A few days ago I made my regular run to the local pool store to re-stock on liquid chlorine and took along a water sample for testing. I don't usually do that because I have the proper test kit but I thought I'd see how their results compare to mine. I discovered that they have a new system that was just installed that I've never seen before, replacing the usual equipment. With this new system they use a syringe to inject water into a disposable plastic disk like a small hockey puck which then is inserted into a machine which does the tests. After a minute the results print out. The system tests for everything including CYA. The results were pretty much identical to mine and, for the first time ever at a pool store, I wasn't advised to shock my pool and/or to adjust my ph and TA. The results were all ok with no recommended intervention. Will wonders never cease?
Has anyone else encountered this system? It seems to be less error prone because it's so automated and isn't so subject to carelessness and contamination as the old manual equipment with its beakers, titration tubes and whatnot.
Also, I seem to go through more chlorine than I expected to. My pool is in full sun for much of the day so I have the CYA at 50ppm but I find it really difficult to keep the level at the recommend 6ppm. I chlorinate in the evening and by then my TC has usually dropped to near zero which I know is not good. I have no overnight chlorine loss and my water is clear so I don't think there's anything growing in my pool. Should I be adding chlorine more often in smaller amounts to maintain the level? That would be more difficult as I'm not always home during the day. Raising the level to 6ppm from near zero ppm every day is consuming a lot of chlorine, almost 4 litres a day of 11% liquid chlorine. What should my 24 hour loss be if everything is working properly? I thought it would only drop to 3 or 4ppm between applications but that's not the case. Am I doing something wrong? Also, my pH tends to creep up despite adding acid to bring it down. Will it eventually stabilize?
This morning's readings:
FC - 6
CC - 0
TA - 100
ph - 8
CYA - 50
Water is clear and clean except for overnight worms from the rain.
Has anyone else encountered this system? It seems to be less error prone because it's so automated and isn't so subject to carelessness and contamination as the old manual equipment with its beakers, titration tubes and whatnot.
Also, I seem to go through more chlorine than I expected to. My pool is in full sun for much of the day so I have the CYA at 50ppm but I find it really difficult to keep the level at the recommend 6ppm. I chlorinate in the evening and by then my TC has usually dropped to near zero which I know is not good. I have no overnight chlorine loss and my water is clear so I don't think there's anything growing in my pool. Should I be adding chlorine more often in smaller amounts to maintain the level? That would be more difficult as I'm not always home during the day. Raising the level to 6ppm from near zero ppm every day is consuming a lot of chlorine, almost 4 litres a day of 11% liquid chlorine. What should my 24 hour loss be if everything is working properly? I thought it would only drop to 3 or 4ppm between applications but that's not the case. Am I doing something wrong? Also, my pH tends to creep up despite adding acid to bring it down. Will it eventually stabilize?
This morning's readings:
FC - 6
CC - 0
TA - 100
ph - 8
CYA - 50
Water is clear and clean except for overnight worms from the rain.
