Small Pool Build - Brisbane, Australia [emoji1037]

[needsajet]

Having the pH a bit high right now is not a bad thing (unless you're getting scale - the roughness on the waterline tile I mentioned). In a bicarb start, you'd have high TA and pH would be drifting up quite quickly and spending some of the time on the high end. Whenever you mention the pH reading from the system, please also mention what the test kit says. We tend not to rely on automated system readings.

 

[riley00dog]

Having the pH a bit high right now is not a bad thing (unless you're getting scale - the roughness on the waterline tile I mentioned). In a bicarb start, you'd have high TA and pH would be drifting up quite quickly and spending some of the time on the high end. Whenever you mention the pH reading from the system, please also mention what the test kit says. We tend not to rely on automated system readings.

Ph was off the scale high last night. It was a hotter pink than the highest on the ccl test. Fc didn’t register at all. These were the only tests I did last night. Ph seemed to match the reading on the chlorinator... high! It’s all good. Just a lesson in patience for me.

 

[needsajet]

That's great to hear that it's still reading correctly

Yep, no worries and when you can conveniently do the pH adjustment, dial it down a bit and try to keep the pH under 8.0

- - - Updated - - -

If you can get it down to 7.6, you might see the cloudiness clear up a bit quicker.

 

[riley00dog]

If you can get it down to 7.6, you might see the cloudiness clear up a bit quicker.

The thing is that it’s set to 7.5. Wondering how long it should take to start dropping with this auto acid dosing system? Going to ask pb today about it. Glad we are almost done with our pb because I think I’m probably starting to annoy him with my questions!

 

[Costas > DownUnder]

The thing is that it’s set to 7.5. Wondering how long it should take to start dropping with this auto acid dosing system?

The Astra chlorinator will dish out the acid based on time and the size of the pool that is entered in the 'Install' menu (user specifies how many litres the pool is).

So it does not dump the whole lot in one go rather it doses it in small steps until the PH reaches its set point - I assume this is so it does not overshoot the chosen set point.

You can also force it to dose a specific amount of acid via the 'DOSE' menu. Here the user can specify 'X' amount of litres of acid to be dosed into the pool rather than a specific PH level to be attained.

 

[riley00dog]

The Astra chlorinator will dish out the acid based on time and the size of the pool that is entered in the 'Install' menu (user specifies how many litres the pool is).

That’s what I assumed. The ph hasn’t moved from the 8.2 it settled on after start up though. It is set for 7.5 so I was expecting it to have started to trend downwards towards that number by now. I will have to have a look at what they have entered for settings.

Handover will be either Monday or Tuesday next week but it’s not with the pb. The equipment handover is with a well known pool company [emoji36] Now I’m not looking forward to handover. Grrr. I feel like the PB is handing the pool over to the pool company not me. Maybe it’s not a bad thing that an outside company is doing it though. It seems people in the US use companies for closing and starting their pools so maybe this is similar. I will reserve my judgment for now.

 

[Costas > DownUnder]

Handover will be either Monday or Tuesday next week but it’s not with the pb.

For my build the PB has a guy who will do the initial water balance and check-over of the equipment etc however that will not be for a couple more weeks due to my coping being delayed (now scheduled for end of May arrival).

I decided to get the water into some balance myself rather than wait for them.

 

[riley00dog]

I decided to get the water into some balance myself rather than wait for them.

Absolutely! Plus you have a very good idea as to how things work both the equipment side and chemical side of things. Your water is already looking amazing! Don’t let anyone mess that up!

Just got home and ph is finally dropping. It’s now 7.9 down from the 8.2 it seemed to be stuck at since Monday. It looks like someone has been here since there was a plastic something or another on top of the rolled up backwash hose which is now gone. Hose looks like it is rolled neater too. Maybe someone came this backwash? Who knows. All they say is that we take care of it until handover. They still need to render the exposed concrete sides surrounding two edges of the pool and install the slide. No idea when that will happen.

 

[Costas > DownUnder]

Just got home and ph is finally dropping.

I noted that with my water - I had to pour in around 5L of Hydrochloric acid before the PH would actually stay down. At first I would add say 500mL and the PH would come down a few points fairly quickly but then bounce upwards a few hours later. After adding 500 to 1000mL every day (until I got through around 5L worth), it only then slowly started to stay put at mid range. My TA has been quite good - always hanging around 50 to 70.

No idea when that will happen.

I see we have the same issue with the workers...

 

[riley00dog]

I noted that with my water - I had to pour in around 5L of Hydrochloric acid before the PH would actually stay down. At first I would add say 500mL and the PH would come down a few points fairly quickly but then bounce upwards a few hours later. After adding 500 to 1000mL every day (until I got through around 5L worth), it only then slowly started to stay put at mid range. My TA has been quite good - always hanging around 50 to 70.



I see we have the same issue with the workers...

Ok, glad it is to be expected. I just need more patience I think!

I don’t think they’ll drag this on for much longer... I think they’re probably sick of me by now!

 

[riley00dog]

Anyone want to take a guess at what this mess is that appeared near the equipment pad yesterday? Hubby reckons they cleaned out pipes, which would explain why it wasn’t running well. It definitely wasn’t there beforehand and the dogs didn’t have access to that area to chew anything.

 

[kimkats]

Yeah blame it on the dogs.........poor things.......oh wait you said it could NOT be the 4 legged dogs so..........I bet your hubby is right! Can you pick it up and see what it is? Take a pic of it on a clean surface.....plaster, rocks, ???

 

[riley00dog]

Will do when I get home from work unless someone comes and cleans it up today. Dogs were locked in backyard yesterday due to the hip dramas. This is on the other side of the gate and no way they could get to this area. Very interesting.

 

[needsajet]

Does it look like bits of gunite and PVC? Can't tell from the picture.

After finishing the plumbing on ours, I back-flushed a fair bit of junk into the shell (bits of concrete, PVC shavings, dried glue). The PB thought I was weird, but from past experience with irrigation, it was just a standard thing to do for avoiding future problems, so I didn't mind doing it. Could be something like that, perhaps from the skimmer basket, or caught behind the return jets.

 

[riley00dog]

Does it look like bits of gunite and PVC? Can't tell from the picture.

After finishing the plumbing on ours, I back-flushed a fair bit of junk into the shell (bits of concrete, PVC shavings, dried glue). The PB thought I was weird, but from past experience with irrigation, it was just a standard thing to do for avoiding future problems, so I didn't mind doing it. Could be something like that, perhaps from the skimmer basket, or caught behind the return jets.

It looks exactly like you describe - pvc shavings, dried glue, bits of concrete etc. I think it was caught up somewhere. Playing phone tag with pb since yesterday. Glad they pulled it out from wherever they did. Knew things weren’t working as they should those first 2 days. Pump also sounds quieter on same rpm.

 

[riley00dog]

Starting to see some progress. It’s funny what 2 days of filtration and circulation can achieve.

On Tuesday after 2 days of equipment not working as it should. There had been no improvement at all.

On Thursday after 2 days of proper circulation. I can even see the brush at the bottom on the deep end. Certainly makes brushing easier. Ugly cover and roller even evident in the reflection of the water [emoji31]

 

[needsajet]

That's good progress Did you ever try running on low speed for a while? You might get it filtering faster. Another option is to run the robot several or more times per day. The robot filter might need a good clean.

Not necessary by any means - if you'd prefer to just take a break, the filter will get it done.

Not sure about your instructions, but in terms of plaster quality, care instructions should allow you to switch to weekly brushing now.

 

[riley00dog]

That's good progress Did you ever try running on low speed for a while? You might get it filtering faster. Another option is to run the robot several or more times per day. The robot filter might need a good clean.

Not necessary by any means - if you'd prefer to just take a break, the filter will get it done.

Not sure about your instructions, but in terms of plaster quality, care instructions should allow you to switch to weekly brushing now.

Thanks Jett. Handover should be Monday so will continue to let them run it for now. Yes it’s all 2850 high speed. Will play around with it once it’s mine. Just so many dramas getting things seemingly right I don’t want to mess it up. I have put the bot on for a couple of extra runs. I know I should clean him I’m just very very time poor this week. He seems to be running fine. Will make time on the weekend for him. I have to brush twice a day minimum of 2 weeks. Almost no dust now so will likely have the bot running once a day and brush once a day after handover. I would love to take a break from brushing. My arms can barely function!

 

[riley00dog]

Oh and funny thing is that since yesterday when I assume someone came to fix something I can now see a strong stream of water from the returns. Nada before hand.

 

[needsajet]

I do think you have a good pool builder and don't mean to bag anyone out, but I think sometimes they just do what they've always done and don't have much empathy or use their critical thinking skills, in this case to consider what the robot is up to. The robot is doing 95% of the brushing your pool needs. I would only do the spots it misses, ledges and the like.

Take a break. Ave a beer mate.