Pool Start Up & Maint

[tysmom]

I'm sorry if this info is somewhere and I missed it. I switched last year from baquacil to chlorine, with the help of this site and with great success.

Now that I am starting again without pool store help. I need yours. :)

I forget what I need to buy for CYA. How much do I put in once I find it for a 24' round above ground pool?

Where can I purchase poly quat and how much do I put in for a 24' round. What about the algicide from Wal-Mart (thought I read they had some that was good???)

What do I want my cholorine levels to be and how much 6% bleach do I add to get it up to that?

Thanks in advance. I'm going to be sure to take good notes this year to help me in the future.

[Watermom]

The first thing you need is some water testing numbers. Get a drops-based test kit and test your water and then we can help. We need FC, TC, PH, alk, Calcium hardness, and cya.

You may find that you don't need to buy any more cya if you still have some in there from last year. Also, you really don't need to buy any algaecide. I don't use it, and many other people don't either. If you do decide to use it, only buy Polyquat 60%.

Your desired chlorine level depends on your cya reading, so get that first. Repost with testing numbers and we'll go from there.

[tysmom]

I knew there was something else I needed to be able to test for when I bought only the ph and chlorine test. Back to the store in the morning... I'll post as soon as I get it. Thanks!

[tysmom]

Watermom,
Okay here's a start:

I tested for CYA-- tested as none.
Chlorine was high this morning and nill this afternoon.
PH 7.5
Couldn't figure out how the alk test worked--do I wait for the entire vile to red or just for it to produce a red color?

Thanks!

[Poconos]

Within 1 or 2 drops you'll see the shift from green to red. The colors look somewhat faded is the best way to say it but you will see the shift.
Al

[Watermom]

If you have none left from last year, you'll need to add some cya. Add enough slowly to the skimmer while the pump is running to get to an initial reading of 30. Then, don't retest, add more or backwash for a week to let it have enough time to dissolve. Until you start to get a cya reading, it is going to be hard to keep any chlorine in the pool. You'll need to test morning and evening and each time add enough to get back to about 5. After cya is in there, you'll be able to just test and dose in the evenings. In a 24 ft AG, one quart of 6% bleach will raise your cl between 1 - 1.5 ppm.

Hope this helps.

[waterbear]

Couldn't figure out how the alk test worked--do I wait for the entire vile to red or just for it to produce a red color?

Thanks!
The ALK test is done when the color has turned red and adding one more drop does not produce further change of color. Don't count the last drop.

[tysmom]

Thanks for the help. I am a little concerned about not being able to backwash for a week. My pool is REALLY dirty and my filter is losing pressure about every six hours. I'm running it 24 hours. I am also running an automatic vacuum that is independent of my pools filtration system, and it is filthy. My water is really cloudy. Should I wait until I can hold pressure for a while before adding it or should I not run my filter so often? Any ideas? Thanks again.

[JohnT]

Thanks for the help. I am a little concerned about not being able to backwash for a week. My pool is REALLY dirty and my filter is losing pressure about every six hours. I'm running it 24 hours. I am also running an automatic vacuum that is independent of my pools filtration system, and it is filthy. My water is really cloudy. Should I wait until I can hold pressure for a while before adding it or should I not run my filter so often? Any ideas? Thanks again.

Put the CYA into an old sock, tie a knot in it, and drop it in the skimmer basket. It will remain in the sock until it dissolves, so you can backwash as needed.

[tysmom]

[QUOTE=waterbear]The ALK test is done when the color has turned red

the etire vile has turned red, correct? I had added 12 drops and I was seeing red, but the whole vile never turned red.

[aylad]

Yes, when the entire vial has turned red and won't change color further.

Janet

[waterbear]

swirl the vial for about 10 seconds between each drop. it will start to turn reddish then on more drop will make it definitly red. add one more drop and if the color does not change any more then don't count the last drop. if it gets redder then swirl and add one more drop. stop when that last drop does not produce a further color change and don't count the last drop.

[tysmom]

Thanks, guys for the help. It took 14 drops before it was red and did not increase in redness. The pool is cloudy, but is clearing. I'm assuming once the CYA stablizes the chlorine and it quit evaporates during the day that it will clear. Ideas?

[waterbear]

If the 14th drop turned it red and the 15th didn't change the color then you have 140 ppm TA which is fine for a vinyl pool.

[tysmom]

Great! :) Thanks!