Pool Noob: Guidance requested :)

[arisal2k]

Typical SOB story: Bought a house with a pool, have no idea how to take care of it, inherited paper test strips, pump broke, pool turned green over the winter, etc. etc.

Last week: Pump replaced, shocked the Crud out of the pool with packets, vacuumed/brushed/skimmed a number of times, dark green swamp turned blue but water is very cloudy, smartened up a bit and ordered TF-100 test kit...

Today: Ran through all the tests for the 1st time (possibility of error is significant)
CYA = 45
TA = 80
CH = 450
FC = 7
CC = 1.5
PH = 6.8 (via TF-100 drop test) vs. 7.2 (via "calibrated" PH meter) vs. sub-6.8 (via test strip)

Notes on PH:
-I "calibrated" the PH meter (add-on to get free shipping via tftestkits.com) but the instructions are very poorly written by a non-English writer and turning the tiny screw resulted in disturbingly large swings on the readout. I think I got it close enough (6.9 vs. 6.86 and 4.3 vs. 4.01), but the process was certainly aggravating.
-Between my kids and I we had a very difficult time discerning the PH color on the drop test.

Questions before I properly go through the SLAM process:
1. Should I re-test and/or adjust PH at this stage?
2. My water is cloudy, you can barely see the 3 foot bottom of the shallow end. Would that impact the TF-100 CYA test? The test strips seem to consistently indicate an extremely low level of CYA. Re-test?
3. Any other suggestions?

Thanks. Pool photos attached from March 24 and today.

 

[YippeeSkippy]

Hi Arisal... welcome to TFP

What did you use when you "shocked the Crud" outta the pool?? Was it granular with calcium or cya added to it??

Consider your CYA as 50ppm.... there aren't actually half-ways as the test is logarithmic and not linear. So 50ppm of CYA means you need to do a SLAM process at 20ppm of FC. FC/CYA Levels
FC means Free Chlorine. Free Chlorine means Chlorine available to kill algae. That means LIQUID CHLORINE only. Ok?
SLAM process directions --> SLAM Process

You can raise your pH to 7.0 using the TFP OTO block....and all will be well. Use Pool Math to help you here.

Keep pump running around the clock, and brush the pool daily. Keep us updated on how its looking.

Walmart is a good source for 10% liquid chlorine in their pool department.

Maddie

 

[mknauss]

With a TA of 80, your pH will not be below 7.2 for long. Test it tomorrow.

 

[arisal2k]

Thanks for the warm welcome

I actually wrote "shocked the cr-p" out of the pool but the forum replaced the "c" word and meaning; I meant to convey that I dropped about 10-15 pounds of shock packets in over the course of maybe 2-3 days. Most of them were hth Super Granule Shock with a few In the Swim brand packets to begin. I also filled up the automatic chlorinator with pucks and opened the dial to maximum. The result was dark, swampy green water changed over 7-10 days to cloudy, milky, blue.

I retested just now and CYA was 40 ppm, FC 6.5 and CC at 1.

Still confused about PH. Just retested and PH Meter says 7.6 vs. Drop test @ ~7.0. Photos attached.

Do I need to raise TA up before SLAM?
I have a few packets of granulated HTH super shock available -- any harm in dumping those in with liquid chlorine during upcoming my legit SLAM attempt?
I presume I should turn down my automatic chlorinator during SLAM or is there no harm in keeping it at max?

Thanks in advance...

 

[magiteck]

The HTH super shock appears to be cal hypo. That means it’s adding calcium to your water in addition to chlorine. Since your CH is 450 I wouldn’t use more of that — you risk your CH getting too high.

The pucks (I assume that’s what you mean by automatic chlorinator) are adding CYA to your water, and lowering your PH. You don’t want either of those things right now. I would turn off the chlorinator, carefully remove the pucks (careful for the chlorine fumes), and place them somewhere safe to dry out. Then, as Maddie said liquid chlorine only for the SLAM.

 

[arisal2k]

Magitech thanks for the explainer on cal hypo. The pucks in my automatic chorinator are tri-chlor.

Update on the chemistry:
I checked at 10 AM this morning and have
FC = 5.5
CC = 0.5

Not a lot of FC drop and CCs are definitely going down. However, this is with the chlorinator at max. Shutting that down, removing the pucks, and beginning SLAM. Water is still cloudy, can barely see the bottom at 3 feet.

Looks like my SLAM target is 16 PPM based on CYA = 40.

That should be 336 ounces of 10% bleach to raise my 25k gallon pool from 5.5 to 16 ppm. A little more than 2.5x of these jugs should do it.

Please feel free to doublecheck and help me adjust fire if necessary

 

[mknauss]

That should be 336 ounces of 10% bleach

That is correct. Add that, brush, etc, and test after a couple hours. Add liquid chlorine as needed to get back to 16 ppm. Repeat that as often as possible, at least 3-4 times per day.

 

[wireform]

Brush right after the liquid chlorine as it's heavier then water and sinks to the floor. Can also fade the liner if not mixed in with the brush. Buy enough chlorine to complete slam. Check it as often as possible lime every 2-3 hours. The more it stays at slam level the quicker it'll turn the pool. As to how long no one can say. Finish with a OCLT and the 3 criteria, then slam it one more day for insurance.

 

[arisal2k]

A little bit more than 2.5 Gallons of 10% chlorine added in front of the jet and pool got a nice scrub down all around with the whale tail brush. Kicked up some muck and the pool water is noticeably cloudier. Will check it again at 2 PM and adjust.

So far I've vacuumed out a couple of dead newts/salamanders, a live frog, and lots of worms along with all the leaf debris and muck. Is this normal?

 

[wireform]

Perfectly normal, they thought they can remain and not see an open pool.

 

[arisal2k]

2:30 Update:

FC = 11 ppm

Seems surprisingly low based on calculations in previous post for bringing my 25k pool up from 5.5 to target of 16. I added about 2 and 3/4s gallons of 10% chlorine which should have overdone it a little bit.

I am going to add in 1.3 gallons to push from 11 to 16 ppm. Need to buy more chlorine after that...

 

[mknauss]

Seems surprisingly low based on calculations

It is killing algae.

 

[arisal2k]

Die Algae!!!!!

Ace Hardware seems to have a very good deal on liquid bleach 10% right now (at least in my area for pickup in store) - $2.99 per gallon for 10%.

I bought 4 this morning, which was the max available to pick up in store today indicated by the website. Just re-checked and was able to buy 4 more again for pickup in store. Website showing no more available. Alternatives to keep SLAM going are looking ~4x more expensive.

 

[arisal2k]

6:00 Update

FC = 15 ppm

No more 10% chlorine available. Bought 4 gallons of 6% for $4.80 each. Added 52 ounces to bring my pool from 15 up to 16 ppm.

Will check again at 10:30.

 

[Newdude]

Typical SOB story: Bought a house with a pool, have no idea how to take care of it, inherited paper test strips, pump broke, pool turned green over the winter, etc.

........ found TFP........ things started going much better...... had a much better grip on things a mere 27 hours later....... met real nice folks willing to help guide me....


Yup..... pretttttttttttttty typical. Welcome to TFP Arisal !!!! 27 hours later and look at you go !!!!!

 

[arisal2k]

Newdude: I realized quickly that I am walking the same path as many before me... leading to TFP!

10:30 PM last night:
FC=12.5 ppm. I added 182+ oz of the 6% stuff.

6:30 AM this morning:
FC = 16.5 ppm
CC = 1 ppm

FC stayed above my SLAM level overnight! Water is still cloudy.

What to do?

 

[mknauss]

What to do?

Stay at it until you pass the three criteria for a successful SLAM -- see SLAM Process

 

[arisal2k]

23 hours into SLAM
10:30 AM Update
FC = 16.5 ppm
CC = 0.5 ppm

Vacuumed to waste. Getting less and less crud from the bottom of the pool. Water is still cloudy but slowly improving. Can see maybe 5-6 feet down, barely making out the vacuum head.

 

[mknauss]

Can you fill out your signature? See Create Your Signature - Further Reading

Certain filter types can take longer to clear the pool.

 

[arisal2k]

Signature filled out

2:15 PM update ( 27 hours into SLAM)

FC = 15 PPM

Adding 52 oz of the 6% stuff. Chlorine levels hardly dropping from last night.