Our new pool was filled about 32 days ago and my wife has been using a TF-100 kit to test the water each day. We had to use some trichlor tabs to start with d/t PB warranty, but have been supplementing with bleach each day. Our CYA is 30, but we are waiting for the last puck to dissolve before we add any more dry CYA as we don't want to over shoot. Our levels have been great and our water is crystal clear. My wife uses the TC and drop test each day and often morning and evening. She tries to maintain chlorine above the target level since we are in full sun, have kids that swim daily.
Yesterday at about 4pm: FC of 8 and CC of 0.5 (FC usually between 4 and 8. CC never above 0.5 and usually at 0).
Today at 11:45: TC of 5+. Only did TC test as we have not had an overnight loss since we began testing.
Today at 5pm: TC 5. FC of 2.5 and CC of 1.5
Water looks sparkling clear, but I guess we will SLAM.
My questions: Why even do the general TC test if it does not differentiate free chlorine and combined chloramines? Also, how often do people do a drop test for FC and CC? The kit says once per week, but if everything can be good for a month and the TC test shows 5, it could have been several days before I would have known that CCs are high and I needed to SLAM. I'm not knocking the kit or the method, just trying to better understand.
Okay, since I started to type this email, myy wife used our new speed stir for the first time (came in the mail this week) and said it was much easier and felt more immediate and precise. Now, we have ZERO CC's and a FC level of 10 (initially added enough to take us from 2.5 to 6)
So, could using the speed stir really make our testing more efficient, or are we just screwed up? Now I assume we dont SLAM? Sorry for the long winded post. Any advice is much appreciated.
Eric
Yesterday at about 4pm: FC of 8 and CC of 0.5 (FC usually between 4 and 8. CC never above 0.5 and usually at 0).
Today at 11:45: TC of 5+. Only did TC test as we have not had an overnight loss since we began testing.
Today at 5pm: TC 5. FC of 2.5 and CC of 1.5
Water looks sparkling clear, but I guess we will SLAM.
My questions: Why even do the general TC test if it does not differentiate free chlorine and combined chloramines? Also, how often do people do a drop test for FC and CC? The kit says once per week, but if everything can be good for a month and the TC test shows 5, it could have been several days before I would have known that CCs are high and I needed to SLAM. I'm not knocking the kit or the method, just trying to better understand.
Okay, since I started to type this email, myy wife used our new speed stir for the first time (came in the mail this week) and said it was much easier and felt more immediate and precise. Now, we have ZERO CC's and a FC level of 10 (initially added enough to take us from 2.5 to 6)
So, could using the speed stir really make our testing more efficient, or are we just screwed up? Now I assume we dont SLAM? Sorry for the long winded post. Any advice is much appreciated.
Eric
