Struggling to maintain pool for the first time

[iPenguin]

Decided to try to maintain my pool myself to save some money. At the same time, we had to redo the pool pad plumbing and algae turned the pool green during the time. I did install the Pentair Rainbow 320 inline chlorinator because I didn't want the floating puck thing. I think I did a decent job of addressing it using shock. I'm just struggling to maintain the chemical levels for a couple of weeks now. What am I doing wrong?

The instructions were not 100% clear, at least to me for the Rainbow 320. Some videos I saw filled the entire thing up with pucks and some videos only put a few at a time. I settled on filling the unit to the top with Member's Mark 3in tabs from Sam's Club and setting it to 2. Each time that I tested, I noticed the Total Chlorine floats at around 5 - 10, while the Free Chlorine is around .05 mostly, maybe 1 if I get lucky with the CYA at 100. I have tried increasing it to 3 then all the way to 5 and don't notice any difference in my testing

From what I understand 100 CYA is the max I can be at. However, the Total and Free Chlorine levels are where I'm struggling. I think I read the difference between the 2 should not be that large. I made sure to clean off all the algae from the pool, filters, and pumps. The water has looked good for 2 weeks and I don't see any algae.

Because I wasn't confident in my management of the chemical levels, I drained the pool halfway to reduce some of the levels last week and re-shocked it Wednesday. The test is as of this morning, Saturday.

I think my pool is around 15k (most likely) - maybe 20k capacity based on my water bill when we refilled the pool a few months ago. I been adjusting the alkalinity first using pH down from Clorox Pool&Spa, then adjusting pH mainly more pH down because my alkalinity and pH climb up. So I haven't really used anything else other than Shock, pH Down, chlorine tablets.

I feel like I'm definitely doing something wrong. Thanks in advance!

 

[mknauss]

Welcome to the forum!
You need to follow the SLAM Process. To do that, you need a proper test kit. I suggest the TF-100/Pro or Taylor K2006C. A proper test kit is needed to get the accurate water chemistry results needed to follow the TFP protocols.

While you are waiting on your test kit, add 5 ppm FC worth of liquid chlorine / plain bleach to your pool each evening with the pump running. This will replenish the FC lost each day to the sun and also inhibit any algae in the water from growing further.
I suggest you read through Pool Care Basics - Trouble Free Pool and even look at a few of our videos TFP-TV - Trouble Free Pool

 

[TinFoilHat]

The tablets you're using are likely adding to your CYA. Stop using them and switch to liquid chlorine. As Marty said, you need a better test kit so you KNOW what is going on in the pool. Stay off the test strips and stay out of the pool store. Read all of the links that have been provided and especially focus on the CYA/FC relationship. You need to better understand how pool water works and the Pool School in the left pane has all the info you need.

 

[iPenguin]

Welcome to the forum!
You need to follow the SLAM Process. To do that, you need a proper test kit. I suggest the TF-100/Pro or Taylor K2006C. A proper test kit is needed to get the accurate water chemistry results needed to follow the TFP protocols.

While you are waiting on your test kit, add 5 ppm FC worth of liquid chlorine / plain bleach to your pool each evening with the pump running. This will replenish the FC lost each day to the sun and also inhibit any algae in the water from growing further.
I suggest you read through Pool Care Basics - Trouble Free Pool and even look at a few of our videos TFP-TV - Trouble Free Pool

The tablets you're using are likely adding to your CYA. Stop using them and switch to liquid chlorine. As Marty said, you need a better test kit so you KNOW what is going on in the pool. Stay off the test strips and stay out of the pool store. Read all of the links that have been provided and especially focus on the CYA/FC relationship. You need to better understand how pool water works and the Pool School in the left pane has all the info you need.

Thank you both. I purchased the TF-Pro per your recommendation. I think I followed the process as best as I could.

My current readings are below using Pool Math to log.
FC: 6
pH: 7.3
TA: 160
CYA: 60
CH: 200

I know I need to raise the calcium hardness a lot and pH a little. However, I'm struggling to get total alkalinity under control. I'm using pH Down from Clorox, but can't get TA down to the levels recommended by Pool Math. I brought pH all the way up to above 8.2 and used ALOT of pH down to reduce TA, I can't get it below ~150 without dropping pH too low. I wasted a lot of bags of pH down trying to fix this.

Additionally, what level do I insert for that pH color? I used 7.3 because it looks a little higher than 7.2, but not quite 7.5

 

[Newdude]

I know I need to raise the calcium hardness a lot

Check the CH of your fill water, if it's high, your CH will climb quickly on its own.

I'm using pH Down from Clorox,

Use muriatic acid from Ace Hardware. If you are patient, maintain a high 7 Ph. If you want the TA to move along a but quicker, maintain a low 7 ph until the TA is 70ish. Then maintain a high 7 going forward.

Additionally, what level do I insert for that pH color? I used 7.3 because it looks a little higher than 7.2, but not quite 7.5

I would have gone 7.4 as still peach but not pink. Block off all but one at a time and then yes/no. It'll makes it easier.

 

[iPenguin]

Check the CH of your fill water, if it's high, your CH will climb quickly on its own.

Use muriatic acid from Ace Hardware. If you are patient, maintain a high 7 Ph. If you want the TA to move along a but quicker, maintain a low 7 ph until the TA is 70ish. Then maintain a high 7 going forward.

I would have gone 7.4 as still peach but not pink. Block off all but one at a time and then yes/no. It'll makes it easier.

Thank you! Are you saying my TA is acceptable? What do you mean if I am patient I should maintain high pH? My TA doesn't appear to be dropping much on its own.

Is it safe to swim in once I correct the calcium hardness? It's my first time and I feel like I'm screwing up a lot..

 

[Newdude]

Are you saying my TA is acceptable?

Yes. TA comes down with acid additions. You can force it with many additions quickly, or wait it out.

The irony is with a higher TA, it will pull the PH up faster, making you dose MA sooner, lowering the TA.

But yeah. Either way the TA will come down.

Is it safe to swim in once I correct the calcium hardness?

The CYA / FC dictates whether it's safe to swim. FC needs to be between minimum and SLAM.

If Ph is a little out of range it may make some eyes sting, but no worse than any non TFP pool we've ever been in. Lol.

CH doesn't matter in any regard for swimming.

feel like I'm screwing up a lot..

We were all there and it sucked. We got you.

 

[iPenguin]

Yes. TA comes down with acid additions. You can force it with many additions quickly, or wait it out.

The irony is with a higher TA, it will pull the PH up faster, making you dose MA sooner, lowering the TA.

But yeah. Either way the TA will come down.

The CYA / FC dictates whether it's safe to swim. FC needs to be between minimum and SLAM.

If Ph is a little out of range it may make some eyes sting, but no worse than any non TFP pool we've ever been in. Lol.

CH doesn't matter in any regard for swimming.


We were all there and it sucked. We got you.

Thank you! Muriatic acid was the key. I was scared to use it because it was an acid. Wasn't so bad and it dropped TA faster than the 5+ bags of pH down I used...

 

[Newdude]

. I was scared to use it because it was an acid. Wasn't so bad

Respect it and it's no biggie. If you catch a whiff, it's a good thing and you're getting a heads up you're doing it wrong before any harm is done. (Although very unpleasant )

You can turn your body one way or the other, or pour with your left instead of your right and usually end up up wind of the fumes.

And hold the bottle to the water , possibly even submerging it a little to makes less fumes and splashing. I poured waist high like a clown for WAY too long before learning that nugget.

 

[setsailsoon]

iP,

Welcome to TFP! You're already getting great advice so I don't have anything to add except a big WELCOME. Hang in there you are well on your way to big $$$ savings and a gorgeous pool. OK, one thing... if something you hear on here doesn't jive with what you hear at a pool store just remember, we don't sell anything! Just well-intended experts and pool enthusiasts to help you learn a way better approach to pool care. You may also want to add your signature. It gets you answers/advice quicker and helps our volunteers be more efficient with their time. It's easy, here's how.

Chris