Welcome to the jungle...

[Razorhog]

Careful, it’s a bit swampy!

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Not as bad as I've seen it on opening day in the past. I can actually see the bottom in the shallow end

 

[kellyfair]

Well, it goes beautifully with your surrounding greenery!

 

[Razorhog]

Well, it goes beautifully with your surrounding greenery!

You’ve got a point! Think I’ll just keep it this way [emoji38]

 

[kellyfair]

 

[Razorhog]

Ok so question for the pros - The guys opening the pool put flock in and said they would be back in a day or two to vacuum. I'd really like to start adding chlorine, but they said not to run the pump. Thoughts, opinions?

Just took a set of tests:
FC - 1 (they said they shocked it with cal-hypo)
CC - 4.5
pH - 7
TA - 50
CH - 80 (my blue reagent is really thick and will hardly come out but I managed to get 5 drops)
CYA - 0

 

[mknauss]

My suggestion is to never use that pool service. Floc is a mess. If not completely vacuumed to waste it will mess up your sand filter.

Once you get the floc out, all you need to do is add 30 ppm of CYA and SLAM Process. No pool service can do that.

Also, you do not need to worry too much about low CH in a fiberglass pool, unless you have foaming. It does not appear you have a waterline tile with grout which would be another reason to keep a higher CH level.

 

[Razorhog]

Ok well should I just let the floc sit and settle the junk to the bottom? I didn't know it could be bad for the filter. Or should I start filtering and adding CYA and SLAM?

 

[benm2010]

I don't have anything to add about the floc, I would like to drop this link here. https://www.troublefreepool.com/threads/3913-Turning-Your-Green-Swamp-Back-into-a-Sparkling-Oasis Having dealt with ammonia issues two consecutive openings, I like this thread because it includes that portion. If your pool had CYA when you closed last year, there's a possibility it was converted to ammonia.

 

[mknauss]

Ok well should I just let the floc sit and settle the junk to the bottom? I didn't know it could be bad for the filter. Or should I start filtering and adding CYA and SLAM?

You need to let the floc settle to the bottom and then generously vacuum to waste. May take a couple times as your water level will be dropping and you may have to refill prior to continuing to vacuum to waste.

Good point benm2010 about the ammonia. To check you add LC to get to 10 ppm FC, circulate and test in 15 minutes, if FC less than 5, repeat until FC holds. Do this AFTER you have dealt with the floc.

Put in your plans to deep clean your sand filter after you start the SLAM. See Deep Cleaning a Sand Filter

Good luck.

 

[zea3]

How old are the reagents in your test kit? The drops shouldn't be "thick".

 

[Razorhog]

How old are the reagents in your test kit? The drops shouldn't be "thick".

I bought the TF100 kit in May of 2016, so that reagent is 2 years old. Always stored in a cabinet inside the house. It's not actually that thick, it feels like the bottle tip is clogged. I have to squeeze really hard to get a drop. Took the tip out and washed it with warm water so no blue was left. Put the tip back on and same thing. I think it is a defective bottle tip.

 

[Razorhog]

Just ordered a TF-100 refill kit so I can be confident the chemistry is fresh

 

[splashpad]

My suggestion is to never use that pool service. Floc is a mess. If not completely vacuumed to waste it will mess up your sand filter.

This!

 

[Razorhog]

Finished with floc and bumped FC to 10. 15 min later, FC =0.
bumped FC to 10. 15 min later, FC =0.
bumped FC to 10. 15 min later, FC =0.
bumped FC to 10. 15 min later, FC = 5. CC =1.
bumped FC to 10. Will test again in 5 min

I’ve used 6 gallons of 10% in a matter of an hour [emoji38]

 

[splashpad]

Finished with floc and bumped FC to 10. 15 min later, FC =0.
bumped FC to 10. 15 min later, FC =0.
bumped FC to 10. 15 min later, FC =0.
bumped FC to 10. 15 min later, FC = 5. CC =1.
bumped FC to 10. Will test again in 5 min

I’ve used 6 gallons of 10% in a matter of an hour [emoji38]

Wow! Your pool is thirsty! =)

 

[Razorhog]

Now FC is 8 CC is .5

Back to 10 we go

 

[mknauss]

Now FC is 8 CC is .5

Back to 10 we go

If your FC is above 5 after 15 minutes the ammonia is defeated. Go to SLAM Process.

 

[Razorhog]

Pic after the floc vacuum process.

 

[kellyfair]

That’s a lovely shade of seafoam. Hit it!

 

[Razorhog]

That’s a lovely shade of seafoam. Hit it!

Awww yeah, she's gonna get SLAM'd. Best as I can manage anyway...my son gave me the gift of the stomach bug so I'm a bit slow. But my wife is buying 15 jugs of bleach and 4lbs of stabilizer as I type.