New Pool - Chemical Start-Up

[sublimity]

Edited my signature - let me know if I need to add more info.
I have a tendency to ramble, so I'll try to keep this short and to the point.

New pool chemical start up. Just got it filled 3 days ago. I test each evening and keep a log.
I have been very strapped for cash and doing what I can.

6-30-11
TH ppm: 200
FC: 0
pH: 7.2
TA: 120
CYA: 0 ADDED 1 LB. OF SHOCK & 40 OZ. LIQUID STABALIZER

7-1-11
TH ppm: 200
FC: 0
pH: 6.8
TA: 120
CYA: 0 DIDN'T HAVE ANYTHING TO ADD

7-2-11 (early morning)
TH ppm: 200
FC: 0
pH: 7.2
TA: 180
CYA: 0 ADDED 64 OZ. CYA STABALIZER (GRANULATED) TO SKIMMER


Using the BBB method to the best of my ability, and using the pool calculator.
My questions are:

1. I know I need to add more cya, but when will I see my levels go up? Aiming for 80ppm (live in Texas -currently 107 degrees)
2. Do I add bleach in the meantime even though it won't stay?
3. About how much will I have to add each day before the cya is up?
4. Don't I need to get my cya and pH correct before adding chlorine?

I'll take any advise.

5. Oh - and I was planning on adding just a little diatomaceous earth to my filter to help with smaller particles. Ok?
6. Should I be using di-chor instead of bleach? I read about someone using that.

Thanks again. Really counting on all your experience to get me through this pool season. Learning all I can.

[PoolDoc]

+ If you just filled your pool, and the water is clear, don't mess with the DE.
+ Run your pump 24/7 and try to avoid cleaning your filter for 3 days, so the CYA can dissolve. You should have enough, once it does.
+ Add 1 gallon of bleach tonight (~ 8 ppm) and then 1/2 gallon every following night unless your chlorine level is above 3 ppm
+ Don't worry about your TA (alkalinity) or TH (hardness).
+ Start swimming as soon as you've had a chlorine level for 1 hour. (If you swim today, just put in 1/2 gallon now, and the rest this evening.)

[sublimity]

Okay, I've been running the pump/filter 24/7 and adding 1/2 gal. bleach in the evening. My readings are still the same. No cya. I used the HTH brand before I read on this site about it. What should I do? The water is very clear, but I need to get it to hold chlorine...

[Watermom]

What is the total amount of CYA you have added and how did you add it? Until you get a CYA reading, you'll need to add bleach morning and evening. Each time you test, add enough bleach to get back up to about 6. In a 14,600 gallon pool, each quart of 6% bleach will add about 1ppm of chlorine to the pool. After you get a CYA reading, you can go to testing and adding bleach in the evenings only.

[sublimity]

These were the steps I followed after I posted my original question. I added a gallon after I posted and before I read PoolDoc's answer, so I've just been adding 1/2 gal. each night since. I originally added 40oz. of liquid stabilizer (I should say 'instant conditioner' to the skimmer basket, but it was old and a bit congealed at the bottom. I didn't have the money to go buy stabilizer that day. I also added a 1lb. package of shock I had. That too was old. 2 days later I added 64oz. of granulated HTH stabalizer to the skimmer basket. I haven't cleaned my filter since, but I have checked it. I am pretty sure (although I am obviously no expert) it all dissolved. So, it has been 3 days since I added the 'good' stabilizer. Using the pool calculator, I see that I should add a total of 156 oz. of stabilizer to get to the 80ppm that I am looking for. I understand that the crummy 40oz I added in the beginning may not have done any good, but I would think I would get a reading of some kind by now. I was wondering if my test strips were bad, but went by the pool store and had them test it. They were out of the cya regent, but their other numbers were pretty close to mine, so I have to assume I'm pretty accurate. I will be getting the test kit from your link - just not right now. I am doing the best I can.

So, should I get a reading of 3 or 6 for my FC?
I should be adding a gallon of 6% bleach in the morning and a gallon in the evening?
Should I add more cya, and what brand should I be using? I read on the forum about HTH's brand only after I had bought it and added it to the pool.
My pool is really clear right now, but I am getting a bit nervous about it staying that way... Thanks.

[Watermom]

When you add a gallon in the morning, what is your chlorine reading in the evening? If it is all gone, then you need to add more in the morning and take it a little higher --- maybe 1-1/2 gallons which would take you up to 6. In the morning when you test, add enough bleach to get back up to 6ppm.

Give it 2 more days before adding more CYA. You are probably right that it should be dissolved by now, but you really don't want too much in there. So, if you go ahead now and add more and then a couple of days from now get a too high reading, you'll wish you didn't add more. So, give it just a little more time just to be safe. I have no idea what affect age has on CYA. ?????

For now, just work to maintain chlorine between 3-6 and pH between 7.2-7.8 and a couple of days from, get the CYA retested and post the reading and then we'll go from there.

[sublimity]

I'll get some more bleach and do what you suggest. After I added the full gallon the other day, I checked an hour after and still had FC of 0. That could be my test strips though.

I just read another post below mine that indicated FC being affected by algae growth... I know I have clear water now, but I suppose it could be forming.

At this point, is it more cost effective to use bleach, or should I go for some other commercial chlorine product? I am afraid that I am limited to what Wal-mart sells until Friday.

I'll just keep adding bleach for now. Thanks for the help. I get it tested by the store this weekend and get back to you.

[Watermom]

I would just use bleach if it were me. Unlike other forms of chlorine, it won't cause cloudy water and doesn't add other sometimes unwanted stuff.

[sublimity]

Okay, you guys are super. Thanks for all your help. I went to the pool store again last night to get the cya tested and found that my test strips just don't work right. My new readings are:

fac: 3
tac: 3
pH: 7.6
ta: 100
cya: 40
calcium hardness: 150
tds: 300
phosphates: 0

So, I am guessing that everything is good. Looks good. If you have any advice, I'd love to hear it. Thanks again!

[PoolDoc]

Test strips NEVER work right, except as sort of "Is there some, or is there none?" guess-strips.

Order a K2006 -- link below, make sure Amazon 'seller' is Amato Ind; some others have shipped K2005's; K2006C costs 35% more, but has 3x as many tests.

Other than that, your readings look good. Just maintain that, and you should be fine. Do remember to monitor your CYA, and adjust your chlorine levels up as your CYA goes up. (See Best Guess page in my signature for "how-to").