1st time pool owner

[Watermom]

Your alk is good right where it is at 100. No more baking soda needed. Also, no PH Up or washing soda. Both of those will raise your ph AND your alk. You don't want your alk any higher. And, you're right about the Borax. It is used when you need to raise the PH but don't want to increase the alk.

It is a lot of information to learn at the beginning -- a pretty steep learning curve. You'll get it. You're doing great on clearing this pool!

[CarlD]

For those who didn't know this:

Borax also works GREAT in the laundry!

[hamiltonmike]

steep learning curve is right! but im getting it slowly but surely.

i never was a great science student so its all new to me. i read somewhere that muriatic acid is used for something pool related, but i use it all the time to solder galvanized steel . it is nasty stuff and its amazing that you put it in the water you swim in.

and its funny you mention that carld because i caught my girlfriend in the garage filling a measuring cup to try out :P

[Watermom]

Muriatic acid is used to lower ph. Nasty stuff. You have to be really careful when you use it. (Be upwind so you won't get a bunch of fumes, eye protection is recommended, don't splash it on yourself or on your equipment, liner, etc.) Some pools never need it. My pool's ph is very stable and I never need to lower it. Every once in awhile I need a little Borax -- especially if we get a lot of rain (acid rain) but even then it isn't very often.

[CarlD]

Yeah, muriatic acid is nasty stuff, but the beauty of it is that it's Hydrochloric Acid, made up solely of Hydrogen and Chlorine, both of which are good for your pool water.

[hamiltonmike]

ill need to remember that in case i mess up at some point along the way. im sure it is only used in small amounts right? maybe a few cap fulls? or are we talkin cups?

well now that the pool is starting to come around i have a few questions.

at which point will stop shocking the pool to 10+ppm and bring it down to 1-3ppm?


i also decided to have a look at the solar blanket, and it is kinda rough. i didnt unroll it completely but i saw a few hole and tears and it seemed a little bit brittle. should i be looking into getting a new one?

i have also notices that the pump has a minor leak and i am assuming it is a seal. i have been looking at used pumps and am wondering if i should keep it at 3/4 hp, or maybe go up or down a notch?

any pump i should stay away from?

right now i have 3/4 jacuzzi pump and jacuzzi sand filter.

[Watermom]

Continue to hold the pool at shock levels until you can get through the night with losing no more than 1ppm of chlorine. And, then for good measure, i advise holding it at shock level for one more day after that. Then, when you are at that point, you can let it drift down.

Regarding pool blankets -- they definitely help minimize heat loss at night. I'd say replace it. They aren't really all that expensive.

I'm gonna let somebody else talk pumps with you. The only thing I will say, and this is not just to you, but also to anybody else following this thread --- when it comes to pump size, bigger is not always better. Pool stores want to make money and thus they are going to try and get you to buy the most expensive things they can including bigger pumps than you need. But, if you get a pump that is too big for your pool, it will just force things too fast through your filter and your filter won't be able to work as well. Plus, it just wastes electricity. I have a 24 ft. AG and I used to have a 3/4 hp pump, but when I replaced it a couple of years ago, I downsized to a 1/2 hp and it works great.

[hamiltonmike]

well i owe each and every one of you a VERY BIG THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!







i just got home and the pool is crystal clear!!!!! im thinking the skimmer socks helped alot!

the sidewall of the liner are really stained/dirty and it gives it a greenish look around the sides but other than that it looks GREAT!!

i just tested it

chlorine 5ppm

ph 7.6

alk 110


im wondering if it is safe to get in and scrub the sides down before i bump up the chlorine level again??

the water is still freezing(68ish) but i am dying to get in there and scrup it down !

what do you guys think??


on a side note i was talking to my neighbour yesterday who has nice inground pool and he didnt beleive me that i used household products ONLY! he also told me that the previous owner did not open the pool for a few years and the tarp was in the pool for an entire season ......GROSS!!

[Watermom]

YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Go get in. You're gonna freeze , but the excitement of the first swim after dealing with this pool and winning are gonna keep you warm.. (At least for a few minutes ....)

Congrats and you're welcome!

[AnnaK]

Good work, Mike!

For brushing the sides of my pool I use a Wall Whale. This is a brush (nylon or steel, depending on your pool type) with a flapper of sorts attached to it. The water puts pressure on the flap when the brush is pushed and that action helps press the brush against the side of the pool. If you Google "Wall Whale" you'll find it easily enough. The Leslie's in my town has them in stock and I've seen them at Canadian Tire stores.

68°F will certainly be . . . uh . . . refreshing