New here with my readings

[kwickimom]

Just filled up our 18 x 48 intex pool. 5455 gallons. Using a 6 way HTH drop test kit from walmart. I will order better kit shortly.

PH 8.2
CL 2
TA 50
TH 70
CYA 0

Also... it will be sunny tomorrow and its supposed to rain from sat to next wednesday. Will this affect alot and should I cover or not cover? I have read until I get blurry eyed here, but still am confused and just wanted to get my own thread and specifics. Thanks so much, This site is a godsend!

I did buy stabilizer, and the 3 B's

[Watermom]

Go ahead and add some bleach to take the cl level to about 6 or so. In this size pool, each quart of 6% bleach will add about 2.7ppm. Use that as a reference to help you figure out how much bleach to add each time you test. You'll have to test and add bleach a couple of times per day for the first week or so until you get some CYA in there. After a week, you should be able to go to testing and adding bleach in the evenings only.

Go ahead and add about 1-1/2 lbs of the stabilizer. Put it in a sock and tie it in front of the return jet and keep the pump running 24/7 until it dissolves. That amount should take your CYA level to about 35ppm. (Give the sock a squeeze a couple times per day to help it dissolve faster.)

Your pH needs to come down. Add a little muriatic acid in front of the return jet. Wear gloves, glasses, be upwind of fumes, pour bottle very close to pool surface to avoid splashing. I'd add about a half a cup. Several hours later, retest pH and redose if needed. Try to get the pH between 7.2-7.8. (Move the sock of CYA out of the way while you add this.)

[kwickimom]

I did what you said and restested today.
Ph 7.2
CL 5
I will wait and test CYA in a few more days.

Should I keep my CL at 6 (well my test only goes to 5) until I can see what my CYA is?
Also....can you point to the thread that has that chart as to what to have your CL levels at depending on your CYA. Should CYA stay then or will I have to keep testing that?

thanks!!

[aylad]

Keep your chlorine level between 3 and 6 at all times until you have some CYA registering in the water. The link to the CYA/chlorine chart (aka "best guess table") is in my sig.

Once the CYA is in the water, you don't need to test for it more than monthly or so, unless you're using stabilized products in the pool. Once the CYA is there, the only way it's going to decrease is through splashout or frequent backwashes.

Janet

[Yeggim]

Here ya go. Scroll down to the chart:

Ben's Best Guess* Guide to Swimming Pool Chlorine
version 2.0

A Chlorine level of 5 or 6 is fine. Keep an eye on your PH. I'd dump 2 cups of Borax in to bring it up to 7.5

[Watermom]

kwickimom ---

Are you able to see the blue links in my signature below? The reason I ask is that we are finding that some new members can't see them and we are having to do some tweaking on the admin side to enable that for them.

Your pH is ok at 7.2. Since you just added acid to lower it, I wouldn't add any borax just yet. Give it some time. As long as it doesn't drop lower it is fine. If it does, then Yeggin is correct in saying that you'll need to add a little Borax.

[Yeggim]

Thanks Watermom, you're right. It's better to wait. I figured with a TA of 50 she might go lower than 7.2 PH.