Very GREEN Pool Owner

[Soupy]

Plaster pools need calcium in the water because pool water with low CH will leech calcium from the plaster, which can damage it. Vinyl pools don't have this issue at all.

You do need to raise your pH, but maybe do it in steps so you don't overshoot. Personally, I'd add enough borax to raise pH to 7 and the circulate and retest.

 

[zea3]

The minimum recommended CH level for vinyl pools is 50 ppm. Since you have a SWG you need the CYA/stabilizer to be between 60-80 ppm. Until your test kit comes in, go ahead and have the water tested again and post the results. Don't buy anything else until we have had a chance to examine the results and make recommendations.

Right now the most important thing is to get the pH up to 7.2-7.5 range.

 

[JohnN]

The minimum may be 50, but at least as low as 20 is fine. I can speak from firsthand experience.

 

[gobblerhuntr]

UPS says my test kit is coming today, I will do the test and post where I am starting from.

 

[Richard320]

UPS says my test kit is coming today, I will do the test and post where I am starting from.

It feels like Christmas, huh?

can'twaitcan'twaitcan'twait

If you sprung for a speedstir, too, you're really going to have fun with your Junior Scientist Play Set!

 

[gobblerhuntr]

if I would have only know what the speedstir did at time of ordering i would have got one.

 

[gobblerhuntr]

RESULTS ARE:


pH 6.8
CL 5
BR 10
FC 16
CC 0
TC 16
TA 30
CH 30
CYA 23

Does this look right for a new install?
Where do I start??

 

[jblizzle]

You have no bromine ... so no point in reporting that.
What have you added for chlorine? Is the SWG on?

The pH test read artificially high when the FC > 10ppm ... so your pH must be very low.

I would add baking soda to get the TA up to about 70ppm. Then check the pH when the FC gets below 10ppm.

What is the CYA situation? Have you added any?

 

[gobblerhuntr]

SWG is on and the only thing I have added is 4lbs of chlorine stabilizer. Do I need more stabilizer?

How much baking soda do I add?

I also have 5lb of pH increased that I can add if needed.

 

[jblizzle]

Time to learn to use poolcalculator.com which will help you determine the amount of chemicals to add to achieve a desired result.

As was previously posted:

well its a fresh fill, so you know your CYA (Stabilizer is 0) Pool calc says for 44,000 gallons your gonna need 11 lbs to hit 30.

So I would get another 7 lbs dissolving.

I get 413oz (~26lbs) of baking soda required to raise the TA by 40ppm.

Use those 2 results to verify you are using the calculator correctly.

 

[gobblerhuntr]

Time to learn to use poolcalculator.com which will help you determine the amount of chemicals to add to achieve a desired result.

As was previously posted:

well its a fresh fill, so you know your CYA (Stabilizer is 0) Pool calc says for 44,000 gallons your gonna need 11 lbs to hit 30.

So I would get another 7 lbs dissolving.

I get 413oz (~26lbs) of baking soda required to raise the TA by 40ppm.

Use those 2 results to verify you are using the calculator correctly.

Been playing with the calculator and understand it now. Looks as if you are recommending me to get my TA up to around 70 first thing. Also at the same time I will put more stabilizer in to try and get to 30 or 40.

How long after adding these do I need to wait to test everything?
Should I add some pH increase to start it on the way up?

 

[jblizzle]

Wait an hour to retest the TA or pH, a week for the CYA.

The pH dosing is affected by the TA, so you may want to do the TA confirm and the do the pH.

 

[gobblerhuntr]

WoW a week on the CYA, I just started adding it two nights ago but it is a new fill so I feel comfortable to go ahead and put another 7 or 8 lbs in it.


Will get some baking soda and see what happens.

 

[jblizzle]

One the CYA dissolves, assume it is active for determining your FC levels, but it can take up to a week to show up on the test.

 

[AlexNesta]

One the CYA dissolves, assume it is active for determining your FC levels, but it can take up to a week to show up on the test.

Can anyone explain the chemistry behind this?

 

[jblizzle]

There is a description about it somewhere, I do not recall the details. It is possible the particles get small enough to get out of the sock, but still are not fully decomposed and dissolved into the bulk of the water.

 

[gobblerhuntr]

Put 20ish lbs of baking soda in at lunch today and put another 5 lbs of stabilizer in socks to dissolve. Interested to see what the baking soda does as far as test go.

Is it too early to test after adding baking soda?

 

[JohnN]

You can test within a half hour after adding chemicals, except CYA.

 

[gobblerhuntr]

Test results

PH. 7.2
FC. 10
CC 0
TC. 10
TA. 80
CH. 20
CYA. 29

What next??

 

[zea3]

Have you added salt for the SWG? If so and the SWG is running you just test FC and pH daily, then test the CYA in 5-7 days. How does the water look?