Hi - I recently started one other post under "getting started", where I asked for advice regarding our high CYA and Calcium levels. I ordered the TF-100 test kit, and have been enjoying it, though I still have some questions about it as I try to test the water accurately. Our numbers seems so off that I'm wondering if it's user error for some of them.
One reason I feel skeptical is that our long-time pool maintenance professional thinks I'm crazy when I mention that we need between 11 and 18 ppm of chlorine if the CYA is at 140. He says that would be like chlorinating 3 pools. It's hard to know who to trust! He has always kept the pool looking great, and does advise draining it soon, but then has me questioning the chlorine to CYA ration.
I did the CYA test again just now, and what happens is that I can no longer see the black dot well before I even reach the first line on the cylinder - at 100 - so I just add (approximately) the difference between where I stop seeing the black dot to 100 to get 140. Does that sound correct? (Another professional who I just spoke to on the phone mentioned that CYA tests stop at 100 anyway - IF I'm remember correctly the conversation I had with him some time ago), but that is also making me wonder if I'm doing something wrong.
In addition, I have a question about the Chlorine Drop test. The instructions that came with the kit say that you add R-0871 a drop at a time until the solution turns "completely clear" again. I realized today that my solution never turns completely clear again, it just turns colorless, but it's cloudy looking. No pink at all, but cloudy. Is that what I'm going for? To check, I kept adding drop after drop to see if it would turn "clear" again, but it never did, so I'm wondering if I need to stop at the cloudy colorless that I'm currently getting, or at clear, which I don't seem to get at all.
Thank you!
Shannon
One reason I feel skeptical is that our long-time pool maintenance professional thinks I'm crazy when I mention that we need between 11 and 18 ppm of chlorine if the CYA is at 140. He says that would be like chlorinating 3 pools. It's hard to know who to trust! He has always kept the pool looking great, and does advise draining it soon, but then has me questioning the chlorine to CYA ration.
I did the CYA test again just now, and what happens is that I can no longer see the black dot well before I even reach the first line on the cylinder - at 100 - so I just add (approximately) the difference between where I stop seeing the black dot to 100 to get 140. Does that sound correct? (Another professional who I just spoke to on the phone mentioned that CYA tests stop at 100 anyway - IF I'm remember correctly the conversation I had with him some time ago), but that is also making me wonder if I'm doing something wrong.
In addition, I have a question about the Chlorine Drop test. The instructions that came with the kit say that you add R-0871 a drop at a time until the solution turns "completely clear" again. I realized today that my solution never turns completely clear again, it just turns colorless, but it's cloudy looking. No pink at all, but cloudy. Is that what I'm going for? To check, I kept adding drop after drop to see if it would turn "clear" again, but it never did, so I'm wondering if I need to stop at the cloudy colorless that I'm currently getting, or at clear, which I don't seem to get at all.
Thank you!
Shannon