Startup after remodel

[rinaldok]

My remodel is wrapping up. Pebble went in on Friday, on Saturday they acid washed and began the fill. Fill took ~42 hours and was just about 15,000 gallons on the nose. It finished last night (Mon morning) at 3am.

I was told not to do anything until the official startup is done by the PB, and that's supposed to happen sometime tomorrow (Tuesday).

I decided to test the water today to get a baseline before the PB starts adding anything. To double-check my numbers, I took a sample to Leslie's, and, somewhat predictably, got some differing results.

Here's what I got with my TF-100:

==========================================
My pool
------------------------------------------
Build Type: Plaster
Volume: 15000 gallons
------------------------------------------
Latest Test Result Summary:
FC: 0.0 (6 hours ago)
CC: 0.0 (6 hours ago)
pH: 8.2 (6 hours ago)
TA: 120 (6 hours ago)
CH: 275 (6 hours ago)
CYA: 0 (6 hours ago)
SALT: 200 (6 hours ago)
BORATES: 0 (6 hours ago)
TEMPERATURE: 83° (6 hours ago)
CSI: 0.86 (6 hours ago)
==========================================

All of that seemed totally reasonable for street fill.

Here's what Leslie's got:

FC: 0
TC: 0
CH: 160
CYA: 0
TA: 100
pH: 8+
Copper: 0
Iron: 0
TDS: 550
Phos: 100


I suppose that's mostly within the margin of error, except for CH.

My street water is pretty hard, around 400 typically. About 15% of the pool was filled with soft water, my goal was to land around 275-300. I thought my guesstimate was pretty close, but Leslie's says I'm only at 160. Now, I tend to want to trust my test, but sometimes the CH test boggles me.

I suppose I can wait for the PB to come for startup tomorrow, I assume/HOPE he's going to run a test, and it'll be interesting to see what he gets.

I would much rather be low on CH to start, as I can bump it up in a controlled manner to get to the lower end of the ideal range, because CH will creep up and I'd like to keep my CSI in the slightly negative range for as long as I can reasonably control it.

I want to be really dialed in with the chemistry from day 1 since I have a clean slate here. Does anything jump out at anyone? Where should I focus my efforts for the first few weeks with the new pebble surface?

Thanks!

 

[kimkats]

I can't seem to get a link to the card I want to share with you. Please do a search for "NPC start up card". The back side is what you want. It gives you step by step directions for the start up.

Kim

 

[rinaldok]

I can't seem to get a link to the card I want to share with you. Please do a search for "NPC start up card". The back side is what you want. It gives you step by step directions for the start up.

Kim

I assume this is what you were referring to?

https://c.ymcdn.com/sites/npconline.../resmgr/Docs/startup-card-current-rev3_wa.pdf

I got the paperwork that the PB hands out for startup as well, but it somewhat contradicts itself and is a little inconsistent at times. I will follow it as closely as I can, as I want to be sure I don't compromise anything for longevity or warranty, but honestly these PB startup guys seem half-baked sometimes.

 

[kimkats]

That is it! Good job! Yeah we try to learn all we can and do most things on our own after much research and real life use here at TFP. Half-baked is a good way to putting it.......they come once a week (pools need daily care) and push the levels SO high in hopes it will last until the next time they come in a week. That does not equal good pool care

 

[rinaldok]

Half-baked is a good way to putting it.......they come once a week (pools need daily care) and push the levels SO high in hopes it will last until the next time they come in a week. That does not equal good pool care

In this case I was talking specifically about the new pool startup guy from the PB.

As it turns out, he came yesterday for his *one and only* visit.

He did not test the water.

1. He dumped a pail of powdered CYA into my skimmer. I would have liked to have known how much he was adding and to just have him leave it with me and I would have done the sock method, but he dumped it in before I even knew what happened. I'll just have to test and see where we landed. I hate the CYA test. I have a really hard time with it, I always feel like I can still see the stupid dot through the cloud. I would have much preferred to calculate exactly how much CYA was needed because I now know my exact pool volume (I measured it during the fill).

2. He installed the return fittings, new weir door, skimmer basket (the one I had was fine but the one they gave me is nicer and it's part of the package), new auto fill float (again mine was fine but it's included in the price I paid so...) and adjusted the float level.

3. Put the pump/filter back in service as I had been instructed not to do it but to let them.

On a side note, his dreadlocks smelled awful.

 

[kimkats]

CYA test, oh how I hate thee, here is how I have overcome it. GLANCE!!!! Do not look for the dot! Pour to the first line (100) GLANCE in. If you see the dot at the GLANCE, pour to the second line, GLANCE in, repeat until you do not see the dot at a GLANCE! Did you know you can do and redo the test? Just pour it back and forth to do and redo and have other help you.

Try the GLANCE and see if it helps.

GUrrrrrrrrrr on him just pouring it in with out any measurement or anything. Wait............did he have it in a jug? Do you still have the jug?

Kim