Brand new AG Pool. Time for testing

[myersfamilyparadise]

I have been running through the website for the summer and our pool is now in place. Water is in a equipment is installed. What comes next? Do I start with FC and try to get that right? I had FC=0 and pH = 8. Are there other numbers I need to worry about on day one?

Thanks in advance.

 

[woodyp]

HOW-are you testing your water?

 

[myersfamilyparadise]

I bought the K-2006 testing kit.

 

[myersfamilyparadise]

I did my testing this morning and I believe these are my results

FC = 1.8 ppm
pH = 7.8
TA = 100
CH = 90
CYA <30

 

[woodyp]

I would lower my PH to 7.4, take my FC to 6 target level, and raise my CYA to 40-5o range for your location. Then check FC daily to make sure you don't fall below minimum for your CYA. You may need a higher target number than 6.

 

[pabeader]

Since it's AG i'm assuming vinyl, so you don't' really need to do CH until you really like to. I think testing is fun so I do them all when I test.

 

[myersfamilyparadise]

Need to pick up Muratic Acid to make that adjustment. Working toward the other recommendations. Is every 6 hours the right time to check? I have the CYA in a shirt at the skimmer, so how long will it take to see that level rise?

 

[myersfamilyparadise]

Having trouble getting CYA up. Only at 35 after adding 5 pounds. Adding 10% chlorine by the gallon daily but without the cya, I am losing most of the chloride. Back down to 1 ppm this morning again. Have not been over 2 since we put water in the pool last week.

This morning's readings"
FC 1 ppm
CC .2 ppm
pH 7.4
TA 100
CH 44
CYA 35
temp 86 F

 

[layla2052]

CYA can take up to a week to register correctly on a test so if it has already completely dissolved, assume your new level is at the target you set when you added it. Also, check the date on the container of chlorine you are using. If it's not a fresh date, possibility is that it is not as strong as it was originally.

 

[wantmoore]

First - your chlorine test measurements in .2 increments: If you look a little further down in the K-2006 instructions, you'll see info on using a 10mL sample instead of 25. Do that and only use 1 scoop of DPD powder. It will conserve your powder and #3 reagent and will be faster since you have to count less drops. The .5 increments are plenty accurate enough for our purposes here.

Now, Pool Math says that five pounds of granular CYA would put your CYA at 36 from zero. Unless you've been using some other form of chlorine (dichlor/trichlor tabs or granular chlorine/shock), I would assume that to be accurate. Personally my pool is somewhere in the ballpark of 35-40 and I'm content with it there. I use about 2-3ppm of chlorine per day when it's really sunny. 128oz of 10% chlorine should give you a full 6ppm. If you are dropping that much per day, I suspect something in your water is consuming it. I think I'd do an Overnight FC Loss Test (OCLT) to confirm and then SLAM if necessary.