I was using faulty test strips & ran my CYA way up to 99 PPM. Then I found your forum, had Leslie Pool try to sell me 45 Lbs of water hardener for my vinyl pool at $76 and now I'm trying to figure out your way. I ordered the test kit from the site and I'm attempting to dump half of my pool water to replace it and get better sanitizing from my bleach as well as have the ability to shock if necessary with a lower CYA. Is my thinking sound? Should I shoot for 50 PPM with around 12 hours + of direct sunlight on the water per day?
CYA 99, dumping masive amounts of water. Good idea?
- Thread starter Erickson
- Start date
Welcome to TFP!!
While I love your enthusiasm and desire to do it the right way, the tenant of TFP care says that we make recommendations based on accurate test readings. Wait a couple of days and lets see what your testing reveals. I admit, a 99 on pool store testing is usually shorthand for "so darn high we can't test it".
Give us some test results to base opinions on.
While I love your enthusiasm and desire to do it the right way, the tenant of TFP care says that we make recommendations based on accurate test readings. Wait a couple of days and lets see what your testing reveals. I admit, a 99 on pool store testing is usually shorthand for "so darn high we can't test it".
Give us some test results to base opinions on.
I agree with Tim. Although replacing half the water would not hurt anything ... After you test you may learn that you need to replace more water.
FC was 4 but I added enough bleach to raise to 10 and I'm awaiting the adequate test kit to test over 5
TC was 4
CH 90
CYA 99
TA 100
pH 7.4
It seems I can assume water exchange is inevitable. Would you agree or should I wait for the test kit? If 100 is the max I can test for I need to add new water just to get a good reading I'm assuming. I was using pucks, powdered shock, & then added 4 lbs of CYA thinking I was still low before I found this web site.
TC was 4
CH 90
CYA 99
TA 100
pH 7.4
It seems I can assume water exchange is inevitable. Would you agree or should I wait for the test kit? If 100 is the max I can test for I need to add new water just to get a good reading I'm assuming. I was using pucks, powdered shock, & then added 4 lbs of CYA thinking I was still low before I found this web site.
You are on the right track for sure! Ordering the test kit will help you take over your pool.
How does your pool look right now?
Your thinking is sound until you get your test kit. Once you get your kit run the tests and let us know what the results are. There are videos for each test as well.
Kim
How does your pool look right now?
Your thinking is sound until you get your test kit. Once you get your kit run the tests and let us know what the results are. There are videos for each test as well.
Kim
Kim, the pool looks a little cloudy, but good. I just killed off & cleaned up a bunch of algae. Where are the test videos?
As jason pointed out, and you seem to understand - at least a partial drain & refill is in your future. If you want to now, I would keep it top 1/3 to 1/2.
Videos are HERE
There is a dilution test you can do that is not all that accurate. See the extended test instructions sticky in the testing forum.
So, I grabbed an Intex pump from a seasonal pool & dropped it completely into the pool with the return hose over the side wall and ran it for a couple hours last night. I turned it off, turned on my water to fill & went to bed. I got home from work tonight & the water level was where it was when I went to bed last night. Turns out the pump continued to siphon all night & day. guess I'm about back to a complete restart. So, if ever I get a full pool I need to understand what I'm doing.
Do I fill to my max, run pump for 30 minutes, test chemistry, balance AK, Balance pH, add CYA if needed, then chlorinate?
Do I fill to my max, run pump for 30 minutes, test chemistry, balance AK, Balance pH, add CYA if needed, then chlorinate?
I do not know what AK is ... I assume you mean TA.
You should fill, circulate for an hour and then run a full set of test results to figure out what needs to be adjusted.
You should fill, circulate for an hour and then run a full set of test results to figure out what needs to be adjusted.
Yeah, TA. I'll figure this stuff out eventually. I knew it was wrong, but couldn't remember & just kept typing. Is the order of adjusting levels the most important thing?
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Yeah, TA. I'll figure this stuff out eventually. I knew it was wrong, but couldn't remember & just kept typing. Is the order of adjusting levels the most important thing?
- - - Updated - - -
Yeah, TA. I'll figure this stuff out eventually. I knew it was wrong, but couldn't remember & just kept typing. Is the order of adjusting levels the most important thing?
Usually chlorine and pH are the most important, but it really depends on the test results.
Pool Should be full tonight, test kit won't be here till tomorrow night. I can test with a DPD kit tonight, but that'll leave me uncertain of where my CYA ended up. My concern is balancing tonight and still having high CYA tomorrow and needing to dump more. Hard to imagine after so much water loss, but I'm trying to save money. Should I get chlorine to around 5 for the time being & wait on the kit to confirm CYA, or balance everything I can now?
Well, you can not really do much until you now the CYA level. Sure you can raise the FC to 5ppm if you want.
Better question is:
Will I run the risk of my fresh water getting contaminated while I wait to test CY?
Will I run the risk of my fresh water getting contaminated while I wait to test CY?
