Ordered My Pool

[Watermom]

Personally, I wouldn't use the shock with the extra stuff in it. Just my $.02. It is OK to use the trichlor as long, as you noted, that you monitor your CYA level. Also, remember that trichlor is very acidic and will drop your pH level a lot so you'll have to monitor that closely as well. What is your prediction for when the pool will be up and running? I hope not too far away so you'll get lots of time to use it this summer.

[sturev]

I don't have any experience with this, but it's my understanding you don't want to let the Cal Hypo & Trichlor mix... something about explosions

I'm hoping one of the mods will hop on this and give you some more insight...

[dcombs44]

Very interesting on the explosions.

All of the products are bio-guard products. I browsed the store searching for liquid chlorine the other day but didn't see any, so I'll have to ask next time I'm in. I found some at Target the other day, but it was only 10% at $5 for 3/4 gallon. That's more expensive than 2 gallons of 6% bleach, so for the time being, I'll chlorinate with Wal-Mart bleach.

The digging should be done this week, so if all goes as planned, we could be close to running by the end of the weekend, but that's probably a stretch. We definitely could've used it this weekend. It was HOT!

I'll keep that in mind with the Trichlor pucks. I've scouted all my local stores for borax and bleach, so I can get those easily enough. I'll search the hardware stores for muriatic acid in the next couple days.

My Taylor kit was backordered but shipped on Friday, so I should get it in the next couple days as well. Once it gets here, I'll test my tap water to see what we'll need to get things adjusted when we fill the pool. I also picked up a Wal-Mart Chlorine/pH/Bromine kit for $5 for daily testing.

I'll probably sort through all the chemicals tonight and detail the ingredients on here to make sure that I'm safe. I may dig through some of the equipment boxes as well to see how some of it works.

Thanks again.

[Watermom]

Right -- you don't want cal-hypo and trichlor to mix, but once they are in the water, it is fine. You can use both products in a pool. Lots of people do. But, in your pool, I would just use bleach and skip the cal-hypo. You don't need the calcium and cal-hypo is slow to dissolve sometimes and can cloud the water. Stick with bleach and you won't have any problems. And, again, it is fine to use the trichlor as long as you monitor cya and pH.

Re: the muriatic acid --- Sure, find out where it is sold in your area but don't buy any yet. You may not need it, especially if you are gonna use the trichlor for awhile. In that case your pH is gonna be falling and you're certainly not gonna need the acid. Many people never need it. I have had my pool for ten years or so and have never once needed it ....... and I don't even use trichlor.

[sturev]

Thanks Watermom! I was reading that thread on the apt complex pool and got scared

[Watermom]

A healthy dose of fear is not a bad thing when dealing with pool chemicals. Knowledge is power and if you are educated about them and use them correctly, you'll be fine. Sometimes people underestimate the potential of danger from seemingly harmless little pucks and powder. That is what gets you in trouble.

Re: the apt. complex thread --- we were ALL (mods and Ben) getting scared about that one!

[dcombs44]

Test kit came today. Should be able to get my tap water tested tonight or tomorrow. I'll post results and my predictions for what I'll need here. I'll need your help to make sure I'm not making a bad estimate.

Got the "hole" roughly dug yesterday. Plan to spend tomorrow afternoon leveling and cleaning up the mess from the bobcat. Hope to be setting patio blocks by tomorrow evening.

[Watermom]

Hard to wait isn't it? I remember the hard work of getting my pool site ready. Thought we never would get it level! One side would be a little high, so we'd take a little bit off. Then, it would be a little lower than another side and so on............

Wasn't too fun from what I remember, but SO worth it!

[dcombs44]

Tested pH and Alk for grins from my tap water.

pH was pretty much dead on 8.0 (not bad for a fish tank )

Alk hadn't changed colors at 12 drops, so it's higher than 120. I stopped there. I know I've still got some room here with the vinyl pool.

Looks like I'll be playing a little mad scientist to get things in check.

Once I fill, what's the first thing to get in check?

I guess I should work on adding CYA first since it's acidic right? That should lower pH....

What's the best route here?

[Watermom]

PH and chlorine first. Then you can tweak the other stuff.