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For a given operating percentage, will a SWG generator put out more Cl if the salt level is 3200ppm compared to 2800ppm? I had ratcheted my % up to 60% in recent weeks as my salt got down to 2700-2800ppm. I was consistently getting 4.5 - 5.0ppm FC. I added two 40-lb bags of salt, and my...

Regardless of how much CYA I add, I simply cannot get the CYA level to move up. It's been at 40-50 for weeks, despite me adding alot of CYA. I always add it slowly, and I've added most of it through a sock in the skimmer. Typically 1 lb, dissolve, then 2 lbs, dissolve, etc. I don't know how...

This might sound paranoid, but it might help me to be more prepared when this eventually happens. I'm sure my main pump/motor will go out one day and probably when I least expect it. What type of place do you immediately turn to to see if it can be fixed? Or do you immediately just buy a new...

With my new TF-100 test kit, I had been measuring CYA at 40-50ppm. I actually feel pretty confident in my ability to perform this test. I'll perform it 2-3 times in a row and always get the same exact result. I'm also getting consistent results from day to day and week to week. So, I wanted...

I have a freeform pool that is somewhat kidney-shaped. It is pretty standard with a 4' shallow end that tapers gradually down to about 9' in the deep end. My 280 cleans the heck out of the deep end, but it doesn't want to spend much time in the shallow end. I'm afraid that it has alot to do...

I love my new TF-100 kit, but it's missing one thing that is useful for me -- the acid demand test. I continue to struggle to detect the ever-so-subtle differences in shades of purple in the 7.6-8.0 range (where my pH always stays), and the acid demand test is an extra tool that helps me to...

I bought my new house/pool last Aug, and when I closed down the pool in the fall, I discovered major scaling on the inside of the salt cell. I've gotten things under control with the water balance and cleaning up the cell, but now that's got me wondering about scaling inside the heater. I see...

With my new TF-100 test kit, I've been measuring 180-190 CH. I'm wanting to target around 300ppm, so I bought 15 lbs of calcium chloride. According to the label, 4 lbs in 10k gals equals +40ppm, so that would mean that 15 lbs in 25k gals should equal +60ppm. I added 5 lbs last Fri morning, 5...

I've attached the spreadsheet I use for my pool test results log, in case anyone finds it helpful. I've recently added columns for LSI and CSI. Thanks to Jason and chem geek for helping me get the CSI formulas straight. ph

I have few more questions about my new TF-100 kit: 1) In the instructions, some tests say to mix, others say to swirl. Can I just swirl for all tests, or does "mix" really mean to put the top on and thoroughly shake/mix for that particular step? 2) If I know roughly what my TA or CH will...

Can anyone provide the formula for CSI? I'm not looking for anything ultra-technical. I just wonder if there is a CSI formula (even a simplified version) that is similar to the LSI formula Si = pH + Ti + Ci + Ai - 12.1. Ti, Ci, and Ai come from the LSI supporting tables. I know that CSI is...

Why did my previous test kit (phenol red pH test, that is) require drops of chlorine neutralizer but my new TF-100 test kit does not? Technically, I guess the pH testing is done from the little blue box inside the TF-100 kit. Thanks.

Probably being overly technical about this, but I'm still curious. I was just measuring TA with my new TF-100 kit, and on the 8th drop, the green solution turned to what appeared to be red. Just for the heck of it, I went ahead and put in a 9th drop, and then the solution turned an obvious...

Using the Pool Calc, I've typed in the following target values. The targets all seem reasonable to me, and most of them are based on direct feedback I've gotten here. Why does the Pool Calc show a scary CSI level of -0.6? This makes me nervous. I have a gunite/plaster pool and don't want to...

I just got my pool last August (3 yrs old at that point), and it's a SWG pool. From day 1, the pH has been high and has been very stubborn to get into range. It was around 8.2 to start with. I used dry acid in my attempt to lower it. I slowly and steadily added alot of sodium bisulfate over...

Is it just me, or do the drops come out of this bottle like machine gun bullets? I just got my first TF-100 test kit today and was excited to use it. Most everything went well, but when doing the TA test, I discovered that the drops from the R-007 bottle are much smaller than the other bottles...

Can anyone tell me what size are the threaded fittings on this stupid salt cell? I can say that they're not a standard 2" or 1.5" pvc union. I was going to use some sort of pvc fitting to plug one end so I can turn it upright and fill with acid to clean it. I'll be danged if I can figure out...

Just as a proactive measure, what do you do when your salt cell stops working in the middle of swimming season? Immediately check the FC level and convert to liquid chlorine until the cell is working again? Just wondering. I know my cell will go out one day when I least expect it, and I won't...

Just closed down my pool. I have a Turbo-Cell-15, and I was planning to take it inside for the winter. Upon removing it, I immediately noticed a really bad buildup on the plates. I assume this is scale formation and/or calcium deposits? Please keep in mind that I just bought this pool in...

This is probably a dumb question, but I'm going to ask anyway. Sort of a multi-part question. After lowering the main pool water level, do you lower the water level in the skimmers or just put in a Gizmo (or similar) and forget about it all winter? (I live in North AL -- I'm concerned with...

I've got one particular pipe that I'm concerned about. It runs from the filter output (high point), then turns down and runs along the slab, then turns back up as it enters the heater (high point). The booster pump taps into that pipe as well, as you can see. Even when all the water runs back...

I have a Goldline / AquaLogic T-CELL-15, and I'm wondering if I should remove it and store it inside when I close everything down and winterize? My neighbor does this, but the AquaLogic manual doesn't say you need to remove it. If it will increase the life of the cell, I want to remove it. If...

Is there a general consensus on a target water temp to shoot for when closing down the pool in the fall? I assume that the longer you wait and the cooler the water gets, the less likely you are to develop algae. My local pool store is recommending Arctic Blue winter algaecide as the product to...

I figured you guys would get a kick out of this. I'm a new pool owner who is just trying to learn how to get consistent and accurate test results. I have what I think is a decent DPD test kit (will buy the Taylor or TF next spring), but I've struggled to make pH and chlorine readings from the...

From the Pool Calculator, what does this mean? "To lower TA you reduce pH to 7.0-7.2 with acid and then aerate to increase pH." Put acid in the pool and then make the kids splash around for hours? Just kidding! My pH is currently around 7.8 - 7.9 with TA 120-130. I'm slowly working the pH...

I think I can get my SI in the middle of the range and feel good about it. However, that is using a current pool temp of 84. The SI drops alot when you lower the pool temp to, say, 50 degrees. I am planning to shut down my pool for the winter, so I won't be running the pump and I won't have...

What is the preferred way to add muriatic acid to the pool, and what are the handling/application precautions? I'm a new pool owner, and my pH is around 7.9 - 8.0. I've added 6 lbs of pH Down (sodium bisulfate?) so far (as directed by the pool store), but the pH has barely budged if at all...

New pool owner. I've been reading a ton about pool chem lately, and I'm trying to become competent and confident enough to manage my pool chemistry. You should know that I'm an engineer, and I'm overly technical and I like things to be precise. As you can probably imagine, I've been thrown...

Hey, first post (new pool). I've got an Aqua Logic PS-8 and a Sta-Rite SR400NA heater. I'd like to control the temp with the thermostat setting in the AL menus, but the heater itself has its own thermostat setting on its control pad. They seem to conflict with one another. If I turn the...