poolprobe
05-24-2012, 06:05 PM
I only found the Forum a few weeks ago when we had a disaster on our hands when we opened the pool (complete with algae, tadpoles and frogs). We spent over $900 in chemicals last year (much of it on phosphate remover) recommended by the pool store...we never swam...the year before we swam 5 times. Once I found this Forum I said no more pool stores and switched to the BBB method.
I wanted to let everyone with cloudy / problematic water who was/is as frustrated as we were know, that the POP position while waiting for pool water to cooperate does pay off. Although you'll be tempted to just add a little of this or a lot of that or even worse go to the pool store, have your water checked and then spend a ton of money on the MUST HAVES...don't do it! Although tempted...we didn't this year. I feel like we're almost there.
Although the water is still hazy in the deep end the water overall is looking better...still waiting for that sparkling clear water but things are looking up. Some of the numbers remain a bit out of whack...hoping for some advise on where to go next.
Here are our numbers (finally got our Taylor test kit):
5/22/12: Chlorine 9, Combined chlorine 2.0, Alkalinity 250 and Ph was 7.8 (CYA=28 5/20/12)
added 1/2 bottle of muratic acid to pool and 5 smart stix in skimmer
5/23: Chlorine 10, Combined chlorine 1.0, Alkalinity 210, Ph 7.4, CYA 54
5/24: Chlorine 6.5, Combined chlorine 1.0, Ph 7.4, Alkalinity 170, Hardness 320 (has been between 310- 330 for about 3 wks), CYA 85
Automatic cover is fixed...when to cover and when not to cover?
Do we leave it open or cover it when it rains?
Pool pump/filter has been running 24/7 for over 2 weeks (no way to turn it to low...runs or doesn't run).
Doesn't need backwashed per psi checks. We backwashed after a floc that Ben recommended about a week ago.
Side note (may be important maybe not)
I keep reading that hardness is not an issue for vinyl liner pools but today I noticed a tarp that had filled with rain water that has since dried up. It was stained an orange/red color where the water had laid. When we tested our tap water the numbers were : Chlorine 0, Ph 7.4, Alk 340, Hardness +1000, CYA below 30 (tested with 6 in 1 from Walmart before we got the Taylor K2006)
Wonderd if the hardness in our drinking water (or the other values) would make the hardness an issue in our pool? No staining red/orange staining on the pool liner.
What do we focus on now and how do we accomplish it? Is the cloudiness still due to an algae kill over 3 weeks ago (chlorine has maintained levels for days/weeks at a time once we shocked enough with bleach until they finally held...once they held they have maintained... levels of 5+ (walmart kit) for over a week and a half straight and since the Taylor it's been 10 or over (until this latest reading. )
Thanks again for all of your help.
I wanted to let everyone with cloudy / problematic water who was/is as frustrated as we were know, that the POP position while waiting for pool water to cooperate does pay off. Although you'll be tempted to just add a little of this or a lot of that or even worse go to the pool store, have your water checked and then spend a ton of money on the MUST HAVES...don't do it! Although tempted...we didn't this year. I feel like we're almost there.
Although the water is still hazy in the deep end the water overall is looking better...still waiting for that sparkling clear water but things are looking up. Some of the numbers remain a bit out of whack...hoping for some advise on where to go next.
Here are our numbers (finally got our Taylor test kit):
5/22/12: Chlorine 9, Combined chlorine 2.0, Alkalinity 250 and Ph was 7.8 (CYA=28 5/20/12)
added 1/2 bottle of muratic acid to pool and 5 smart stix in skimmer
5/23: Chlorine 10, Combined chlorine 1.0, Alkalinity 210, Ph 7.4, CYA 54
5/24: Chlorine 6.5, Combined chlorine 1.0, Ph 7.4, Alkalinity 170, Hardness 320 (has been between 310- 330 for about 3 wks), CYA 85
Automatic cover is fixed...when to cover and when not to cover?
Do we leave it open or cover it when it rains?
Pool pump/filter has been running 24/7 for over 2 weeks (no way to turn it to low...runs or doesn't run).
Doesn't need backwashed per psi checks. We backwashed after a floc that Ben recommended about a week ago.
Side note (may be important maybe not)
I keep reading that hardness is not an issue for vinyl liner pools but today I noticed a tarp that had filled with rain water that has since dried up. It was stained an orange/red color where the water had laid. When we tested our tap water the numbers were : Chlorine 0, Ph 7.4, Alk 340, Hardness +1000, CYA below 30 (tested with 6 in 1 from Walmart before we got the Taylor K2006)
Wonderd if the hardness in our drinking water (or the other values) would make the hardness an issue in our pool? No staining red/orange staining on the pool liner.
What do we focus on now and how do we accomplish it? Is the cloudiness still due to an algae kill over 3 weeks ago (chlorine has maintained levels for days/weeks at a time once we shocked enough with bleach until they finally held...once they held they have maintained... levels of 5+ (walmart kit) for over a week and a half straight and since the Taylor it's been 10 or over (until this latest reading. )
Thanks again for all of your help.