Pool Opening - PS234 Test

[rhosk]

It is fine to broadcast the Borax. However, it is also fine to add it to the skimmer. It will dissolve immediately and quickly be dispersed in the pool water, so even if you do have to backwash, you won't lose it. (Cya doesn't dissolve immediately, it sits in the filter for several days dissolving slowly. So, it does get backwashed out, but the same is not true for Borax.)

Thank you ... good to know!

New numbers a few hours later (after 2 lbs borax) -

PH - 7.2
FC - 10 (I think we're killing some stuff)
CC - @ .5 (maybe a bit less now - makes some sense)

Shall I just run the pump all night and check chlorine in the AM?

And, should I raise the PH a bit more? ie, 1 more lb of borax?

Then I'll test all numbers again mid-day tomorrow. I won't budge until I hear something here.

[Watermom]

If it were my pool, I'd add a little more Borax and aim for 7.4-7.6. I also think, if it is practical for you, that I would retest chlorine later tonight and add more bleach to raise it back up to 10 and then do the same thing again in the morning. The key to killing algae is to sustain the high chlorine reading and not let it yo-yo up and down. While fighting algae, we usually advise testing 3x a day and each time raising the cl back up to shock level - which in your case, for now, is 10ppm. Run the pump 24/7 while you are working to clear the pool.

[rhosk]

OK, I checked my numbers this morning and my PH shot up for some reason

FC - 14
CC - < .5
TC - @14.5

PH - > 8.2 ?
Alk - 110

Maybe the bleach added the extra PH? Should I apply a bit of muriatic acic? If so, how much? A quart to start?

The water is looking a little better, but I still need to vac some more.

[Watermom]

Double check your ph reading. If it truly is that high, then yes, you should add some muriatic acid.

[rhosk]

Thanks again. Got it down to between 7.5 - 7.6.

FC - 11
CC - < .5
TC - @ 11.5
Alk - 110

Still filtering/vacuuming. Even when I'm not vacuuming, I have to backwash every 20-30 minutes or so. Lots of dirt.

Thanks for everything thus far!

[rhosk]

PH - 7.6
Alk - 90

FC - 8.5
CC - 0
TC - 8.5

Took cover off:



10 minutes later with initial 'shock':



Day 2:



End of Day 2:



10 minutes ago (day 3 - AM) after vacuum/brush



This is the final:



Even a drastic difference from the last one above. All of my numbers are perfect (MO) and I'm using up some pucks from last season to start getting my CYA up. Other than that, it was bleach (@7 gal.) and 1 box of borax for my opening 'stuff'. A far cry from past years 'kits' from the local pool store ... done with that


Thanks everyone! Couldn't have done that without this forum or the PS234!

[rhosk]

I couldn't edit the original posts, so I revived this old thread and fixed the links.

My pool is still going strong after all these years and still using the BBB method exclusively. Added solar panels, had the liner and pump replaced.

Just opened mine about 2 weeks ago with about the same results as those pics.