Newbies need help

[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.

[aylad]

If the pool is blue, and you're able to hold the Cl all day, I'd go swimming

Janet

[JJParrish]

Hi to all.........and thanks to all of you for not only your wisdon, but your willingness to share and be so very nice about it!

Yep, our pool is blue and the cl & ph are holding steady and we are actually in the pool!..thanks to you folks!

Next issue:

On Friday we had our water tested at pool store and we tested - TWICE - before we originally posted our no's.
The situation is this:
CYA - zero and Calc Hardness (pool store said 76) our tests (TWICE) said 100. Actually went from violet to blue w/two drops from Walmart 6-way kit. And that is 100 to me.

At Noon on Sat, since our cya/stab was zero (0), we added appx 2 1/2 lbs cya/stab...trying to lean into 20 or so. Easy going. Pump running.

At 7 PM Sat, we shocked again w/bleach and ran pump 24 hrs (24 hrs for the cya). Remarkable diff in appearance of water on Sun. Bluish. Lookin' good. ph & cl good and holding all day. cl 4 & ph 7.6 cc 0 (we are starting to do the pool dance about now)

We got the calc hardness stuff today and BEFORE we added anything, we tested again and after TWO drops of the A stuff, no viloet color. Tried it again, twice. Still, no violet color. So, the question is, where did the water hardness calcum stuff go?

Well, anyway, we added appx 2 lbs of calc hardness stuff from Home Depot & ran pump for 3 hrs.

Now I am asking you folks this: where did the calc hardness go? WE have only put liquid bleach, 20 Mule Team Borax & 2+ lbs of CYA in pool. What do you think?

btw, we are telling Everyone we know w/a pool about this site. Eyebrows raise, and probably so do the hits on your site! Thanking you in advance for your help, and happy swimming, Joyce