Please Help with BBB (results posted)

[zebfam]

I am clueless with BBB and this is our first year with our pool.
It is filled and everything is bought, just not sure how much to put in

Round 18x52 (intex metal Frame pool)
6,980 gallons
We used the HTH 6 way test kit and if I did them correct these are the results.

Total Chlorine .5
Total Bromine 1

PH 7.2

Total Alkalinity 210
Total Hardness 300

CYA
I got no reading at all so I would guess 0

Ok, so what is my next step??
TIA

[Jeffski]

I'll let the experts give you the details, but the short story is that you have to add stabilizer to get your CYA up to 30ish. Then you have to add chlorine to shock the new pool water. You don't have chlorine and bromine in the pool, the test kit is reading one or the other. If you haven't added anything my guess is you have a little chlorine from the new water.

Your PH is low and TA is high so there is a trick to aerating your pool water and lowering TA before you worry about raising PH. Look here: http://www.poolforum.com/pf2/showthread.php?t=191

Geez, I almost sound like I know what I'm talking about... I've learned so much here. I probably got something wrong though.

[zebfam]

Thanks Jeffski

Now how does this translate if I am planning to use BBB instead of standard pool chemicals?

[CarlD]

It's easier to figure bleach than powders and pucks.

Here's how to figure:

1 gallon of regular (5.25%) bleach adds EXACTLY 5.25 ppm of chlorine to 10,000 gallons of water.

1 gallon of ultra bleach(6%) adds EXACTLY 6ppm of chlorine to 10,000 gallons of water.

However, 6% is usually sold in 3-quart jugs--or 75% of a gallon. You have just about 70% of 10,000 gallons--7,000 gallons. Therefore one 3-quart jug of ultra will add a bit more than 6ppm of chlorine to YOUR water.

I'm guessing you actually have only 6,900 gallons in the pool. In which case, that 3-quart jug of 6% ultra will add exactly 6.5ppm of chorine to your pool.

Adjust acordingly!


Hope that helps.

With borax, I find it's a bit of a guessing game. When my pH is 6.9, I use 1/4 of a box (about a pound) to raise it to around 7.3 on my 20,000 gallons. Adjust down accordingly.

As for the third b, baking soda, you use EXACTLY the same amount as the "total alkalinity raiser" directions, because it's EXACTLY the same stuff--only cheaper.

[zebfam]

Thanks Carl

Ok just a couple more questions.

Do I put these in all at once? One at a time? Spaced out?

Is it best to run the filter before, after, during?

When should I retest after getting everything in there and then how often after then?

Sorry for all the questions, just want to get this stuff in there tomorrow and get it right. Any other advise that would help would be great

Thanks

[CarlD]

You only put in what you need, when you need it.

I add baking soda maybe once a season. I add borax 2 or three times--when my pH is low.

I add bleach all the time, every 2 or 3 days.

You add bleach when you need chlorine.

You add borax when your pH is too low.

You add baking soda when Total Alkalinity is too low.

How do you know? You test for it. We talk about the test kits all the time.

[zebfam]

Ok the bleach is in.

Now my TA is 210, that is too high correct? If I add the baking soda it will make it higher, I want it lower correct? If so what do I do to get it lower?

My PH is 7.2 which is fine for now, correct?

[JohnT]

Ok the bleach is in.

Now my TA is 210, that is too high correct? If I add the baking soda it will make it higher, I want it lower correct? If so what do I do to get it lower?

My PH is 7.2 which is fine for now, correct?

Lowering TA involves lowering the pH to about 7, then aerating the water with a fountain or by pointing the returns at the surface of the water to outgass the carbon as carbon dioxide. As you aerate, your pH will climb, so you'll have to add acid to keep it down. Check your alkalinity at the same pH everytime so you don't get mislead. Go to the alkalinity forum and read the sticky there for more info.

[Jeffski]

Or just read the link I posted right below your original post.