opening pool - water test results

[mike_311]

trying to figure out how low to drain. what level of CYA am i shooting for?

[PoolDoc]

Well, based on your results, you should have a final level of about 50 ppm, if you drain your pool to the 3/4 empty point, and then refill. 50 ppm is a good level to use with bleach, if you want to operate conventionally.

[mike_311]

i dont want to take it down too far because if the vinyl liner. there was about 3' of water in it if i take it down to a foot and refill full with with the 4' or so of water that should put me at about 50ppm.

its about 18" deep now so a few more hours and i'll start the refill.

what this first step after that?

set the ph? what value?

add chlorine? how much?

[Watermom]

With a CYA of around 50, you want to keep the chlorine level between 3-6 all the time. If you dip below that, you risk an algae bloom. In this size pool, each quart of 6% bleach will add 2ppm of chlorine. Use that as a reference to help you determine how much bleach to add. Each evening, you'll want to test pH and chlorine. At that time, add enough chlorine to get the level back to 6ppm.

While you are refilling it, go ahead and add a little bleach. Every foot of water added, add a quart of bleach. By the time you have it filled up, that should be about a 3 quart jug having been added which should take you to about 6ppm.

With a CYA of 50, you won't want to use any forms of stabilized chlorine, meaning no trichlor pucks nor dichlor shock powder or else your CYA will continue to rise.

Although not critical, you may want to lower your alk a little to get it between 80-120 or so. Read about this process here: Lowering Alkalinity Step-by-Step


Also, read the "using muriatic acid safely" link in my signature below.

[mike_311]

btw, thanks you so much for this forum. i really appreciate all the advice.

my wife picked up a few bottles of Clorox (6%) is that ok or do i want something else? i realize that it not be the most cost effective brand, but that's what she got when i said plain 6% bleach

so are there any chlorine tabs i can use or am i keeping the pool chlorinated with bleach only?

[Watermom]

Clorox is fine but just more expensive. Most of us use generic from Walmart. Just make sure to get unscented plain bleach. The tabs are stabilized, so you don't want to use them. So is most bagged shock powder. Best to just stick with bleach.

Glad the forum has been helpful to you. That is why we are here!

[mike_311]

what about the ph, is it ok at 7.4 or should i raise or lower it a little?