I am doing an owner-built pool and have just added the water. I have Ben's PS233 test kit. I would appreciate any startup advice you can offer.
The pool is gunite. About 39 feet x 18 feet, freeform. I have a 60sq-ft DE filter.
The plaster was done on Monday (3/27/06) it is a product from Premixmarbletite Co. called Millenium (like a Diamond Brite). I started filling the pool that night. I ran my garden hose off my well (high iron) from 9PM to 7AM. On Tuesday I had a tanker deliver 18,000 gallons of water. I am assuming the pool is around 20,000 gallons.
The finsh installer (plasterer) told me to run the pump 24 hour a day, brush twice a day, and not to add any DE poweder (My filter instructions say to never run filter without DE powder but I didn't read this untill Wednesday night - I have now added the DE). He came on Wednesday afternoon and added two bottles of "Jack's Magic" and 4 gallons of muratic acid (he did no water testing). He gave me one extra bottle to add on Thursday night. I have been brshing the pool twice a day. I believe this is called an acid startup.
My test kit reading on Wednesday night (3/29) were:
PH 6.8
Calcium 200
CYA 0 (not sure if I did this test correctly)
Chlorine 0
Alk 20.
On Thursday night, the readings were about the same.
I added 4 LBS of Baking Soda.
On Friday night (following instructions I got off the web for an acid startup, I am supposed to begin to balance the water), therefore I added about a pound of "PH UP" (100% Sodium Carbonate).
Today, Saturday morning (4/1) my readings are:
PH 7.5
Calcium 150
CYA 0
Chlorine 0
ALK 90.
I aslo bought Chlorine stabalizer (100% cyanuric acid) but have not added any yet. I plan to use Borax, Baking Soda, and Bleach once I get everything right.
What should I do now? Should I start adding the chlorine (and stabilizer)?
Thanks,
mike
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