Newbie first test results. Some questions?

First off....great site!!! I have been reading the forums for a few days now and have learned a bunch. I only have the Intex 18' x 48" but am planning on getting a nice AG some time down the road. Any way...here are my numbers taken with the Taylor K-2006C.

PH - 7.0 - I added some Borax about 1 hour ago to raise this a little.
FC - 12 ppm - I have been adding more bleach each nite trying to get a good shock so I new this would be higher. I did not realize that my CYA was as high as it is. I was using the strips prior to the Taylor and they were not even close to accurate.
CC - .5 ppm
CYA - 75
Alk - 160
Temp - 88

I am in Texas and the pool is in direct sun light.

My water is fairly clear, but I do see some small particles at night which I would love to get rid of.
I have read about putting nylon stocking on the skimmer to catch the smaller particles, but do not know if this does help. I am currently running my pump 24/7 while adding bleach each night and brushing the pool daily. I now know I need to raise my Cholorine level much higher to get the correct shock level for my CYA (per the calcualtor)

Any suggestions on what I could do to clear things up would be appreciated.

Also...should I consider lowering my CYA level or stick with the 75?

Thanks for your help.

Sounds like you have a pretty good understanding of things. It is hard to get every fine floating particle out of the water. I am not familiar with the filtration system on these Intex pools. Maybe someone who is more familiar can offer an opinion. The skimmer socks, (or old nylon stocking) can help catch some of the finer stuff. As far as the cya level, it is pretty much a matter of opinion about doing a partial drain to lower your cya level or just living with it at 75. I like mine around 40, but if you maintain adequate chlorine levels, you can live with it at 75. Some people (like Janet - aylad) deliberately run higher cya levels. She lives in Louisiana and also has the hot sun. For her pool, having the higher cya makes it easier to keep chlorine in her pool.

CYA...how do you think it got that high? Are you using the pucks? I think if your supply water is "free" I would consider dumping about a 1/3 of the pool and refilling..but that is not "needed", as you can work with a CYA of 75 if you SYOP using the pucks and switch to clorox. You will want to find the shock value for your pool and get it there for a few days in order to get rid of the CC. I am guessing 12 is not high enough, and I am sure someone will be along soon to give you the numbers to shoot for. You also want to lower the alk...have you read the alk sticky? I would keep the PH down around 7 and aerate the pool for a week and I bet that will lower the alk.

all in all though the numbers look pretty decent...and these guys will be able to dial you in.

Thanks for the replies. I am using bleach now, but I did fall into the puck trap early on. As for the Alk levels...I was under the impression that this number was ok with my type of pool. May be wrong though. I am going to run my shock level at 20ppm per the calculator. I mentioned in my first post that I had been using the dip sticks for testing and it was way off on my actual CYA so that is why it is at 12ppm. Now that I know my levels and I am going to get up to around 20ppm.

Thanks again.

An owner after my own heart! I had an Intex 15'x3' and bought Ben's PS-232 for it! The 2006c is functionally the same kit.

With the little Intex filter cart and tiny filter, it's very hard to get the water that polished look. You can't add DE, there's probably no place for skimmer socks and your only options I see are a SlimeBag on the return or a better filter.

You know your numbers! You don't need MY advice on them.

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Originally Posted by CarlD

An owner after my own heart! I had an Intex 15'x3' and bought Ben's PS-232 for it! The 2006c is functionally the same kit.

With the little Intex filter cart and tiny filter, it's very hard to get the water that polished look. You can't add DE, there's probably no place for skimmer socks and your only options I see are a SlimeBag on the return or a better filter.

You know your numbers! You don't need MY advice on them.

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Thanks Carl. What is a slimeBag? I have seen it in several posts, but not quite sure what it does.

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Originally Posted by mjs31

Thanks Carl. What is a slimeBag? I have seen it in several posts, but not quite sure what it does.

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Sells you chemicals you don't need!!!!!:D


No, it's a product that you attach to the return and it super-filters the water. I believe it's very similar to the Dolphin or Aquabot cleaning bags.

You'll have to GOOGLE it to find it--add swimming pools to your search if you don't want some unrelated and unpleasant (or at least indecent) reponses.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by CarlD

Sells you chemicals you don't need!!!!!:D


No, it's a product that you attach to the return and it super-filters the water. I believe it's very similar to the Dolphin or Aquabot cleaning bags.

You'll have to GOOGLE it to find it--add swimming pools to your search if you don't want some unrelated and unpleasant (or at least indecent) reponses.

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Too funny:D

I did a google search and found a few sites. Will this work with the intex pool system? Could not quite see how it connects, but this is something I would be interested in.

I can't answer that--you now know more about it than I do!

I'm not so good at giving advice as I usually need advice, but I have the same size pool Intex metal frame. I read on here to put a stocking held in place with a rubber band inside the skimmer. i tried that but it kept floating up, so I put over the outside of the basket that goes in the skimmer. It works. Picks up fine stuff. Have to clean mine at least once a day tho. I use a ladies knee high stocking and if on the outside of basket you don't need a rubber band.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Gladys

I'm not so good at giving advice as I usually need advice, but I have the same size pool Intex metal frame. I read on here to put a stocking held in place with a rubber band inside the skimmer. i tried that but it kept floating up, so I put over the outside of the basket that goes in the skimmer. It works. Picks up fine stuff. Have to clean mine at least once a day tho. I use a ladies knee high stocking and if on the outside of basket you don't need a rubber band.

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Thanks. I tried that quickly last night and could not get suction. I think it may have been another issue though. I just drained 1/2 my pool and am now going back with in with the water. Trying to get my CYA down a little and some other things.

Well I ended up draining half the pool and redoing. Now is crystal clear and the following using BBB

CYA- 35
PH - 7.4
FC - 5
CC - 0

Have not checked Alk yet

Don't add any baking soda to raise the alk until you test your alk level first.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Watermom

Don't add any baking soda to raise the alk until you test your alk level first.

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Thanks mom. I was not going to since my reading prior to draining was really high.

Ok...Alk came down from my earlier 160.

Current

Alk - 120

Alk of 120 is just fine.