sivymp1 - testing

[Sivymp1]

I started a new thread for your post. It is confusing to everyone when two posters are asking question within the same thread (Hi-jacking). Plus, posting your question in a new Thread is more likely to get responses. --duraleigh, TFP Moderator

I just got my Taylor T-2006 and was trying the CYA test for the first time. I did exactly as the instructions but the dot never disappeared. What do I do?

 

[bridgman]

Re: How do you test for CYA?

Probably just means you have very little CYA in the water. If there is CYA the mixture of pool water and CYA reagent will turn milky when you shake it... and so will gradually obscure the dot as you fill up the tube.

IIRC for the most accurate reading you should be standing with your back to direct sunlight, ie so sun is not shining directly on the tube as you're filling it.

Is the pool water fresh (ie you just filled it) or has it been in use for some months ?

 

[Sivymp1]

Re: How do you test for CYA?

My pool water has been really cloudy like you cannot see a foot down. Went to the pool store (frustrated) and got some Revive. Used that while waiting for my Test kit to arrive and it cleared up teh pool somewhat. I can see the bottom now but it is still cloudy. I vacuumed to waste a lot but there is still some there but had to add some water. So there is some old water and some new in the pool.

 

[JasonLion]

Please post a complete set of test results.

 

[Sivymp1]

Fc= 1
cc=.4
ph=7.4
ta=130

 

[JasonLion]

It looks like you need some CYA, raise to around 30 to 40 to start with.

TA and PH are fine for the moment.

CC at 0.4 means you need to SLAM the pool, or perhaps continue SLAMing the pool if you have already started. Instructions on SLAMing are in the How To section of Pool School.

 

[Sivymp1]

I was going to SLAM the pool and started but did not have the kit yet. Dumped 8 Gal of Chlorine in and it did nothing about a week ago. I have a kit now so I can test it.

 

[JasonLion]

The M in SLAM stands for Maintain. If you don't maintain the FC level you are essentially throwing away all the chlorine you added previously, the algae simply grows back.

 

[Sivymp1]

I am off today so I will finish up vacuuming to waste the rest of the **** on the bottom and start this process all over. This stuff that is making the pool cloudy is white and real fine. My filter would not even catch it. What is it?

 

[JasonLion]

There are a couple of possibilities for fine white cloudiness. Calcium dust is the most likely possibility, but other blown in dusts can sometimes have the same effect.

 

[Sivymp1]

Is the calcium dust what is setteling on the bottom then and is there other ways of getting rid of it other than vacuuming to waste?

 

[duraleigh]

Your filter should catch everything you can see. How do you know it is not catching it? Do you have a pic to help identify it?

 

[Sivymp1]

When I was vacuuming it it was just blowing out the return, it was all cloudy. I was tired of losing all the water so I thought the filter would catch it. Nope so it just blew right back into the pool.

 

[JasonLion]

That means either something is wrong with your filter, or you had the multi-port valve on circulate instead of filter.

 

[rterickson]

'Vacuum to waste' should bypass the filter completely, and should drain to your waste line, not return to the pool. Are you sure your valves are correctly set?

 

[Sivymp1]

When it was blowing back to the pool I was not vacuuming to waste. I thought the filter would catch it and that is when I saw it blowing through the return.

- - - Updated - - -

I have a cartridge filter not a sand filter also.

 

[JasonLion]

You might have a torn cartridge, or possibly a bad seal inside the multi-port valve, that is letting dirt bypass the filter.

 

[Sivymp1]

Here are my readings as of last night. I think the cloudiness is caused by the calcium. Will Slamming the pool clear that up?
FC=3.6
CC=.4
PH=7.2
TA=150
CYA=30
CH=290

 

[JasonLion]

Again, getting visible debris/cloudiness coming through the filter is almost invariably because of something wrong with either the filter or the multi-port valve.

Your cloudiness is very unlikely to be due to calcium, though I can't completely rule it out. If it is calcium related, lowering TA will clear it up. SLAMing would make any calcium related problems worse.

I am more concerned with your CC reading of 0.4. If you are using a FAS-DPD chlorine test, needing to use two drops when measuring CC indicates a problem. If that doesn't clear up very soon you should SLAM the pool.

 

[Sivymp1]

Ok not sure which is my multi-port valve. I have two of them. One that comes from the skimmer and one that goes to the return. Filter is fine.