New Member, yucky pool

[sunlove]

Sounds like you will need to soften your water but that is something I know very little about because I don't have hardness. Think that is why PoolDoc suggested you purchase the washing soda...I am sure he is onto something.

[Old Bat]

Thank you for your replies.

Could somebody tell me how much CYA to add? I've had it in a sock for days and days. Did the test today and the sample is clear all the way up the tube. I'm new to this, sorry. So I think I should put a startup dose of it in. What do you recommend for 5K gallons?

I only have the yellow chlorine test and keeping it up but have to keep adding chlorine so feel I should put some more CYA.

We had some hard rain since startup. PH is 7.2 now. Haven't retested for ALK or hardness yet.

[Watermom]

How much stabilizer did you put in the sock and how much of it would you guess is still in there? [And, where did you locate the sock? Is it in FRONT of the place where water comes back into the pool? PoolDoc ]

How often are you adding chlorine and how much are you adding at a time? Are you using bleach for your source of chlorine?

[PoolDoc]

Please record any new test results with the form below:

Pool History Entry Form for old bat
Pool History Results for old bat

Also, if you'd enter your pool information here:

Pool Chart Entry Form
Pool Chart Results

Those extreme alkalinity and calcium levels will be hard to work with. We can probably work out a process to clean them up, but it will take a little bit of doing -- and some good info.

Please do all these things:

+ List, by exact brand and product name, the chemicals you have on hand.
+ Complete the pool info chart (second set of links). Your actual pool gallons are about 4,900 & PF=24
+ Tell me if you have access to Arm and Hammer Washing Soda, at Walmart of where-ever.
+ Don't worry too much about stabilizer right now.
+ Keep your pool from getting slimed by adding 1/4 gallon each EVENING.

[Old Bat]

Hi Pool Doc,

I want to retest tomorrow for the alk and calcium. Still seems like those numbers are impossible. And I still only have the 6 way kit from WalMart. Don't think I can afford $87 yet for the Taylor 2006. Would ordering just the FAS DPD kit alone work out? And with the 6 way I only get enough reagent for 2 CYA tests, so could order more of that reagent while I'm at it.

As far as chemicals on hand.

I have the HTH stabilizer/conditioner
Bleach
20 Mule Team Borax
Muriatic Acid
Baking Soda

Last years pool chemical leftovers, (I will have to get back to you on this, they are out in the dark dangerous deck box, will inventory when it's light out)

Now I can't fill out these forms completely just yet without the proper test kits. I will attempt it, but not sure of how it works, will it save it somehow? And our pump gauge is busted, so I go by feel on the return jet.

[Old Bat]

Oh Ben, yes I can get washing soda. And what does PF=24 refer to? Sorry for lameness.

[PoolDoc]

It's a factor for calculating your chemical doses. For example, stabilizer is usually 100% concentration, so 1 lb of stabilizer will add 24 ppm of CYA to your pool. And, a gallon of 6% bleach has about 1/2 pound of chlorine gas (100%!) in it, so a gallon of bleach will add about 12 ppm of chlorine (24 x 0.5) to your pool.

[BigDave]

Not lame. PF is Ben's sizing shorthand for pools. It is the number of your pools required to make a milion pounds of water.

This facilitates quick dosing calculations. An easy example:

1 lb granular stabilizer
x 100% Stabilizer available in granular stabilizer
x 24 Your pool factor
======
24ppm stabilizer added to yur pool by adding 1lb granular stabilizer

[Old Bat]

Hello,

Well I'm using that HTH purple cap stabilizer. And I only put in 9oz. per the cap measure. Didn't want to put too much. Today I was kind of milking the sock to get more into the water. I am so confused all the time. The more I read the worse it seems to get!

And so far we are just using plain store bleach 6%. I've added about 3 1/2 gals. No, wait those are only 96oz. bottles. I started with 1 1/2 gals and add about 1/2 gal every couple days. I still have a lot of shock left from last year, but don't know if I should use some of that or not. I think Ben said to just use the bleach.