Newly Registered-Lots of Problems

[crandies]

crandies here again. Sorry I forgot about the filter and pump. My pump says Total HP-200. My sand filter is a Triton II TR100. Specs if they help.
filtration 15
flow rate 74 (280(
filtration area 4.91 s.f.
psi 50 maximum working

[Watermom]

What test kit did you buy? Take current readings and post them. Do you know the hp of your pump and how much sand your filter holds?

[crandies]

I am not sure that my post went through. HTH 3way kit. 600 lbs of sand. 2 hp pump. sorry, this is all new to me. J

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Zero chlorine and 7.2 ph. HTH3 way test kit

[crandies]

Should I start putting water in my pool. I am really lost here. We are in our 60's and do not have the strength or money to pay a pool company. I am unsure if any of my other post have gone through. I am not a computer person.

[PoolDoc]

Questions, then answers.

1. What *exactly* is the label name of the Clorox product you added to your pool?

I can't find "Clorox 3 X Concentrate" on the Clorox website. I need to find out what you've been adding to the pool. Regardless, do NOT put any more in your pool. It is not possible to have bleach that is 3X as concentrated as plain store brand 8% household bleach.

2. Is your pool vinyl, fiberglass, concrete or something else?

3. Have you drained it? If not, how full is it?

(Do NOT drain it, if you haven't done so already!)

4. Is the pump running now?

5. If it's not drained, what does the water look like, now?


OK. Answers . . . and instructions.

1. I can't offer much advice yet, till you answer the questions above. I'm rather worried about what you've put in the pool.

2. If your local Walmart carries it, please get an HTH 6-way drops test kit => http://pool9.net/tk-hth6/ But, don't use it yet.

3. Check and see if you have access to a Sams Club in your area, and if so, whether they carry the PoolBrand dichlor. I'm guessing you may not have any stabilizer in your water. If so, the dichlor is a good choice for you. http://pool9.net/sams-dichlor50/

[crandies]

The Clorox I am using is sold at Costco in a box of Three 3.78 qt (121 fl oz) . The box states "NOW CONCENTRATED 3 x 121oz = 3 x 182 oz. Sodium Hypochloride 8.25%". I did fill up what I had drained and started the pump yesterday. This morning it is raining very heavily. Thank you so much for your suggestions. When it stops raining I will purchase a better test kit and put them to use. Frustrated in Texas.

[PoolDoc]

OK, good.

But, that's just the standard bleach concentration these days -- identical to the store brand bleach at Walmart.

Do *NOT* wait for it to stop raining, to take care of your pool. For some reason, many -- maybe most? -- people seem to think that they can abandon pool care during rainy spells. This has led to the myth that rain brings algae, but it's actually the lack of care that results in algae, not the rain.

You MUST maintain appropriate chlorine levels, even when it's rainy. As I wrote on PoolSolutions.com many years ago now, "pools can be easy, but are not forgiving". If you neglect your pool, even for brief periods, you WILL end up regretting it.

[crandies]

Okay I have everything I need for now. Pool is a loverly shade of green. Pumps running. Here are my readings from the 6-way kit.
Chlorine - 0
Ph - 7.5
Alkilinity - 120 ppm
Hardness - 190 ppm
I am getting no rating at all on CYA

What next?

[crandies]

The Clorox is like the undiluted laundry detergents they make today. There is just less water in the jug and you are supposed to use less. A box of 3 are 8.29 at Costco.

[Pappy]

The easiest way to add CYA is the diclor PoolDoc referenced earlier. 1ppm chlorine also adds .9ppm CYA. Triclor tabs add CYA, AND lower pH. You can also get granular cyanuric acid at pool store/lowes/home depot/walmart.