New Pool Owner

[bobcat]

First, thank you for this forum. I just registered for 1 year...the least I can do for the info I have already received from just one day.
We just bought a house in the country with a 15x30 above ground pool, and I know nothing about pools (well...not until yesterday after I spent several hours here). Pool looked great when we moved in about a month ago and I have not done much maintenance. Added chlorine pucks and a little vacuuming. We had a big storm other day and lots of leaves and dirt got in pool. Went 2 days without tending to it and...well it was pretty ugly. A nice shade of green! So, after reading here yesterday I went home last night scrubbed walls and vacuumed really good. I also tested for the first time. Chlorine was at the last mark .5, and Ph was below last mark 6.8. So I added 4 gal. of bleach, waited half hour and added 1 box of 20 mule team (4 lbs), turned pump to run all night, and went to bed. This morning I was amazed! It is nor crystal clear, but it looks 100% better already. Tested this morning and the Chlorine was off the chart. I assume that is ok after adding all that bleach??? And that with the direct sun and 104 temp all day that will come down pretty fast??? The ph however was still at the 6.8 range. My question is do I add another box of borax, or wait a day or so???
Thanks, Robert

[bobcat]

Also, I forgot to mention: Did the TA test and when I added th 5 drops it went straight to red, never even saw the green. What does this mean?

[Watermom]

Hi Bobcat and welcome to the forum. What is the volume of your pool? We really need some good testing numbers to be able to help. I'm assuming that your chlorine tester only goes to either 3 or 5. It is a good idea to invest in a good kit. We like the Taylor K-2006. It will pay for itself in no time.

I have a feeling that your CYA is probably high from using the trichlor pucks and it has also dropped your pH. If your pH is still showing 6.8, go ahead and add another box of Borax. It may be much lower than 6.8 since that is as low as the tester will read. From another post written by one of our members who sells Taylor reagent refills, he states that when doing the TA test, if the indicator turns immediately red (as opposed to green) then the pH is less than or equal to 4.5. After you add the Borax, wait 2 or 3 hours and then retest. If the pH is still low, add more Borax.

You need to get the pH up ASAP! Repost with a full set of numbers. You may (until you get a better test kit) have to have it tested at a pool store, but just don't let them talk you into buying anything.

BTW -- Thanks for becoming a subscriber and supporting the forum. Also, instead of starting a new thread, just reply to this one so we can keep all your info in one place. (I merged your two threads.)

[bobcat]

OK, Thanks. I will add another box of borax tonight, also...should I start aerating?

[Watermom]

Sure. Go ahead and aerate but also keep adding Borax until you get pH above 7.0. Don't have to wait more than 2 or 3 hours between additions. If pH is as low as yours is likely to be, you want to raise it ASAP! Anything below 7.0 is acidic and can damage your pool. Hope this isn't the case in your situation.

[bobcat]

OK. Got home. Tested. Ph still off the chart low, and Chlorine still off the chart high. Guess I added a little too much bleach. Added another box of borax and started aerating. Will test again in 2 hours and post.

[bobcat]

Also, tested the fill water and the ph is 7.2

[aylad]

Hi! Welcome to the forum, and thanks very much for your subscription!
Don't worry about the chlorine, it will come down on its own soon enough with the weather we're having. At least you know the algae should be dead!! Keep the filter running until your water clears up, since the chlorine kills the algae, but the filter is what removes it from the pool.

Regarding the pH, having a pH that low is a major priority. I don't know where you are in Texas, but with the fill pH being higher than 7.0, would it be cheaper and easier to drain/refill a good bit of your water? That should also lower the CYA, which you haven't posted yet but I'm sure is pretty high. What type of test kit are you using, and could you post a full set of numbers?

Janet

[bobcat]

Tested 2 hours after adding the second box of borax, ph still below 6.8; added another box of borax. Tested this morning and ph still below 6.8! Do I keep adding the borax? How much is too much?

[aylad]

Do I keep adding the borax? How much is too much?

Yes,keep adding it--it's too much when your pH goes over 8.0--seriously!!

Having a pH below 7.0 can do some significant damage to your vinyl, so it's critical that you get it above 7.0 ASAP--so whatever amount of Borax it takes to do so, that's the correct amount.

You have already removed the remaining trichlor pucks, right? If not, then you need to do so--that's your major culprit for the low pH.

Janet