First pool, might be our LAST...name says it all!

[swamp mistress]

Hi all! Newbie here....new and stupid.

Bought an Intex 15' x 42" Easy Up for the kids, spent a week clearing, leveling & setting the thing up. Started filling it two days ago (we have well water so it took the better part of two days to fill.) We were very confused at the store so bought a "starter kit" and added 4 oz of "shock" for approx. 3,800 gal. ran the pump several hours as our well water is naturally "tea color" (we were told by a local water "expert" who tested it years ago, that we have tannins, decomposed tree bark in our water.) We drink reverse osmosis water in the house, but the outside water is not filtered. At first after filling the pool the water was a clear tea color, we could still see the pattern on the liner bottom. After adding the super shock product (Calcium Hypochlorite) and running the filter most of the day the water turned dark brown and cloudy..the bottom disappeared so we added another 4oz of shock at night. The next morning, I started the filter early and discovered the pool had been taken over by gross amounts of backswimmer bugs so we added 4 oz of algecide. Skimmed the bodies off and finally figured how to hook up the skimmer that came with the pool and kids were able to play for a couple hours. Again, we treated with 4 oz of shock overnight, thinking maybe we hadn't "shocked" it enough. Woke this morning to more bugs and even dirtier looking water. I tested with strips, CL wasn't even registering up to this point so tested with another tester & drops, CL levels very low (light yellow) ..so today I dumped in an entire 1 lb packet of shock and 1/2 the bottle of Algecide, forget measuring, just kill something!!! Next we were going to add a metal defuser to see if that helps with the brown water. It could be tannins, it could be iron too. oh, I should mention that I've been rinsing out the filter cartridge about every 6 hours..it's BLACK & sticky gooey like tar. We bought a chlorine tablet floating dispenser hoping that would help bring up the chlorine level, but took it out when we added that last lb of shock. Obviously we don't know what we're doing, we're throwing everything in it trying to bring it around. I wished I'd known about PS first, we would have started with bleach. As it is, we're AFRAID to get in it, it looks like swamp water that alligators would swim in.....help us please, kids want to swim.

[pilot-werx]

It sounds like you have poor water and lots of iron in it. Right now, I would not deal with the iron issue until the water clears up. First, do not shut the filter off. Let it run and use regular bleach to get your chlorine up. If it is new water, I am not sure you need anything for algae.

Try to get your chlorine up and just let it run. The chlorine and filter will do its job, with time.

When the water clears up, I am guessing that the liner will be brown and you will have to hit it with and acid to clean it up..

[aylad]

Hi Swamp Mistress, and welcome to the forum!!

The first thing you're going to need to do is step back, take a deep breath, and relax a minute. I know that you've got a scary looking pool on your hands, but it is not impossible to fix, believe me. You DO have to stop throwing things in it hoping to make a difference, though, because what you're doing is making the situation worse, not better.

You need to test your water, using a drop-based test kit, and post some results here so we can help you get this figured out. WalMart carries a 5-way drop kit for about $15 that will work for now. If your WalMart doesn't carry it, then take a sample to the pool store, have them test it and give you the printout, then post the numbers here--but don't buy any of the stuff they're going to try to sell you. No more algaecide, no "shock", nothing--except a test kit that uses drops and measures more than just Cl and pH, if they have one, and maybe a bottle of metal sequestrant IF your water tests positive for copper or iron. Make sure they include a metals test when they test your water.

In the meantime, keep your filter running, cleaning it as needed. Use plain, unscented, generic bleach for chlorine in your pool at this point--assuming 3800 gallons, each cup of 6% bleach will raise your chlorine by 1 ppm, and you need to keep yours in the 3-5 ppm range, so add some at night before you go to bed, then again somewhere around mid-day until you can get some test numbers posted. Come back, get your numbers posted here, and we'll help you go from there.

Janet

Edit: for right now, do not worry about staining on the liner, and DO NOT put any acid on it trying to clean it up--we can deal with stains later, after your water is cleared up. There's a specific type of acid (ascorbic acid) that you use if needed, but that's a bridge that we won't need to cross for a long time yet.

[Watermom]

If it is new water, I am not sure you need anything for algae.


Just want to clarify:
When you write "you don't need anything for algae," I'm guessing that you are referring to algaecide? Algaecide is a pretty good preventative but doesn't really help much when you already have an existing algae bloom. The best thing to get rid of algae is just lots of chlorine.

(I may be wrong about what you meant but just thought this would be a good time to remind people about this.)

[CarlD]

Jan's right: Focus on the first needs first, which is your chlorine and testing.

To give you some background, NO algaecide is any good when you have algae--chlorine is still the best algaecide. There is one good one BEFORE you have algae, Polyquat 60%--but that's not usually in starter kits.

Those kits use the cheap ammonia stuff. It's a lousy algaecide and it neutralizes chlorine and vice versa--remember they always tell you NEVER mix bleach and ammonia for cleaning? There's two reasons (the other is the mix gives off a toxic gas.) It just makes things worse.

The other algaecides are copper-based and they can kill algae (but they are better for prevention) but copper is NOT a good additive as it discolors stuff and turns blond hair green.

Bleach is easy and cheap, especially in the small amounts a pool like yours needs. Plus it has no side effects and all the dry forms have those side effects.

But follow Jan's instructions and she'll get you swimming!

[swamp mistress]

ok...I'm breathing again. I'm going to have FAITH that you all can turn this mess around.

Testing - we purchased a small drop test kit when we bought the pool, it only tests for CL/BR and PH (didn't think we needed to be concerned with anything else..ha)

Update: put in new filter last night (not bad, one day = one filter) as it was BLACK, added 12 oz of hth metal control and ran pump all night long. Tested this morning:
CL 2 to 3 range
Ph 7.2

This morning I was headed to pick up bleach as I've read here...(ok, from this post on we'll only add or do what YOU tell us..) is it ok to switch to bleach after using so much of the shock? I figured at this rate the pool is becoming a chemical pool anyhow, right? (sorry, sarcasim.) I realize the staining is the least of our problems...well, maybe my children don't think so, one time in the pool has ruined their bathing suits and I think given them a deeper tan. I do have one with sensitive skin so I'm concerned for her.

While in town (we live 20 miles out in horse country) I'll buy a better test kit too, Walmart is really my ownly option other than a pool store. Oh, and just so you know we're not compete morons, we never EVER considered putting up a pool knowing about our water until the local public pool closed this year due to budget cuts. : (

Thanks in advance for your help!

[CarlD]

Switching to bleach is no problem. All chlorine is chlorine once it's in the water. You just cannot mix them together--like pouring bleach over Cal-Hypo powder or Tri-chlor tablets is a really, really bad idea! (don't ask why--just don't do it.)

You can read higher amounts of chlorine (ignore the bromine) with your tester by diluting the pool water with steam distilled water (avail at your supermarket). If you dilute it one to one, you can double the reading you get. Use 2 parts distilled and 1 part pool and you can triple the reading.

I like to use a shot glass to measure because it's simple, easy, and very accurate.

[swamp mistress]

Today: added 1 cup bleach @ 10am, another cup @ 3pm. Took new filter out and flushed it (noticably not as bad as the first filter..)

Here's the GOOD NEWS!...the water is a little clearer this evening, we can actually see the 2nd step on the ladder!! whoohoo!!!!!!!!

6pm test results: (HTH 6-way test kit from Wallmart)
CL: below .5 (I'm guessing you'll tell me to add more..)
Ph: 7.3
Cya: Black dot never disappeared
Alka: 190 ppm
Hardness: 120 ppm (test water never turned "red", only purple...took 12 drops to turn from purple to blue)

A neighbor stopped by who has a larger pool, said to add "stabilizer".....I told him I'd have to check with you FIRST! Yes? No?

[aylad]

The test kit that we favor here is the Taylor K-2006, which can be found online at http://www.amatoind.com/, http://www.spspools-spas.com/, or even better at http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0002IXIIG?ie=UTF8&tag=poolbooks&link_code=as3&camp=211189&creative=373489&creativeASIN=B0002IXIIG (PF gets a contribution from them if it's ordered here). You can also get the same basic relabeled kit at Leslie's online stores. I know they're a little pricey, but I guarantee you the kit will save you hundreds of dollars just this summer alone (and they don't cost more than what you've already put into your pool!).

After adding the metal control, how does the water look? Can you tell any difference?

Janet

[aylad]

I typed my previous post while your last one was waiting to be modded in, which is why they're in reverse order. Anyway.......

It's good that you're seeing some improvement. You may need to add some more of the metal out until the water starts clearing. In the meantime, keep your chlorine at the 2-4 range, your pH on the low side, and keep changing your filter as needed. (You're right, add some more bleach!) :)

You don't need to test for CYA again until about 4-5 days after you've added stabilizer. You can get it at WalMart in a 4 lb container. I don't remember if it's labeled "balancer", "conditioner", or "stabilizer", but the important thing is the active ingredient is cyanuric or isocyanuric acid. Follow the label directions for the amount to take your pool to the 40 ppm target, but then only add about 1/2 that amount, because it's much easier to add more later to get to your target than it is to have to drain/refill water if you overshoot. Because you're having to constantly change your filter, I would add it by putting it into an old sock or knee hi hose and hanging it in front of a return. It dissolves slowly, so don't add more or retest for it for about 4-5 days after you add it. The stabilizer will protect your chlorine from sunlight, so that it can be more effective against stuff in your pool. You should be adding chlorine a couple of times a day to keep a chlorine residual in the pool--once the stabilizer is in the water, then you won't have to add it as often.

Janet

[swamp mistress]

Janet, WOW! you're awesome!

I added more bleach tonight (5 cups!) and will also add some more metal out and let the pump run over night again. It was very windy here today, does that help drain the chlorine? because I was very surprised by the reading.

I'm printing out your instructions, hubby will run to the store in the morning for the Cyanuric/Isocyanuric Acid.

Thank you!

[CarlD]

Don't worry about T/A or hardness for now. Keep your pH in the 7.2-7.5 range and keep up your CL level.

Because you may have a metal issue, Jan doesn't want you to raise your CL too high. Otherwise, we'd be telling you to hammer the pool with chlorine.

Meanwhile, keep hosing down those filters! While I know Intex filters aren't too expensive if you change 'em every 2 weeks, but every day can be. Meantime, if you think one's ready to chuck, try soaking it in electric dishwasher detergent, like Electrasol. The people with large cartridge systems where the filters cost triple digits do that all the time. I'm not sure of the amount of detergent, but you can do a search on our forum to find it.

Meanwhile, if Chem_Geek pops in, he is a cart filter owner and can probably suggest how to get more life from your filters.

[chem geek]

I have an oversized 4-cart filter (a Jandy CL350) for my 16,000 gallon pool and that lets me clean it just once a year, but I have a pool cover that keeps the pool relatively clean. I still clean it the filter the same way as others, hosing them off and then soaking in detergent. I just replaced mine recently after about 6 years, mostly because the straps were coming apart -- something I could have manually fixed but decided to just get new filters.

[swamp mistress]

Good Morning! (or afternoon..I'm in Nevada on Pacific time)

Thank you CarlD & Chem geek...

I stayed up until 1:30am soaking up as much of this forum as I could, I took 5 pages of notes and learned alot from others mistakes/questions/answers...so hopefully I can fall into line quickly. :)

7am (6-way HTH test kit)
CL: 2.5
Ph: 7.2
Alka: 180 ppm (tested before reading CarlD's post...I'm assuming that's what TA means,
Total Alkaline)
Hardness: 100 ppm

Pump ran all night, I flushed the filter with water again and scrubbed the skimmer basket clean (used Greased Lightning degreaser and rinsed with water..worked fabulously, it also cleaned up the pump which was horribly stained with my fingerprints...might discolor with time, it contains Alkaline and Surfactants ? I wouldn't use it IN or ON my pool, so don't think that!) then added 2 cups bleach (slowly, into skimmer) ...see, I learned something last night.

This morning when I ran my hand through the water I noticed I could SEE MY HAND! (pauses to measure arm length...) THAT'S 27 INCHES!!! It's getting better folks!
But then, why do I think you knew that would happen....

The neighbor who stopped by yesterday (he's had an 18x48 Intex for 2 years) confirmed that his water looked exactly the same upon filling (we're on the same well water field.) He proceeded to tell me everything I needed to do..but when he pulled out his test strips I immediately TUNED HIM OUT! hehe I did however perk up when he said a stablizer cleared his water. At Aylads' suggestion, my husbands in town picking some up right now (cyanuric or Isocyanuri acid.)

I'll post results again tonight...thanks all!

[swamp mistress]

side bar - I felt inside the pool, the walls don't feel slimy just nice and clean. :D

[aylad]

Great job!! There's an awful lot of information here on this forum, but it really will make you a happier pool owner if you can take the time to try to digest as much of it as you can.

Just want to clarify--adding stabilizer will not clear up the pool. Chlorine clears up the pool, aided by metal sequestrant to keep the iron out of the way. What stabilizer does is keep the sun from depleting your chlorine, thus giving the chlorine more time to work on "gunk" in your water. Keeping stable chlorine numbers is what will get the water clean, but it's easier to keep them stable with stabilizer in the water. Make sense?

I'm glad to see you're using a drop kit and NOT relying on test strips--that's a huge lesson that people have a hard time learning, but you seem to have a pretty good grasp on what's going on.

Hang in there, keep filtering, and keep us updated!

Janet

[swamp mistress]

I wasn't going to post until this evening BUT I'm so happy right now i could STING myself! :D

I removed the pool cover at 11:am, the water has CHANGED. It's no longer swamp mud brown...it's clear greenish/yellowish (hard to discribe) but not milky, clear...WE CAN SEE THE BOTTOM PATTERN ON THE LINER & THE LADDER FEET TOO! Whooot!!!!!!

While it's far from "crystal", it's definitely a change in the RIGHT DIRECTION! and good enough to stop hubby from saying, "I'm gonna call a pool guy come look at it." He actually said, "maybe now I'll get in it." One thing has helped, he's been at work so much he hasn't had time to interfear with my (your) maintenence schedule. :p

Ok..12 noon the Stablizer/Balancer in a sock (1/2 cup..I started low) went into the pool.

Aylad/Janet..I understand (after reading posts) that the neighbor didn't know WHAT actually cleared his water...he just knew that after adding stablizer it got better, it was the combination of things he was lucky enough to have tossed in the soup mixture. When he tested our water with his strips and chlorine didn't register he said, "oh, mine never registers either...." :eek: duh?

If I've come away with anything from this forum..it's KEEP CHLORINE (BLEACH) AT CORRECT LEVELS, everything else will fall into place.

[aylad]

If I've come away with anything from this forum..it's KEEP CHLORINE (BLEACH) AT CORRECT LEVELS, everything else will fall into place.


Absolutely!! :D :D

Keep up the good work, you're making some progress--don't go too high with the chlorine, but keep it in there at 5 ppm or below. Keep the filter running, and we'll go from there. You probably now need to go test for chlorine and add some if it's 0. You don't want it going all afternoon without chlorine in it....

Janet

[CarlD]

You are doing great! Tell your hubby "Real men don't hire pool services, they do it themselves!" (J/K) :D

[swamp mistress]

Janet, I've kept the CL around 4-5 all day as I knew at some point we (mom & dad) were going to HAVE to get in...kids keep asking, "when are you coming in?" And it didn't look so scary today...it looked like lime gatorade, and was quite refreshing actually. :D

7pm (6-way hth test)
CL: 1.5
Ph: 7.2

I added 4 cups bleach, rinsed filter again, made sure the sock with CYA is near intake & will let pump run all night. Can't wait to see what color water we have tomorrow!!

[swamp mistress]

You are doing great! Tell your hubby "Real men don't hire pool services, they do it themselves!" (J/K) :D

I think I'll wait until he finishes the landscaping around the pool before I lay THAT one on him!

He's been digging, leveling & hauling rock all afternoon for a surprise "lounging area" for us girls. With the exception of an hour floating in the pool with a beer, all I've heard today is, "this $160 pool has cost me $800 and four days of my time." But Boy! that beer felt good........ ;)

[docsobeck]

congratulations: you've reached a crucial point in pool ownership - drinking beer in your pool. next thing you know, you'll have a floating cooler like us, and the good times will follow.

i've learned that if you use the pool store method of pool care, you need lots of money. if you use the pool forum method, you need patience. one day you'll look back at this and wonder why you were so panicky at the beginning.

[swamp mistress]

congratulations: you've reached a crucial point in pool ownership - drinking beer in your pool. next thing you know, you'll have a floating cooler like us, and the good times will follow.

That's another thing I don't think I'll mention...it IS after all supposed to be a KID'S pool. All I need is a bunch of old men with coolers floating around the yard all day! Hey! wait a minute..that could be fun! :eek: but then, when will all the WORK get done? Oh well, being a GUY...I'm sure he'll figure it out on his own. ;)

7 AM results (6-way hth)
CL: 3
Ph: 7.2

actions: flushed filter, cleaned skimmer, added 3 cups bleach & checked CYA sock (seems to be dispensing nicely.)

notes:
water appears "less green" than yesterday, maybe even "clearer" too. I didn't remove cover all the way, just enough to test. I'll know more later if we get in, supposed to be 95but with 30 mph winds, oh boy!

questions:
#1) with the testing strips (they came with the kit & no, I'm not using them!) it says, "read after 30 sec...after 40 sec, etc" is there an amount of time I should be waiting to read results after using the DROPS? I noticed when I initially read this mornings result, the CL was at 3ppm, then I got busy with other things and when I looked at it again (10 min) it had lightened to .5 Just want to be accurate.

#2) while it's getting progressively better, any ideas why our water has such a sticky (brownish/black) residue collecting in the skimmer? Once you get it on your hands (or anything else) it takes a degreaser to get if off. Bro-in-law says he's never encountered anything like it and wonders if we're like the Beverly Hillbillies with oil in our water? :rolleyes:

[aylad]

Once you add the drops and mix it well, go ahead and read your result. That is going to be your true number. Don't worry about what it looks like after being allowed to sit. Regarding the residue, I'm not sure what that could be except maybe some of the iron or other "stuff" in your water collecting there. You mentioned that your DH had been doing some landscaping, it's possible that some of that debris has blown into the pool and collected in the skimmer. I occasionally get a dark-grey to blackish line inside mine, but that's from dirt, suntan lotion, sunscreen, sweat, and all the other gunk that gets introduced from the kids. Usually a baking soda/water paste and a sponge will get it off, though.

How did the filter look this morning?

Janet

[swamp mistress]

Janet, the filter is stained of course but very little color (tan/brown) comes out now. Also, the water in the bottom of the pump housing was clear today, not the usual brown sludge. So I'm definitely seeing improvement every day...it's SO exciting! I feel like I'm watching my BABY grow up!! haha

I can only image how repetitive, time consuming and frustrating it can be sometimes dealing with all us freaked-out Intex rookies, but I for one would like to say THANK YOU to all who keep checking in on me, you are truly appreciated. :)

Swampster :)

[CarlD]

Janet,

You know the metal-removing routine far better than I do. At what point can Swamp Mistress hammer her pool with chlorine to clear it up? Or must she continue to do it the slow and gradual way?

[aylad]

Now that you're getting very little brownish stuff on your filter, I believe you can go ahead and shock your pool.

You need to understand that high chlorine levels along with high pH levels will cause the metals to turn your water brown again if there's not enough sequestrant. So...you need to keep your pH on the low side--7.2 is ideal. I would go ahead and add your bleach, starting with what you have been adding to target about 5 ppm. If the water stays clear for another hour or so after that, add some more, maybe enough to go up by another 3 ppm. If it still stays clear, then go on up to 12 ppm. That is shock level, assuming you have less than 20 ppm of CYA in the water. If you can get it to 12 ppm, then you want to hold it there until you're losing less than 1 ppm of chlorine when testing after the sun is off the pool and again before the sun hits the pool in the morning. This, combined with 24/7 filtering with frequent washing of cartridges, should clear your pool up the rest of the way. I would add your chlorine at or just in front of the skimmer, so that if it's going to cause the iron to fall out, hopefully it will do so on your filter so it can be washed out and removed. If at any time during the raising of the chlorine the water starts to turn brown again, add another dose of metal sequestrant.

I want to reiterate that I'm NOT the resident metals expert, but from all the reading I've done of Mbar and Pooldoc's post, this is the route I would take with my own pool if I were in your shoes. I'll see if Ben can stop by and offer more useful information, but in the meantime, that's the plan of attack I would use.

Janet

[PoolDoc]

Sounds like Janet's got you covered, though I'd try to avoid more sequestrant if you can. Use it if you have to, but give it a chance to filter out first.

Regarding the goo, I don't know. One possibility: plasticizer (makes PVC flexible enough to be a liner) leaching out from your liner. High temps could accelerate that.

Ben

[swamp mistress]

oakie dokie, I've got your instructions printed out...will do.

[CarlD]

The sides of the Intex donuts are surprisingly tough as they are re-inforced. The bottom and the donut are weaker, more like a liner. I never saw any signs of the plastic breaking down on mine over 3 years.

[swamp mistress]

Thankfully the "goo" is disapearing, today there was almost nil on the skimmer.

7pm statis
flushed filter, added a total of 9 cups (72 oz) of bleach, (3 at first, tested, then 6 more)
without any problems...have not had to add metal control.
CL: 12 (if I understood shot glass method correctly, 1+1=2, 1+2=3, etc. did I do it right, after mixing pool water w/distilled, poured into test kit thingy, then added 5 drops & checked color...)
Ph: 7.2

8pm - checked again, same test results CL: 12, Ph: 7.2

will check early am & post results. The water is looking very good! :D

[CarlD]

Yup, you got the CarlD Patented Shot Glass Method down! :D

[swamp mistress]

6:30am results (6-way hth, 15' x 42' Intex)
CL: 12
Ph: 7.2

actions: flushed filter, (the water exiting the filter is only as dirty as the untreated tannin water going in from the hose), checked CYA sock, still has a little undisolved product in it, cleaned skimmer, VERY slight residue that washed off with the hose, didn't have to scrub it with degreaser! yahoo!!!! When I held up a glass of pool water, dare I say? :eek: it looked CRYSTAL! The pool water LOOKS so INVITING!

I didn't add more chlorine, didn't know how long to keep it at 12ppm...or let it fall back around 3-5 range?

[aylad]

I would leave it at 12 ppm for one more day, just to be on the safe side, but if you went from 7 pm last night until 6 am this morning with no chlorine loss, I'd say you're in pretty good shape. If you can keep it at 12 all day, and go all night tonight without losing any chlorine, then I'd say let it drift back down to the 3-5 range tomorrow and go swimming!! Might want to squeeze the sock a little to encourage the last of the CYA to dissolve, then tomorrow morning test your CYA, and we can adjust your baseline chlorine from there. Once you mix the pool water with the CYA reagent, let the bottle sit on the counter for 3 or 4 minutes. Then shake it again and run your test for CYA. If you're not sure, you can always pour the mixture from the tube with the dot in it back into your original container and do the test again. It's a very subjective test, but we need to know what yours is to determine whether to add more CYA or how low to let the chlorine go.

You've done a great job--keep at it, just a little longer--I'm getting the feeling that crystal clear pool is right around the corner!!

Janet

[swamp mistress]

ok, kept pool at 12ppm all day yesterday, only needed to add a little bleach last night to keep it there for overnight (2 cups), flushed filter & ran pump all night.

7am today (6-way hth test, 15'x42" Intex)
CL: 12
Ph: 7.2
I didn't test for CYA yet, the sock still had a little product, I squished the last of it out and will give it an hour or so to disperse, then test.

Water looks GREAT, very clear, so clear I can see the DESSERT DIRT that settled on the bottom. High winds blew the cover right off yesterday and dirt right IN, tried putting a coffee filter in the bag (tied to the long handled skimmer/brush included with the pool), but that didn't help much, it collected bugs but not dirt. I put in a new pump filter since the waters so clear, I thought I could see if dirt is EVEN being sucked into the filter at all. I'm hoping getting in it later today (yeah!..happy dance :D) the dirt will get moving around so it CAN be filtered.

[aylad]

Congratulations!! :D :D :D
Now let your chlorine drop to the 3-5 range and enjoy your pool!!! Come back and let us know how the CYA level is doing.....and keep an eye on your pH. Remember that if your pH starts to climb, you could be letting yourself in for brown water again. Keep it below 7.6, but never below 7.0 .

Great job!

Janet

[swamp mistress]

1pm tested CYA (hth 6-way)

still not making the black dot disapear. I'm assuming I should add more, but I'll wait for your instructions.

Test kit didn't come with much CYA regeant, I might have just enough to test again in evening hours, if that makes a difference, located nearest pool supply store (gasp!) and will pick some up tomorrow for sure.

I'm otta here...got two kids & a pool that need a christening!!!! :D

[aylad]

Don't worry too much right now about the CYA--just concentrate on keeping your chlorine where it needs to be. Testing this evening isn't going to make much of a difference. Give it a couple of days, time to replace your reagent, and then test it again. If it's still low, then you can add a little more. You need to target around 30-40 ppm.

Janet

[swamp mistress]

Hi, although I haven't posted in a couple days (I have been reading) just wanted you to know I've been keeping up on pool maintainence. Friday I tested CYA levels with my remaining reagent, the black dot still does not disapear, since I read it can take a week to register levels, I'll recheck again when my order arrives, I couldn't find it locally.

So I went into a pool supply store to find the only person working was getting an ear-full from a customer, she was complaining she'd already spent over $200 and still had nasty pool water, she was not a happy camper! I heard the guy say, "that's the problem, people go to Walmart, buy the cheap blow-up pools, then expect US to FIX THEM!" I just smiled, left and went home to order my reagent that he was out of. :D

Our water went through a slight change, from clear to green & then started to turn slight brownish color so I just reversed my steps, added a little metal sequestrant, little algecide, keeping chlorine at good levels and today the water is "pristine" looking again. ( I had added some hose water when skimming the bottom so will need to add sequestrant each time I do that, I guess.)

I found the pole/skimmer that came with the pool to be useless...that is, until I made my own "skimmer bag." I took two cut up knee-highs, and one thicker nylon style sock with the cheese-cloth bag over the top, tied the whole thing onto the unit...boy! did I clean up the bottom! Only dust gets through now!

I'll check back when I have something to report.

[aylad]

Awesome!! Sounds like you've got it under control--ain't it great? :D :D

If it's been 3 or 4 days since the last of your CYA dissolved from the sock, and you're still not registering CYA, then go ahead and add a little more. I don't remember offhand how much you put in, but you want to target 30-40 ppm in the pool, so go ahead and add the remainder of the dose. Give it 2-3 days after the last has dissolved, and then test for it again and see what you get.

When you top off the pool with well water, you might want to put a trichlor puck (just not one that contains copper--read the ingredient labels!!!) into the skimmer and add it there, so that you can drop as much of the iron out onto your filter as possible before it gets into the pool, sort of like you were doing when you first started to clear it up. That might cut down on the amount of metal sequestrant you're having to use, and make it easier to keep your chlorine up without browning of the water. You also might want to consider a pre-filter of some sort so that most of the iron can be filtered out before it ever gets to the pool....just an idea, but one worth thinking about if you plan to run the pool from well water for the duration.

Going to the pool store is a real adventure after you learn about pool care, huh? ;) I have a really hard time keeping my mouth shut when I hear the conversations of the people in front of me......then I wait for the sales people to walk away, and give the customers the link to this site. Too bad they're the only ones in town that don't have copper in the trichlor and stock parts for my Polaris, otherwise I'd never even have to go in!!

Janet

[swamp mistress]

Janet, I'm ahead of ya! I put in about another 1/4 cup of Sanitizer in the sock this morning. According to the size of pool, I should be getting close (but not going over) to the recommended dosage so I won't add any MORE until I'm able to test again. I started low so I could add gradually.

Yeah! I'm so thankful I found this forum BEFORE going to the Pool Store...I've already warned hubby I'll be getting the Taylor test kit for next year! Just can't spring for it with all the improvements we've made AROUND the pool...but the better test kit and some sort of pre-filtering device for sure!

[aylad]

Awesome...happy swimming!! :D :D :D

Guess you're gonna have to change your username...............;)

Janet

[Watermom]

Yeah! I'm so thankful I found this forum BEFORE going to the Pool Store...

Everybody should be so lucky to find us before they hit a pool store. Would save a lot of money and a lot of grief for many people!

[swamp mistress]

Awesome...happy swimming!! :D :D :D

Guess you're gonna have to change your username...............;)

Janet

yeah, I was think'n bout that....how about Mistress of the Desert Oasis? :D

Gotta tell ya, I saw the neighbor's pool this afternoon, the one that offered to test my water with his strips..seems he had an algae bloom going and today his water looks like non-fat milk. :eek: Think I'll just keep coming here...

[aylad]

Hee hee hee...maybe you oughta take your test kit over and offer to help him out! :D

Or...give him the link to Poolforum.. :)

Janet

[CarlD]

SM: Get yourself the Taylor kit now...for the $50 to $70 it will STILL save you its price by the end of the summer.

[swamp mistress]

Hi Janet, just letting you know I received the CYA reagent a couple days ago (sorry, I haven't posted, we've REALLY been enjoying the pool EVERYDAY lately! even having school friends over. :D) I tested water and the black dot is still visable, although it disapeared when the vile was completely FULL, so I might be getting close. I'm taking into account the fact that I keep adding water each time I skim the bottom with the hose attachment. Anyway, after testing I added more stablilizer via sock yesterday morning and will give it a few days before testing again.

Everything else is GREAT, I believe I experienced the ULTIMATE pool water (a beautiful, clear bluish tint) which is now the standard for which I strive for every day. Until that happened, we didn't know our well water COULD look like that!

The last time I added water, i added 1oz sequestrant BEFORE filling, then 1oz algecide the morning after and the water returned to blue. I'm also using exact chemial measurments then waiting to see if ONE dose works as opposed to dumping lots in. Yes, I've learned patience works! :D

I also tried the "sock method" of pre-filtering I read on another thread for removing iron, not sure if it worked since I tried it mid-fill but, it certainly can't hurt, right? Anything to filter those metals! Actually, what made me try it was seeing the nasty, merky hose water spewing forth into my LOVELY clear blue water! Hubby wondered what was wrong when he heard "OH NO YOU DON'T!" as I ran through the house stuffing one of his tube socks with batting. :D

[aylad]

ROFL--you actually made me laugh out loud and my kids are looking at me like I'm crazy.....
I was wondering how it was going, hoping your abscence from here was because you were busy enjoying your pool!! Any pre-filtering you're going to do will certainly never hurt. Don't have any experience with the pre-filters, but remember that high chlorine causes the iron to drop out of solution, so if there's a way to run the hose past a dose of chlorine (like maybe a trichlor tab?) just before it hits the filter, you might be more successful at filtering it out. (Remember when you just started this, that's why you put the chlorine source in at the skimmer--so the iron would fall out onto the filter).

Congratulations on a job well done!!

Janet

[swamp mistress]

See, that's something that didn't "stick" with me the first 100 times I read it...run fill water into skimmer basket & thru filter BEFORE intering pool water...DUH!! I'm slow!

*note to self, remember the above! :D

[CarlD]

Congratulations!

I hope the algaecide is Polyquat 60%. Any others may produce problems. The ONLY issue with Polyquat 60% is it lowers FC if you use a lot at once and you need ot add more to replace it.