Finished renovation first test numbers are in!

[Watermom]

As long as your pH is not bouncing around and you don't have high CH, then a TA of 150 is not an issue in a vinyl pool. Go ahead and run the CH test one time to see what you get.

Did you tell your wife about the pool store liquid chlorine and bleach both being sodium hypo?

[okcnewbie]

Watermom - I did tell my wife about the liquid chlorine at the pool store. I also told her that the pool chlorine is even stronger. I also told her that if she smells chlorine that I've probably not done a good job keeping enough chlorine in the pool. I also mentioned that I know if I add 64oz of 8.25 % I'll go from 2 to 4 ppm (roughly) of chlorine. In the past with the automatic chlorinator we often were higher than i wanted. I think she is coming around.
I'll run the TA and CH tests today.
Thanks again

[okcnewbie]

Just ran CH for the first time;
FC 2.5
CC .5ish only slightly changed color but adding a drop made it clearer.
CH 100
TA 150
CYA estimate around 20

[Watermom]

Those numbers look pretty good and will look even better when you bring the CYA up a little as I know you are currently in the process of doing. Keep your chlorine in line with the CYA/Chlorine chart and you'll be good to go. With low CH and pH, I wouldn't worry about the TA.

http://pool9.net/cl-cya/

[okcnewbie]

I just ran CYA for the first time.
FC 2.5
PH 7.4
CYA 45

I didn't seem to lose FC over night. My pool pressure indicates that it's time for backwashing. How long does it take for CYA added to the skimmer to dissolve totally.
According to the chart I'm just under the min so I'm adding 1/2 gallon of the cheap stuff. Thank you for the help.

[Watermom]

Run your pump 24/7 for the first 4 or 5 days after adding CYA to the skimmer. Don't retest for a week to be sure it has all dissolved.

How much total CYA have you now added?

[okcnewbie]

I've added 8lbs of CYA 96% from Walmart.

I'm still running my pump 24/7. I just completed a fairly major liner install on my pool. I replaced the return lines that were leaking but I'm not sure if the suction leak is gone or not. I did find that the skimmer faceplate wasn't installed correctly by the previous installer. I'm hoping that repairing that may have taken care of the suction side. If so than my pool will be " as good as new ". After 4 or 5 days pass I plan to leave the pump off over night to see if I'm losing water or not.

I did forget to tell you that when I added the DE without mixing it with water some of it ended up in the pool later. I vacuumed it and it doesn't seem to be coming back into the pool now. I know my sand has to be at least 6-8 years old. The pool water is at about a 9.5 out of 10 for clarity. (just leaving room for improvement even though it may not be possible.)

ps. I saw that cat in the pool picture and about died laughing.

[Watermom]

Sand doesn't wear out so yours is fine. Many people have their sand for many more years than 6-8. Sometimes you have to top it off some though. 8 lbs. of CYA should be just right.