to dump the whole thing and start over?

I just don't want to make an expensive mistake and ruin our pool before we even get to use it! Thank you!!!!!

Welcome! Like Marty’s advice above, need a test kit. But it might also be useful to post a picture of the black/green algae you mentioned given that copper has been used in the past since high copper levels can cause gross black/turquoise staining on pool surfaces.

 

[jamieNnick]

It is looking less black today:

Welcome! Like Marty’s advice above, need a test kit. But it might also be useful to post a picture of the black/green algae you mentioned given that copper has been used in the past since high copper levels can cause gross black/turquoise staining on pool surfaces.

It is looking less black today, but still gross:

 

[mknauss]

Get your test kit. Regardless of CYA level, it may be wise to do a healthy water exchange once you get your test kit. Just to reduce the organic load.

 

[Bperry]

It is looking less black today:

It is looking less black today, but still gross:
View attachment 505249

You for sure need chlorine in that water, maybe even dump some of it before hand. It’ll clear up though with the SLAM process.

 

[jamieNnick]

Thanks, Marty & Bperry! Our K2006C will be here on Wednesday and I calculated that we will need 0.75 gal of bleach to hit the 5 ppm mark that Marty suggested (0.25 gal bleach/10,000 gal to reach 2.5 ppm, so 0.75 gal/15,000 gal for 5 ppm) . We will add the first round this evening once the pool is full enough to start the pump and filter.

 

[JJ_Tex]

Thanks, Marty & Bperry! Our K2006C will be here on Wednesday and I calculated that we will need 0.75 gal of bleach to hit the 5 ppm mark that Marty suggested (0.25 gal bleach/10,000 gal to reach 2.5 ppm, so 0.75 gal/15,000 gal for 5 ppm) . We will add the first round this evening once the pool is full enough to start the pump and filter.

Good work. Now read up on the SLAM process and find a good source of liquid chlorine.

 

[MITBeta]

I suggest getting a pool store test to check for copper. The "trublue" product will likely have added a lot over time.