I went to visit my parents over the weekend and we spent some time in their pool. This is the same pool that I swam in while I was growing up. The water was clear and everything looked fine, but I'm a little obsessed with my new TF-100 (my husband thinks I'm insane) and I just couldn't help but test their water!
A little background on their pool:
It's an in-ground pool with 33,000 gallons of water. Vinyl Liner. Sand Filter. I'm sorry but I don't know anything about the pump. I know that they use chlorine tablets in the skimmer. They don't test the water. They just take a sample to the pool store if something starts to look weird and they do whatever the pool store tells them to do to fix it. They also shock (pool store shock in a bag....they don't know anything about TFP) the pool twice a week on Wednesdays and Sundays. We are an Italian family and there are a LOT of us, so the pool stays pretty packed most weekends. Other than the pucks and shock, they only add chemicals when the pool store says they need them. They DO have a small leak somewhere that they haven't been able to find for years, because about once a week or so they have to add about an inch of water.
So.............here are the results (FYI: they added 4 pucks to the skimmer basket last night):
FC = .5 (if that much. the sample still seemed clear even after I put in the powder, but for good measure I dropped in a drop of R-0871 and I THINK it might have gotten a LITTLE clearer)
CC. = 1
TC = 1.5
pH = 7.5
TA = 90
CYA = 0 (I guess. I could still see the black dot after the tube was completely full)
I'm just a little confused by these results. I understand why the FC is so low. (LOW CYA). What I don't understand is how the CYA level is so low. I know they have a leak, but it really doesn't seem like they are replacing THAT much water with an inch every two weeks. Especially considering the fact that they have no idea what BBB is, they have NEVER fully drained their pool, and they ONLY use Trichlor to chlorinate their pool. I assumed that their CYA level would be sky high.
I'm new to pool chemistry and I'm new to TFP, but I think I've read "pool school" enough times where I'm beginning to recite it in my sleep. LOL
p.s. I KNOW I'm about to get lectured for allowing my family to continue to be "pool stored," but believe me. I've TRIED! My mother thinks I'm crazy for adding BLEACH to my pool. She said "OMG!!! That's not safe!! I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU LET YOUR KIDS SWIM IN THAT!" bahahahaha :blah: I've tried OVER and OVER and OVER to explain to her that it's the exact same thing, but you can't tell Italian women anything!!! We are born hard-headed and always right.
Also, this pool is owned three ways between her, one of her brothers, and one of her sisters. So, even if I could sell her on the idea, I would have to sell my Aunt and Uncle as well. My Uncle is the one that handles the chemicals, and if you think Italian women are pig-headed then you should see the Italian men.
A little background on their pool:
It's an in-ground pool with 33,000 gallons of water. Vinyl Liner. Sand Filter. I'm sorry but I don't know anything about the pump. I know that they use chlorine tablets in the skimmer. They don't test the water. They just take a sample to the pool store if something starts to look weird and they do whatever the pool store tells them to do to fix it. They also shock (pool store shock in a bag....they don't know anything about TFP) the pool twice a week on Wednesdays and Sundays. We are an Italian family and there are a LOT of us, so the pool stays pretty packed most weekends. Other than the pucks and shock, they only add chemicals when the pool store says they need them. They DO have a small leak somewhere that they haven't been able to find for years, because about once a week or so they have to add about an inch of water.
So.............here are the results (FYI: they added 4 pucks to the skimmer basket last night):
FC = .5 (if that much. the sample still seemed clear even after I put in the powder, but for good measure I dropped in a drop of R-0871 and I THINK it might have gotten a LITTLE clearer)
CC. = 1
TC = 1.5
pH = 7.5
TA = 90
CYA = 0 (I guess. I could still see the black dot after the tube was completely full)
I'm just a little confused by these results. I understand why the FC is so low. (LOW CYA). What I don't understand is how the CYA level is so low. I know they have a leak, but it really doesn't seem like they are replacing THAT much water with an inch every two weeks. Especially considering the fact that they have no idea what BBB is, they have NEVER fully drained their pool, and they ONLY use Trichlor to chlorinate their pool. I assumed that their CYA level would be sky high.
I'm new to pool chemistry and I'm new to TFP, but I think I've read "pool school" enough times where I'm beginning to recite it in my sleep. LOL
p.s. I KNOW I'm about to get lectured for allowing my family to continue to be "pool stored," but believe me. I've TRIED! My mother thinks I'm crazy for adding BLEACH to my pool. She said "OMG!!! That's not safe!! I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU LET YOUR KIDS SWIM IN THAT!" bahahahaha :blah: I've tried OVER and OVER and OVER to explain to her that it's the exact same thing, but you can't tell Italian women anything!!! We are born hard-headed and always right.
Also, this pool is owned three ways between her, one of her brothers, and one of her sisters. So, even if I could sell her on the idea, I would have to sell my Aunt and Uncle as well. My Uncle is the one that handles the chemicals, and if you think Italian women are pig-headed then you should see the Italian men.
