Hello... First post here, not sure if this should go into the 'just getting started' section or here.
Long story short: after using a pool company and then a solo 'pool guy', and being burned by them both, I decided to take over and start caring for my pool myself. I've watched a lot of videos and found this forum and am excited to learn more.
We decided to move on from our pool guy because he didn't show up for a few weeks and our water started to turn that greenish hue, we knew where this was going, that was why we left the pool company, they let our pool turn dark green and get just nasty.
So we let the guy go, and I went to work looking online... When the old pool guy showed up, he kept the pool looking great, so I figured that since I was taking action just as the pool started to turn color, we could get it back to blue water just by adjusting FC and pH.
Went to the pool store, got a Poolmaster 22260 5-Way test kit, Liquid chlorine, and Muriatic Acid. Adjusted the pH for the 20,000 gallon pool (I think that's what it is, still trying to determine, but by the amount I was able to lower pH, I think that's the right ballpark), and then added twice the liquid chlorine that was called for. Since the green color of the pool had just started to creep in, and just a small 5-6 foot patch of algae started to form, I thought that shocking the pool might not be needed, and just a little extra chlorine combined with me scrubbing it with a brush, I could get rid of it.
Well, by the next morning, the water was clear as can be, and the small section of algae had faded considerably. I was thinking 'I'm on the right path!'... I figured that maybe if I scrubbed the wall again, while the FC was high, it might keep dissipating, which it did. But only to a point. Now, the water is still clear, but the small patch of algae is still there, and scrubbing it with a nylon scrub brush on a pole has stopped cleaning the area.
So, after all of this, my question is: Should I do what I did before and add a double dose of chlorine, and continue in this fashion until the small remaining line of algae is scrubbed away... Or am I wasting time and money, and I should immediately proceed to shocking the pool (I'm thinking that is the correct answer).
I don't have my readings from the first time I tested the water, but I see on the forums that you guys want to have that... I will provide in the future accurate readings. What I remember though (and I only tested Chlorine and pH). The chlorine was so low that it was 'off the chart' on the test kit color tiles... it had no yellow in it at all. The pH was high, and adding 4 pints (after doing the acid demand test) of Muriatic Acid got me to the 'ideal' mark. I know I need to test my CYA (after doing additional reading on this site), but I don't have that kit yet.
Thanks in advance, and sorry if this is a bit long and rambling! Just getting started with the pool, hoping I'm not screwing it up too much already!
No signature yet... Work in progress... But the pool is an in-ground pool with attached spa. I believe it is 20-22,500 gallons. Will add more info about equipment soon.
Long story short: after using a pool company and then a solo 'pool guy', and being burned by them both, I decided to take over and start caring for my pool myself. I've watched a lot of videos and found this forum and am excited to learn more.
We decided to move on from our pool guy because he didn't show up for a few weeks and our water started to turn that greenish hue, we knew where this was going, that was why we left the pool company, they let our pool turn dark green and get just nasty.
So we let the guy go, and I went to work looking online... When the old pool guy showed up, he kept the pool looking great, so I figured that since I was taking action just as the pool started to turn color, we could get it back to blue water just by adjusting FC and pH.
Went to the pool store, got a Poolmaster 22260 5-Way test kit, Liquid chlorine, and Muriatic Acid. Adjusted the pH for the 20,000 gallon pool (I think that's what it is, still trying to determine, but by the amount I was able to lower pH, I think that's the right ballpark), and then added twice the liquid chlorine that was called for. Since the green color of the pool had just started to creep in, and just a small 5-6 foot patch of algae started to form, I thought that shocking the pool might not be needed, and just a little extra chlorine combined with me scrubbing it with a brush, I could get rid of it.
Well, by the next morning, the water was clear as can be, and the small section of algae had faded considerably. I was thinking 'I'm on the right path!'... I figured that maybe if I scrubbed the wall again, while the FC was high, it might keep dissipating, which it did. But only to a point. Now, the water is still clear, but the small patch of algae is still there, and scrubbing it with a nylon scrub brush on a pole has stopped cleaning the area.
So, after all of this, my question is: Should I do what I did before and add a double dose of chlorine, and continue in this fashion until the small remaining line of algae is scrubbed away... Or am I wasting time and money, and I should immediately proceed to shocking the pool (I'm thinking that is the correct answer).
I don't have my readings from the first time I tested the water, but I see on the forums that you guys want to have that... I will provide in the future accurate readings. What I remember though (and I only tested Chlorine and pH). The chlorine was so low that it was 'off the chart' on the test kit color tiles... it had no yellow in it at all. The pH was high, and adding 4 pints (after doing the acid demand test) of Muriatic Acid got me to the 'ideal' mark. I know I need to test my CYA (after doing additional reading on this site), but I don't have that kit yet.
Thanks in advance, and sorry if this is a bit long and rambling! Just getting started with the pool, hoping I'm not screwing it up too much already!
No signature yet... Work in progress... But the pool is an in-ground pool with attached spa. I believe it is 20-22,500 gallons. Will add more info about equipment soon.