Startup pool chemicals

[Mdragger88]

You also mentioned a cleaner- you’re not supposed to use an automated cleaner for the first two weeks. Some finishes say 28 days. It can mess up your finish & leave ruts/marks.

Start-up New Plaster

The first few months are the most criticle for a newly plastered pool. We're here to share best practices to ensure the plaster will last for many years.

www.troublefreepool.com

 

[Redsurprise]

Ok. So I got my test kit today. Checked the calcium level per the instructions in kit. After adding the R-0011L I mix. Red color (mine was pink/purple) indicates calcium . Then I was to add the R-0012 one drop at a time until it turned blue. Is this before stirring? It seemed blue/pink with third drop, so I mixed it up. And it was blue . So does this mean my calcium is super low? 75? Help!

 

[Redsurprise]

Also, when you mix, can you just mix with a regular metal spoon? There isn’t really a stirrer in the kit to mix. Might seem like a dumb question, but just want to make sure the metal of spoon won’t affect anything

 

[wireform]

This is what you need.

Amazon.com

 

[mknauss]

Which kit did you order? The TFPro has a SmartStir in it. Use the little white cross that is in the kit.

 

[Redsurprise]

My kit comes with a smart stir but I don’t have a stir bar. Can someone tell me what this looks like?

 

[mknauss]

Use the little white cross that is in the kit.

Should be in a ziplock package.

 

[Redsurprise]

Which kit did you order? The TFPro has a SmartStir in it. Use the little white cross that is in the kit.

Ok. I have that. So i redid my test. And added drops of the last reagent for calcium test with it mixing while adding. After 2nd drop it turned blue. So my calcium is 50ppm?

 

[mknauss]

That is what the test shows. Odd with your fill water.

Run the test using water from the tap they used for fill water.

 

[Redsurprise]

Tap water calcium is about the same . This just seems very distressing since it seems my calcium has been low the whole time. Did I totally screw my finish on the pool? All the stuff on this site talk about how critical for the first month of the pool is for the plaster /finish to cure and now I have had horrible calcium levels for a week.

 

[mknauss]

Your elevated pH and TA are adding protection. Input all your test data into Poolmath. Select Track CSI in the Setup.

It would be wise to get 100 ppm or so of calcium into the pool water. I would not get more aggressive than that as your fill water will rise in CH and evaporation will drive the CH up this summer. Just keep CSI near 0 by letting pH and TA ride high for awhile.

CH increaser can be found at Home Depot (likely online) or Amazon. Pay no more than $2 a pound, give or take.

 

[mknauss]

You only need less than 10 lbs of CH increaser. So I would not get more than that. Likely best to get from Pool Store even if overpriced.

 

[Bperry]

Ok. I have that. So i redid my test. And added drops of the last reagent for calcium test with it mixing while adding. After 2nd drop it turned blue. So my calcium is 50ppm?

You keep adding the drops until it turns blue and then keep adding until the blue shade doesn’t change anymore when you add a drop. it looks like you got a few more drops to add.

 

[wireform]

Ok. I have that. So i redid my test. And added drops of the last reagent for calcium test with it mixing while adding. After 2nd drop it turned blue. So my calcium is 50ppm?

Did you:
a) rinse the vial with the same water being tested as that's absolute
b) fill to the proper line before dropping in the stirr bar.

Let the stirr bar spin as you're drops are falling.

 

[Redsurprise]

So I had purchased CH tub that Leslie’s had recommended when I brought water sample to them. I did not add due to your recommendation to wait until test kit arrives and see what those results say. Can I use that tub of calcium hardness? They told me to add the whole 15lb tub of it.

When I get back home later I can do more tests. What other tests should I do? CYA, pH, total chlorine? Plug all the results into the pool math and see what it says?

 

[Redsurprise]

Did you:
a) rinse the vial with the same water being tested as that's absolute
b) fill to the proper line before dropping in the stirr bar.

Let the stirr bar spin as you're drops are falling.

What do you mean by rinse? I rinsed the vial per the instructions in the kit, but rinsed with tap water. Should I rinse it in my pool? There is an empty dropper bottle in the TF Pro kit. Do I use that to get my pool sample and then add from that bottle to the vial that goes on the mixer?

 

[mknauss]

15 lbs of calcium chloride will add 200 ppm CH. I suggest adding about 2/3 of the bucket and test in a couple days.

Add the product slowly. Broadcast in the deep end. Brush well to be sure it is fully dissolved. Do not let it sit on your pool surface.

 

[Redsurprise]

15 lbs of calcium chloride will add 200 ppm CH. I suggest adding about 2/3 of the bucket and test in a couple days.

Add the product slowly. Broadcast in the deep end. Brush well to be sure it is fully dissolved. Do not let it sit on your pool surface.

And have pump running when I add the calcium? Also, someone above said it is imperative to make sure I rinse the plastic cylinder with same water that is being tested. So do I rinse my vial from test kit in the pool and then add water to the vial from another source? There is an empty squeeze bottle in my TF Pro Kit. Do I put my water sample in that and then add to the vial I put on the smart stir? I am sorry for so many questions. I am sure I sound like an idiot but I am total pool newbie.

 

[mknauss]

It is good to have the pump running.

You can use the squeeze bottle to get your pool water sample for testing.

 

[Redsurprise]

You keep adding the drops until it turns blue and then keep adding until the blue shade doesn’t change anymore when you add a drop. it looks like you got a few more drops to add.

I did test again and added 3 more drops and it seemed like the same blue color with the additional drops as with the 2nd drop . So do I count my calcium level with the second drop?