Getting ready to open 40k gal pool AKA "the Swamp"

[KJohnston]

Hi! I'm new and so glad to have found this forum! We are getting ready to open our pool, it has no cover we just plugged the pipes and let it sit all winter. It is very brown/green with more dirt than leaves on the bottom. We have a SWCG but the last few years it has not been working so we have just been using bleach. Last year we had a terrible time with algae but no one told me to shock it and keep it there, so glad to have read that here! So, my question is, where do I start? Obviously we'll take the plugs out, fill it up to normal then turn it on. I have just purchased the Taylor k-2006 kit and 16 boxes of borax (just to be ready!). Our pool is concrete/plaster it is free form and approx. 40,000 gal. We have a Sta-Rite filter and a Hayward pump. How much LC am I going to need to start it up? Will I need to test first to see if we have any CYA? I prefer the LC because we got some calcium spots with the other. I finally have hope that we can get rid of the algae once and for all with the help of this forum.

[Watermom]

Clean out as much of the debris as you can. Get the equipment up and running and test the water. Post your results and someone here will try and help. Good decision to order the kit! It will make your clean-up a lot easier!

Welcome to the Pool Forum!

[KJohnston]

I haven't received my test kit yet. I have been hearing this strange noise for the past week or so, last night I went out to see what it was and discovered we have frogs in our pool! Today I added some water and started to clean out slimey disgusting leaves, possible frog eggs and I don't know what else that was floating in the water. I can see maybe a foot in the water, it is bad. I need to add more water tomorrow before I can think about turning it on but is that still my plan, to turn it on and test? It has never been this bad before but I guess I have seen bleach perform miracles! I may call around and see if I can find someone with a pump to clean out the bottom so it doesn't have to go through the filter. I have a cartridge filter and can't pump to waste. We would be cleaning the cartridges every 5 minutes!

[Watermom]

Try and scoop out as much as you can manually. And if was my pool, I'd do it quick before you have tadpoles! That would be a pain to try and fish them out!

Good luck!

[KJohnston]

I am adding more water right now. I have removed all of the floating debris but I can't see the bottom. I'm sure it's nasty, should I just blindly dig around down there before I turn it on? Should I dump a bunch of bleach in and manually stir to clear a bit and possibly see the bottom before turning on? Everything is so slimy, I don't know why it's so bad this year!

[Watermom]

Try and just net out what you can first. When you get out as much as you can, go ahead and turn on equipment and add bleach.

[KJohnston]

Ok, I'll get out as much as I can then turn on and test, UPS shows I will get it by end of the day tomorrow. Then you'll tell me how much bleach, right? I am going to buy a lot today so I'll be ready!

[Watermom]

Yes, someone here can help you get started especially after you can get some good water testing numbers. Take some pictures now so you'll have the before and after. You won't believe what bleach will do!

[KJohnston]

After doing a lot of reading here I'm worried about how much bleach I will need to clean my swamp and all of that dirt and stuff going through the filter. I'm afraid we'll be cleaning the filter every 30 minutes! My husband says lets drain it and start over. Which would be more cost effective? Are we in an area where draining is a possibility? And of course, I just filled it full today! Have not turned it on yet, I am still waiting for the test kit. Can you tell I have read too much and scared myself? Should I just wait to decide anything until I can test? I am just thinking about last season and how I couldn't keep chlorine in the pool and what if the cya has turned to ammonia, the what ifs are getting to me!

[KJohnston]

Alright, I cleaned out as much as I could without being able to see. I turned everything on and discovered that my pressure gauge is busted, so I will get one tomorrow. I tested the water and heres what I got:
TC: 0
pH: more than 8, color was a very bright pink/fuschia
TA: 70
CH: 230
CYA: 0, black dot never disappeared, the water was just a tiny bit cloudy

So, I am going to add 12 gal. of 10% bleach, then I will check it in 4-6 hours? add more if its below what? 30 ppm is what I will go by until I hear from you but maybe I don't need it so high since I have no CYA? Well, I'll try to keep it at 30 for now only because its a bad looking swamp out there. The frogs are wondering whats going on. Should I plan on cleaning the filters tomorrow or get the gauge first so I can see the psi? I know they will be bad!