Taking over my mom’s pool

Jump to latest Follow Reply
A

ashleyfaren86

Member
Jun 16, 2024
10
brighton, mi
Unfortunately, my mom’s health isn’t great right now so I’m trying to help her out with taking over pool responsibilities, which until now knew nothing about, but now trying to learn.

Water was taken for testing the other day and I’ve been trying to figure out next steps on what to do. People at the local pool store just confuse me more.

I was hoping some woke could chime in and point me in the right direction.

I have some info about her pool and what’s been done but I can try to provide more info if I know what to look for.

What I know: above ground 24’ round x 54” vinyl pool from Walmart with sand pro 75d filter. She says she “shocked it”, used a clarifier and something for algae, and most recently used Pool Juice 911. The pool is cloud and can maybe see half way down but not well.

I started by looking at water test results trying to make sense of it. Then I noticed the volume is list as 8300 gallons, which would be way off I’m finding correct info on gallons for this pool…13000 or more.

Attaching the water test results from 6/14. Any help is appreciatedIMG_0943.jpeg.
 
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
 
Thank you for the quick response. I went over the SLAM guidelines and plan to start that. I was hoping to find one of those kits from Amazon for hopefully quicker delivery, from the Taylor store front but couldn’t find it. Probably will order direct through their website. I’m working on reading through the material and watching videos now :)

I’m struggling to figure out how much chlorine I need to add nightly to get 5ppm. Not sure if I should be using the free chlorine value in the water test I attached since the pool volume number is much lower than the number from pool math app - 15,228 gallons. Maybe that number is irrelevant?

Is this calculation recommending the correct amount?
 

Attachments

  • IMG_0944.png
    IMG_0944.png
    240.6 KB · Views: 13
Best value for a test kit is TFTestkits.net.

You need to set up your pool in the PoolMath app.

I would add 1 gallon of 10% liquid chlorine each day with the pump running. Do that until you get your test kit. That will add about 7 ppm FC each day. Not an issue as you have active algae.
 
The stirrer is worth it! Makes chem testing easy, and actually fun! You feel like your own Dr. Frankenstein in the lab. TFTestKits.net ships fast, although not Amazon next day fast. Taylor takes weeks.
Assuming the actual water level in the pool is about 4' (48"), yes, it is about 13,300 gallons.

((pi*radius squared)* depth)*7.4 [measurements in feet, about 7.4 gallons in a cubic foot]
 
BTW - get this at your local WalMart (in stock at New Hudson, didn't check the others near to Brighton): Pool Chlorine
It's stronger than what you showed for PoolMath - 10% vs 6%. Still use 1 gal., to help start killing the algae, even though you need the test kit to figure out what your real dosing should be. Get a couple of cases, if pool is green, you'll use it. Might even have to go back for more, but wait on that trip.
 
Thank you all! I’m try to order the test kit now but not sure on which stirrer if I do the 100. Price is less regardless of which stirrer. Not sure if I need the add ons and I do like the blue case better but really I just need to get to work on getting everything where it needs to be.

-Any suggestions on which stirrer if I get the 100?
-Thoughts on the add ons?
-I have 3 bottles of chlorine pictured.
-I work from home so can add more frequently using SLAM
-Any thoughts on if I’ll be able to have my kiddos bday here this weekend? Will order kit today.

I’ve also included a pic of pool water from today.
 

Attachments

  • IMG_0947.png
    IMG_0947.png
    223.9 KB · Views: 18
  • IMG_0946.png
    IMG_0946.png
    266.4 KB · Views: 14
  • IMG_0945.jpeg
    IMG_0945.jpeg
    452.1 KB · Views: 19
  • IMG_0948.jpeg
    IMG_0948.jpeg
    482 KB · Views: 20
Select either stirrer. They will ship what they have available. They are essentially the same.
You can order the SLAM option to cover your extra testing.
I see no need for the sample sizer. We are not doing rocket science here.

That chlorine is great.
You can safely swim in a pool as long as the FC is above the minimum and at or below SLAM level based on your CYA. You must also be able to see the bottom of the pool in the deep end of the pool.
 

Enjoying this content?

Support TFP with a donation.

Give Support
mknauss said:
Select either stirrer. They will ship what they have available. They are essentially the same.
You can order the SLAM option to cover your extra testing.
I see no need for the sample sizer. We are not doing rocket science here.

That chlorine is great.
You can safely swim in a pool as long as the FC is above the minimum and at or below SLAM level based on your CYA. You must also be able to see the bottom of the pool in the deep end of the pool.
Click to expand...
Thank you! Ordered 100 with stirrer and slam. A real problem for me is overanalyze/hyperfocus where it is isn’t always needed…and I’m indecisive 😬

For learning purposes…can anyone confirm if the results I attached are not valid based on the volume and should I disregard?
 
ashleyfaren86 said:
For learning purposes…can anyone confirm if the results I attached are not valid based on the volume and should I disregard?
Click to expand...
The Poolmath results appears correct. We cannot see what pool volume you entered. That was using 6% bleach. Best to get 10% or 12.5%. If you have a Menards locally they carry 12.5% at good prices.
 
I do not even look at a pool store test sheet. No need.
Get your own test kit. Add the gallon a day of 10% chlorine until you get it. Add the chlorine with pump running and brush the pool after.
 
Case in point - one of the recommendations for "Pool Juice 911" is to reduce phosphates (per blurbs from pool places selling it on the web).
But according to the tests, you have NO phosphates. A common theme here on this site is that pool stores exist to convince you to buy expensive stuff from them.
Bioguard doesn't list it currently on their website, although it may have gone through a name change, and you had/received old stock. Could not confirm what it really is, except it has a dose of antiperspirant in it. (?? yeah, like in that stuff for your underarms). Their mandated data sheet (which is on their site) doesn't list whatever other enzymes or clarifiers it may contain. No back-of-the-bottle-label info online to see what it says it has or is for, either.

It's got other magical properties. But by and large $35 for it will get you about 6 jugs of chlorine - which we know for sure will put a dent in the algae.

Hence why pool store testing/recommendations pretty much get ignored here.
 
Yeah, I tried to figure out what it claimed to do, ingredients,how that correlated to the test results they provided and just ended up more confused. I just started helping out/taking over this today and this site has been a great resource. I don’t plan on having water tested at a pool place in the future and ordered a recommended testing kit today. Hopefully it will all make more sense once I can test myself, use chemicals the way suggested here, see the results, etc. Thanks for taking your time and giving feedback. :)
 
  • Like
Reactions: Diane e and bobloblaw42
You are adding enough chlorine right now to hopefully not lose ground. So no improvement should be anticipated
 
Oh. So to make sure I understand correctly, there isn’t anything that I could do right now to cause improvement before the test kit arrives? Have my sons pool birthday party on Sunday that was planned before these issues. She hasn’t had any problems with the pool the few years she’s had it.
 

Enjoying this content?

Support TFP with a donation.

Give Support
You must log in or register to reply here.
Thread Status
Hello , This thread has been inactive for over 60 days. New postings here are unlikely to be seen or responded to by other members. For better visibility, consider Starting A New Thread.
Top Bottom
Back
Jump to latest Follow Reply