Opened pool and problems...

[chumpy36]

Ok, that all sounds reasonable... but if the problem is no stabilizer then shouldn't I add some? Or is it the fact we don't know for sure and adding at this point might be a bad idea?

I do have a taylor deluxe testing kit that has CL, PH, TA etc tests so I can test as you suggest... but a question... why do I want to raise the PH? Right now it's at 7.2 which I thought was where you wanted it?

I'm testing water today and I will do as you suggest above and will report back

thanks for the help

J

[CarlD]

No, don't worry about CYA (stabilizer) just yet. You have to kill the algae and metabolize the ammonia, and stabilizer just slows it down.
The Borax will also add borates to your water which helps inhibit algae growth, too.

You WILL need stabilizer, but that's to keep the sun's UV from breaking down the chlorine too quickly, and for a few other issues. For now? Not yet. You cannot go wrong following Ben's advice.

Carl

[chumpy36]

ok, got the water tested...

FAC 3.0
TAC 4.0
Calcium Hardness 190
CYA 25 (they say too low)
TA 200
PH 7.4
copper 0
iron 0
TDS 850
Phosphates 1000


One question about the Borax. It only came in one size box. It's fairly large. Is this the size box suggested above?

I'll do what is suggested and report back tomorrow.

Thanks!

J

[PoolDoc]

20 Mule Team Borax, 4# 12 oz -- that's the only size I've ever seen.

Add chlorine this PM, test, and test again in the AM.

No rush, but you will be needing at least a gallon of muriatic acid. (Lowes, Home Depot, etc.) Pick it up when it's convenient. I'd recommend you get a heavy garbage bag, and put the acid inside THAT when you carry it in your car.

[chumpy36]

I tested 15 minutes after application of the bleach and The chlorine reading was well off the scale of my test kit that ends at 5ppm.

At 10pm tonight, it had gone down to about 6ppm (a guess - maybe 7) based on the color.

Should I pour more bleach in? I have 10 more gallons. I've used 10

Thanks

Jason

[PoolDoc]

Just wait till tomorrow.

Ben

[chumpy36]

And should I smack it with all ten gallons I have left?

thanks

[cyclingbro]

I am not an expert, but liquid chlorine may help. After I started heating the pool I had chlorine loss and a cloudy algae build up. The liquid chlorine cleared it in minutes and returned it to normal levels. I used 2 gallons in a 25k pool. I did not start off as bad as your pool was though. Good luck.

C

[aylad]

I am not an expert, but liquid chlorine may help. After I started heating the pool I had chlorine loss and a cloudy algae build up. The liquid chlorine cleared it in minutes and returned it to normal levels. I used 2 gallons in a 25k pool. I did not start off as bad as your pool was though. Good luck.

C

just to clarify, this poster is using liquid chlorine........aka bleach. Both are sodium hypochlorite--the bleach is 6% strength, and the other is 12%. The 12% version is not available in all states.

Janet

[chumpy36]

ok, the last two days of testing seem to indicate the chlorine levels have stabilized a bit. I think.

Two nights ago, the readings were

FC 11ppm
CC 5.5 ppm

I added bleach in the amount the pool calc said would get me to 15 but either my volume is off or I made a mistake in the form. The next evening (last night) the readings were:

FC 19ppm
CC 0

This morning I tested again and it was:

FC 15ppm
CC 1

Pool is still very cloudy. Doesn't seem to be improving much. Pump pressure does rise. I am using DE in addition to the sand. I'm wondering if at this point the filter needs the sand replaced or maybe is channelled. The pool sand was replaced 6 years ago.

Any ideas about what to do now?

Thanks