Hi all, we just moved into our new house which has a pool (24k gallons, Vinyl inground w/ DE Filter) and was hoping I could get some advice.
For the first 4 weeks of having the pool open I was using test strips to test and add chemicals and eventually I got my pool crystal clear (A combination of 57% cal-hypo, and a PH/TA reducer from local pool store). Fast forward to this past Saturday (6/30) I finally received my TM K-2006 test kit.
After my first test I realized that I needed to add chlorine and lower PH/TA. If I recall correctly, I added ~32oz of dry acid, and 2 hours later I added 2.5-3lbs of 57% cal-hypo... ran my filter for ~18 hours straight and tested the next morning. The following day the numbers looked decent and we went swimming that afternoon (7/1).
Monday came and went, and Tuesday morning I woke up and noticed my pool had gotten very cloudy overnight. I didn't have time to test until after work and when I got home I noticed the water was even cloudier. While doing the 10ml chlorine test I could not get the sample to turn pink after adding several rounded dippers of R0870 ... Which I assume would mean I had no chlorine? I only had 1 1lbs bag of 57% cal-hypo left and my pool store was already closed, so I added 1lbs of the cal-hypo, let my filter run all night, and hoped for the best. However, it is still very cloudy today.
As you can see from my test results below, I was not testing CYA with my K-2006 (Dumb, I know ... A lesson learned). I'm sure it's safe to assume my CYA was 0 for the first few days. The only time CYA was added was during the first day of opening.
** N/A = Did not test
6/30 - Added 32oz Dry Acid to Lower PH/TA, and (2 hours later) 2.5-3lbs of 57% cal-hypo
7/1 - Went swimming
7/2 - No test, chems, or swimming
7/3 - Wake up and pool is very cloudy. Add 1lbs 57% cal-hypo in the evening
7/4 - Retest. I'm at your mercy TFP
So before I take any action I figured I would come here and ask for some advice:
I know I will need to add CYA. I purchased Stabilizing Powder from my local pool store. After reading a bit online I think Liquid would be my best option (works quicker from what I understand). The powder is unopened and I have the receipt so I can exchange for the liquid if that's my best option?
Obviously, I need to add chlorine but should I continue with cal-hypo? Or should I go with trichlor or dichlor? I'm really confused about what the best type of chlorine to use for my situation. I've only been using cal-hypo because that's what my pool store recommended after first opening
Also, is the cloudiness caused by the lack of chlorine/CYA? Will getting my chlorine/CYA up fix the cloudiness?
Thanks for any incoming advice.
For the first 4 weeks of having the pool open I was using test strips to test and add chemicals and eventually I got my pool crystal clear (A combination of 57% cal-hypo, and a PH/TA reducer from local pool store). Fast forward to this past Saturday (6/30) I finally received my TM K-2006 test kit.
After my first test I realized that I needed to add chlorine and lower PH/TA. If I recall correctly, I added ~32oz of dry acid, and 2 hours later I added 2.5-3lbs of 57% cal-hypo... ran my filter for ~18 hours straight and tested the next morning. The following day the numbers looked decent and we went swimming that afternoon (7/1).
Monday came and went, and Tuesday morning I woke up and noticed my pool had gotten very cloudy overnight. I didn't have time to test until after work and when I got home I noticed the water was even cloudier. While doing the 10ml chlorine test I could not get the sample to turn pink after adding several rounded dippers of R0870 ... Which I assume would mean I had no chlorine? I only had 1 1lbs bag of 57% cal-hypo left and my pool store was already closed, so I added 1lbs of the cal-hypo, let my filter run all night, and hoped for the best. However, it is still very cloudy today.
As you can see from my test results below, I was not testing CYA with my K-2006 (Dumb, I know ... A lesson learned). I'm sure it's safe to assume my CYA was 0 for the first few days. The only time CYA was added was during the first day of opening.
6/30 | 7/1 | 7/2 | 7/3 | 7/4 | |
FC | .5 | 3 | N/A | 0 | .5 |
CC | 1.5 | .5 | N/A | 0 | .5 |
TC | 2 | 3.5 | N/A | 0 | 1 |
PH | 8.0 | 7.2 | N/A | 7.2 | 7.2 |
TA | 220 | 100 | N/A | 100 | 100 |
CH | N/A | 160 | N/A | 140 | 120 |
CYA | N/A | N/A | N/A | 0 | 0 |
6/30 - Added 32oz Dry Acid to Lower PH/TA, and (2 hours later) 2.5-3lbs of 57% cal-hypo
7/1 - Went swimming
7/2 - No test, chems, or swimming
7/3 - Wake up and pool is very cloudy. Add 1lbs 57% cal-hypo in the evening
7/4 - Retest. I'm at your mercy TFP
So before I take any action I figured I would come here and ask for some advice:
I know I will need to add CYA. I purchased Stabilizing Powder from my local pool store. After reading a bit online I think Liquid would be my best option (works quicker from what I understand). The powder is unopened and I have the receipt so I can exchange for the liquid if that's my best option?
Obviously, I need to add chlorine but should I continue with cal-hypo? Or should I go with trichlor or dichlor? I'm really confused about what the best type of chlorine to use for my situation. I've only been using cal-hypo because that's what my pool store recommended after first opening
Also, is the cloudiness caused by the lack of chlorine/CYA? Will getting my chlorine/CYA up fix the cloudiness?
Thanks for any incoming advice.