New pool owner, here are my numbers

[famdog]

Hello all.
I have a 24' AG (13,500 gal) with a sand filter and chlorine feeder inline filled with dichlor tabs set at max. I opened the pool last weekend, and spent 2 days fixing a cracked skimmer and superchlorinating to remove an algae bloom from the winter. The water is looking much better and I vacuumed this AM for the first time. I'm colorblind, so the water test kits are VERY hard for me to use, so I brought a sample to Leslie's for a test. Here are the results:

FAC=3
TAC=3
ph=6.0
TA=0
Cal hardness=160
CYA=100
TDS=475
phosphates=0

I had a pail of soda ash at home, so I put in 3# after the test. Leslie's suggested I add 10.5# in total, in 3 stages, 4 hours apart. They also suggested adding 6# of hardness plus tomorrow.

I bought some Conditioner (CYA) when I was there, I am ready to be converted to a walmart buying bleach head ASAP!

Please show me the path to clear water and cheap chemicals...

[JohnT]

Don't add the hardness and don't add any CYA. I doubt your TA was zero, so you're kind of on your own without knowing it. Maybe if it is full of rainwater?? Get the pH up right away. That's your biggest problem. Your CYA is pretty high as well, so you'll need more chlorine than a typical pool.

[CarlD]

What JohnT said...

Hello all.
I have a 24' AG (13,500 gal) with a sand filter and chlorine feeder inline filled with dichlor tabs set at max. I opened the pool last weekend, and spent 2 days fixing a cracked skimmer and superchlorinating to remove an algae bloom from the winter. The water is looking much better and I vacuumed this AM for the first time. I'm colorblind, so the water test kits are VERY hard for me to use, so I brought a sample to Leslie's for a test. Here are the results:

FAC=3
TAC=3

Assuming the numbers are accurate you need a lot more chlorine. I would add a large jug (1gal + 48 oz) of Ultra Bleach (6%) to get your FC up over 8, where it needs to be at a minimum with a CYA of 100+

ph=6.0

Whoa! Dangerously low enough to damage your liner. You need to fix that ASAP, with soda ash or borax.

TA=0

much too low. I, too, question the testing. If it's right, you need to get it to between 80 and 125.

Cal hardness=160

Totally irrelevant in a vinyl pool until it hits 500ppm. Ignore it and do NOT add anything to raise it. Typical poolstore nonsense.

CYA=100

Too high, but the only way to lower it is drain off water and replace it. Or you can keep your chlorine between 8 and 15ppm and shock by bumping it to 25.

TDS=475
phosphates=0

TDS is a fav of pool stores. For 99.99% of us it means nothing and can be ignore completely.
Phosphates and phospate removers are the latest poolstore scare tactic and expensive solution. For most of us it's useless.

I had a pail of soda ash at home, so I put in 3# after the test. Leslie's suggested I add 10.5# in total, in 3 stages, 4 hours apart. They also suggested adding 6# of hardness plus tomorrow.

I bought some Conditioner (CYA) when I was there, I am ready to be converted to a walmart buying bleach head ASAP!

Please show me the path to clear water and cheap chemicals...

Don't add "hardness". About 4-6 hours after adding ph increaser, test pH.