New to the Forum

[Traxl]

I can finally see the bottom of the pool, and am adding water so I can siphon vacuum out the dead algae. I also can see a small tear in the bottom seam where the wall transitions to the floor. The tear is in the area I would have expected, given the damp ground next to the pool.

Do you have any recommendations on which patch kit to use? I have noticed two main types; one with the adhesive already on the patch, and one with cement separate from the patch. I was curious if one would provide longer lasting results over the other.

Also, I currently have 0 CYA in the water, and would like to avoid getting the CYA levels too high. If I use a floater with tricolor tabs, I will constantly be adding CYA. Is the best way to avoid this simply increasing the CYA with store bought stabilizer, then testing and adding bleach as needed? I do not have a SWCG, so would I need to add bleach on a daily basis?

[PoolDoc]

You probably want to check out this thread:

http://pool9.net/liner-patch/

There are photos, links to the patch kits on Amazon, and to a leak-test video.

[PoolDoc]

IMO, the easiest way to add stabilizer is to use dichlor. If you buy a 24# pack of bagged dichlor at Sams Club, and use 15#, you'll have a CYA level of about 45. You can gradually use the rest to maintain stabilizer.

[Traxl]

Algae is dead, liner is repaired, pool is filled, and the water is clear.

I ran the tests a few minutes ago:

FC - 19.5 PPM
CC - 1.5 PPM
PH - low (Acid Demand test - 6 drops to 7.4~7.6)
TA - 20 ppm
CH - 30 ppm
CA - 45~50 ppm

My thought was that TA would be the best starting point, is this correct?

[PoolDoc]

pH first!

Add borax, 3 boxes at a time, till you reach 7.0. Then 1 box at a time. Retest your TA *after* your pH reaches 7.4.

Add it slowly, since a borax plug in a pipeline is VERY hard to dissolve. (As long as the flow through your skimmer is not getting 'choked' you'll be fine.)

But . . . when you retest pH, do so using a 50:50 mix of pool water and DISTILLED water. FC=19 is high enough to affect readings with phenol red.
(distilled water at Walmart => www.walmart.com/ip/10315382)

[Traxl]

I wanted to give the pool a little time for the chlorine levels to drop. With my CYA levels, I think I should be running between 3ppm and 6ppm FC.

Here are the latest test results...

FC - 3.5 PPM
CC - 0.5 PPM
PH - 7.2 (Base Demand test - 3 drops to ~7.6)
TA - 40 ppm
CH - 40 ppm
CA - 45~50 ppm

When adding Borax, how long should I wait between application and testing?

[PoolDoc]

When adding Borax, how long should I wait between application and testing?

There's no definite answer; a really 'good' answer would depend on observing circulation in your individual pool.

But, 4 hours of pump 'ON' should be more than enough.