Pool owner for many years. 25K gallon, in ground, gunite.
Just opened the pool today after a harsh Wisconsin winter. We had our first bout of algae EVER in August 2018 that took a lot of work and time to clear up - just in time to close the pool for winter. We have the TFP test kit and we used the SLAM process to clear everything up prior to closing. Using the TFP test kit was NEW to me so I am not super-familiar with all of the tests and all of the acronyms used on this website.
Right now the pool is open, filter running, etc. Typically (in past years) at this point I vacuum the pool to "waste" and clear up the worms and junk on the bottom of the pool. I also add algaecide to specifications on the bottle for the size of our pool and about 2 gallons of shock. I did NOT do that this year because I want to do it right.
Do I test first (what tests exactly) with the kit? Do I begin to add pool shock and/or algaecide? Do I do the SLAM procedure now? Do I vacuum now (to waste?) or do I wait till the chemicals are added?
Right now the pool water is cloudy and dirty, but I can see the bottom in the 3.5-4 foot shallow end. I can see parts of the bottom in the deep (8 to 8.5 foot) end.
THANKS for your help. I want to open the pool correctly and maintain it correctly from now on. I can post test results - just let me know which numbers would be helpful. I am somewhat familiar with using POOL MATH and I have read POOL SCHOOL and some posts on the TFP forum, but as I stated earlier some of the acronyms are foreign to me.
Thanks again.
Just opened the pool today after a harsh Wisconsin winter. We had our first bout of algae EVER in August 2018 that took a lot of work and time to clear up - just in time to close the pool for winter. We have the TFP test kit and we used the SLAM process to clear everything up prior to closing. Using the TFP test kit was NEW to me so I am not super-familiar with all of the tests and all of the acronyms used on this website.
Right now the pool is open, filter running, etc. Typically (in past years) at this point I vacuum the pool to "waste" and clear up the worms and junk on the bottom of the pool. I also add algaecide to specifications on the bottle for the size of our pool and about 2 gallons of shock. I did NOT do that this year because I want to do it right.
Do I test first (what tests exactly) with the kit? Do I begin to add pool shock and/or algaecide? Do I do the SLAM procedure now? Do I vacuum now (to waste?) or do I wait till the chemicals are added?
Right now the pool water is cloudy and dirty, but I can see the bottom in the 3.5-4 foot shallow end. I can see parts of the bottom in the deep (8 to 8.5 foot) end.
THANKS for your help. I want to open the pool correctly and maintain it correctly from now on. I can post test results - just let me know which numbers would be helpful. I am somewhat familiar with using POOL MATH and I have read POOL SCHOOL and some posts on the TFP forum, but as I stated earlier some of the acronyms are foreign to me.
Thanks again.