First Spring pool start up

[HollyClo]

Hi everyone! Hope you all had a good winter We have just opened our pool....added some bleach today. Due to it being a nasty brown/green color. On top of the bleach...my dear husband insisted we add some algaecide. (Polyquat 60) He put an entire bottle in there!! That is why I am the one who normally runs the pool. But I'm 9 months pregnant and trying to stay away from chemicals. So...after all that. I've tested all our levels. Here is what I've come up with:
FC-18.5 ppm CC-2.5ppm PH-7.6 Alkalinity-100ppm (This is crazy high right?!?) CYA- Less than 30...it was cloudy...so there must be some in there...but crazy low. Please help me get this stuff on the right track!! I'd like to get it all clear and ready to go before this baby gets here!! I really appreciate all your help!

~Holly

[PoolDoc]

Sounds pretty normal to me, for chlorinating a slimy pool. The alkalinity is NOT too high; don't worry about it. I'm a little concerned about the missing CYA; that may be a problem, but we'll find out later.

Meanwhile,

1. add a box of borax, to kick the pH up -- in case the CYA is missing and the pool has ammonia. Things go better at a higher pH in that case, and won't go worse
2. watch your filter pressure; Pleatco cartridges aren't the best, and if you let too much pressure build up, it will damage the cartridge.
(Clean it, check the gauge, and then clean it AGAIN when the pressure has increased 6 - 8 lbs. Do NOT let it increase more than 10lbs!!)
3. Polyquat will help filter the algae.
4. Add 2 gallon doses of plain 6% bleach each evening if the FC is below 10 ppm. BRUSH the pool after adding the bleach.

Otherwise, just keep going.

You may want to check and see if you have access to a Sams Club in your area that carries PoolBrand dichlor. They have it at my wholesale cost, and if you need to chlorinate AND add CYA, that's very inexpensive way to do it.

I understand the concern about chemicals, but if you are using the things you need right now -- bleach, borax, polyquat -- you are WAY safer at the pool messing with those, than you are doing your nails! Human toxicity of those three is quite low -- even if you eat them, but do NOT do that !

[HollyClo]

Thanks PoolDoc. I have a box of borax, do I add it through the skimmer than? I've never added any to the pool before. The PH always seemed to be good to go. I'll be keeping an eye on the filter gauge. Thank you for the heads up there. Going out to check filter now actually And I don't paint my nails or color my hair while pregnant lol. I'm not to crazy concerned about the chemicals...just like to stay away if possible.

[PoolDoc]

Just add it slowly, through the skimmer, with the pump running.

[HollyClo]

This morning test: 5/7/2012-
FC- 8 ppm
CC- 2 ppm
PH- 7.8
Alkalinity-110

Do I wait to add more bleach to it at night? Or should I add it now? We have a rain storm coming...will that mess up all my levels? And do I need to add more Borax to bring my PH a bit higher? Thanks!!

[PoolDoc]

The only impact rain has is people tend to stop caring for their pools -- don't do that; you'll lose the ground you've gained. PH is OK, otherwise as you were:

2. watch your filter pressure; Pleatco cartridges aren't the best, and if you let too much pressure build up, it will damage the cartridge.
(Clean it, check the gauge, and then clean it AGAIN when the pressure has increased 6 - 8 lbs. Do NOT let it increase more than 10lbs!!)
3. Polyquat will help filter the algae.
4. Add 2 gallon doses of plain 6% bleach each evening if the FC is below 10 ppm. BRUSH the pool after adding the bleach.

Maintain that process for a couple of days, then retest fully and post your results and pool condition.

[HollyClo]

Thank you again PoolDoc. I'll keep that going till the end of the week. Then post results It's looking better already this morning!!

[HollyClo]

my FC is down to 2.5 ppm tonight. Should I still only add 2 gallons? Or should I try to bring it up to 10ppm?

[PoolDoc]

2 gallons should be fine, with stabilizer as low as you have. But, 3 won't hurt.

[HollyClo]

Ok...I've been MIA for a bit now...pool looks GREAT! But...my PH is down to 7.0. How much borax will I need to raise that up to 7.6-7.8 ? I've put one box in tonight already...but I have 3 more on stand by. Should I just put one box in per night till I get the levels up were they need to be?

Oh...and should I start adding my stabilizer now? How much is normal for stabilizer? I'm printing this page after all this so that I know what to do next year after opening