Newbies need help

[Watermom]

You folks seem to know EVERYTHING!

Well, - no we don't, but we will sure try and help anybody who needs it. Actually, come to think of it, with the "collective brain" that this forum has, 'we' probably do know everything!!

Just kidding - but, we do know how to get pools clear! Welcome to the forum!

[JJParrish]

Thanks for the comment, Watermom, and we really do appreciate all the info here. Janet came to our rescue today and we are so glad. I'm going to bed now and hope that our pool is a little 'bluer' tomorrow!! (HEEHEE) Will post new no's and ask for more help!! again, thanks to all of you, later, ......Joyce

[JJParrish]

Okay folks, here goes again:
1. Our Walmart did not have the cal-hypo, so we used bleach again last night to shock.

2. Added appx 2.5 lbs of CYA yesterday around noon. The instructions on the bottle were vague, so we shot for low. (Since the pool store said we needed 5 lbs of theirs, we figured half would be closer.)

3. When testing the cl this morn, how do we figure how much to add to get back to 15ppm when the kit only goes to 5ppm? We definitely got more than 5 ppm cl this am!

4. Is Ben's kit ready to ship? I am assuming it will register to 15ppm?

5. If we cannot find the cal-hypo, can we continue w/bleach and use some hardness increaser from Walmart? Saw a bottle yesterday, but did not buy.

6. We have lots of staining on the pool floor, esp at the deep end. The pool store said they had something to remove it, after the water clears. But, the stains may alter the perception of the color? It is DEFINITELY getting bluer and clearer. What is the 'color' supposed to look like? Clear or blue?

Thanks again for all your help. Joyce

[CarlD]

Okay folks, here goes again:
1. Our Walmart did not have the cal-hypo, so we used bleach again last night to shock.

You can ALWAYS use bleach for chlorine. It has no side effects unlike all the other chlorination methods.

2. Added appx 2.5 lbs of CYA yesterday around noon. The instructions on the bottle were vague, so we shot for low. (Since the pool store said we needed 5 lbs of theirs, we figured half would be closer.)

That's my method. Now wait a week to test it.

3. When testing the cl this morn, how do we figure how much to add to get back to 15ppm when the kit only goes to 5ppm? We definitely got more than 5 ppm cl this am!

For the CL test, you can dilute with steam distilled water (at all the discount drug chains). If you dilute pool water 1:1 with distilled, you double the range now to 10ppm. 1:2 and you triple it. Search for the CarlD Shot Glass Method!

4. Is Ben's kit ready to ship? I am assuming it will register to 15ppm?

Ben has to answer shipping questions. It will register at least to 50ppm of FC (Free Chlorine), and 50ppm of CC (Combined Chloramines). Your kit measures TC (Total Chlorine) and TC = FC + CC. I THINK it actually goes to 100ppm, but I know it goes to 50 at least.

5. If we cannot find the cal-hypo, can we continue w/bleach and use some hardness increaser from Walmart? Saw a bottle yesterday, but did not buy.

Yup. Just as good if not better.

6. We have lots of staining on the pool floor, esp at the deep end. The pool store said they had something to remove it, after the water clears. But, the stains may alter the perception of the color? It is DEFINITELY getting bluer and clearer. What is the 'color' supposed to look like? Clear or blue?

Sorry, I'm not the expert on stains. All I know is you can try rubbing ascorbic acid on them.

Thanks again for all your help. Joyce

Good luck!

[JJParrish]

Thanks CarlD,
Will do shot glass as soon as we get the water & will pick up the water hardness stuff. Yep, got the shot glasses.

1. Are pools supposed to look greenish from a distance above? Ours looks greenish from the house & deck, about 8' above pool-level. But, at pool-level pretty clear, mostly clear w/bluish tint w/slight greenish tint in deep end.

2. Is there a test for algae?

3. What is the final color supposed to be? Bluish or clear? (We have learned that green is BAD)

... (just saw Mel Gibson & bad guy go out 7th floor window into pool that looked green.....this made me question the color thing)

Again, thanks so much for all your (yall's) help. It's really hot in South Carolina and we sure do wanna' jump in! Thanks, Joyce

[CarlD]

Thanks CarlD,
Will do shot glass as soon as we get the water & will pick up the water hardness stuff. Yep, got the shot glasses.

1. Are pools supposed to look greenish from a distance above? Ours looks greenish from the house & deck, about 8' above pool-level. But, at pool-level pretty clear, mostly clear w/bluish tint w/slight greenish tint in deep end.

The water should be clear. The ONLY time a greenish tint is OK is if the liner is green.

2. Is there a test for algae?

Green water, patches of algae, elevated CC.

3. What is the final color supposed to be? Bluish or clear? (We have learned that green is BAD)

Blue or clear.

... (just saw Mel Gibson & bad guy go out 7th floor window into pool that looked green.....this made me question the color thing)

Again, thanks so much for all your (yall's) help. It's really hot in South Carolina and we sure do wanna' jump in! Thanks, Joyce

It's hot in north central NJ--100 in my back yard and in the 90's in the shade by the pool, where we are sitting as I write this.....

[JJParrish]

Thanks CarlD.
We think we may have a bluish pool. Here are our #:s:

FC 3.5
CC 0
PH 7.6

We have been shocking nightly and today, all those #'s held from am to pm. There is no chlorine smell. Do you think we are good to go?

Of course, we will continue to work on our CYA (test in a few days) and add the calc increaser.

What do you think?
Later, and thanks, Joyce.