StuckiTribe
06-11-2010, 12:14 PM
We are first time pool owners of 5 children, who are anxiously awaiting their first swim in the pool that was put in last Thursday. We bought a 27' above ground pool (16,500 gallons). We were told to not use it for 5 days to let the bottom settle to not get footprints in it, so once the five days were passed and the pool was filled, we took the first water sample to the pool store (who totally messed up our installation, so I am not very happy or trusting of them at this point, hence finding this forum). They told us our start up chemicals to get the pool up and running were included with the pool- which was totally not the case once we got there with our water sample and they wanted me to buy approximately $300 in pool chemicals!! They recommend Pristine Blue, which we have family and friends that use and are happy with and we also had planned to use.
Back to the water sample....
We filled the pool with well water.
Our first results from the pool store were:
16,500 gallons:
alkalinity (it doesn't say TA) parameters 50-90 measured 260
pH level parameters 7.2-7.6 measured 7.7
Calcium Hardness parameters 100-300 measured 117
Copper measured .01
They told me to add 5 gallons of muriatic acid to lower the alkalinity over 3 days- 2 gallons a day for 2 days and 1 gallon the last day, and no swimming. Then add 32 oz. of Pristine Check and backwash the filter after 24 hours. This was included in the start up package.
Then there is a schedule of every other week of chlorine and non-chlorine and Pristine Blue for the copper level. I am totally confused. When they gave me the prices of the Scorch, non-chlorine shock, Clear, Blue, and Clean to purchase to use for the every other week thing, that's what was what I felt was so expensive and in no way could we have "started up" our pool on the chemicals given to us.
So, I put in 2 gallons of muriatic acid yesterday (diluted with 4 gallons of water in a 5 gallon bucket as I had read on here- thank you!) We bought 2 more to do today. I am trying to relay and print off information for my husband, but we really do want to start our pool off right if we are not going to follow the Pristine Blue thing, and hello, the kids just want to freaking swim! :)
I have read several posts by CarlD and WaterMom regarding pool chemistry and have found the pool calculator. I guess my question is really, what do we do now? Thanks for your help!
Back to the water sample....
We filled the pool with well water.
Our first results from the pool store were:
16,500 gallons:
alkalinity (it doesn't say TA) parameters 50-90 measured 260
pH level parameters 7.2-7.6 measured 7.7
Calcium Hardness parameters 100-300 measured 117
Copper measured .01
They told me to add 5 gallons of muriatic acid to lower the alkalinity over 3 days- 2 gallons a day for 2 days and 1 gallon the last day, and no swimming. Then add 32 oz. of Pristine Check and backwash the filter after 24 hours. This was included in the start up package.
Then there is a schedule of every other week of chlorine and non-chlorine and Pristine Blue for the copper level. I am totally confused. When they gave me the prices of the Scorch, non-chlorine shock, Clear, Blue, and Clean to purchase to use for the every other week thing, that's what was what I felt was so expensive and in no way could we have "started up" our pool on the chemicals given to us.
So, I put in 2 gallons of muriatic acid yesterday (diluted with 4 gallons of water in a 5 gallon bucket as I had read on here- thank you!) We bought 2 more to do today. I am trying to relay and print off information for my husband, but we really do want to start our pool off right if we are not going to follow the Pristine Blue thing, and hello, the kids just want to freaking swim! :)
I have read several posts by CarlD and WaterMom regarding pool chemistry and have found the pool calculator. I guess my question is really, what do we do now? Thanks for your help!