new pool glad i found this forum

[udg21]

i will do the sock method i didnt want to do a cya test till i know some is there all i have added to the pool since opening is bleach and 2 or 3 1 inch chlorine tablets in the first couple of days till i found this forum

[Watermom]

I agree that you shouldn't waste the CYA reagents by doing a test yet. I should have been more specific. Run the chlorine tests and pH and alk. Post those numbers.

Using an old sock to add CYA is fine. Just don't let the kids play with it.

[udg21]

ok thanks

[udg21]

help ok i disolved the sock of cya, i tested and says
must have no chlorine the test never turned pink
the ph was under 7 done the demand test and took 10 drops to turn ph purple
total alk test says 50 ppm

went ahead and added 16 oz of bleach waited 10 minutesand added a 30 oz cup of borax

[Watermom]

How much CYA did you put in the sock? And, on the Borax, did you put in 30 oz. or a cup?

Adding 2 cups (16oz.) of bleach will only add a little less than 2ppm of chlorine. (Each cup will add approximately 0.8ppm -- a little under 1ppm.) That is not enough and will be gone fast. Test your chlorine level morning and evening and each time, add enough bleach to get the chlorine level back up to 6. After about 3 or 4 days, you should be able to go to just testing in the evenings only and then also you'll want to add however much bleach you need to get back to 6ppm of chlorine.

Wait about 4 days before doing the CYA test. Don't worry about the alk right now.

[udg21]

i added roughly a pound and a half to the sock and after an hour kept squeezing it till it disolved.
i added the borax with a 30 oz cup roughly a quarter box. (i am using a hospital cup marked by the oz.)

[Watermom]

A pound and a half of CYA was a good amount. It should add about 40ppm of CYA which would be a good level.

Add more bleach this evening and then test again in the morning as I mentioned in a previous post. Also, test pH in the morning as well. Report back in the morning. Looks like you are doing well.

[udg21]

ok
3.6 fc
.4 cc
7 ph
took 5 drops for base demand test to get 7.6
added 16 oz bleach.

should i also add another 30 oz cup of borax?

[Watermom]

Yes. Add more borax.

[BigDave]

One note: I see from your chlorine readings (3.6ppm FC and 0.4ppm CC) that you are probably using the 25ml sample size for your chlorine tests (multiply drop count by 0.2ppm). You can save your testing reagents by using the 10ml sample (multiply drop count by 0.5ppm). 0.5ppm is plenty acccurate enough to run a pool. Another way to conserve your test reagents is to use 1 dipper of DPD poweder instead of two - if the sample turns pink, you have plenty of powder.