Got the test kit!

[Nefid]

Hi, I posted a week or so ago about getting a new house with a pool and my test kit finally arrived, I got the K-2006 as suggested. Finally got around to testing and here are the results:

pH: 7.7/7.8
FC: 3.6 ppm
TC: 3.8 ppm (CC was close to zero I thought)
TA: 80 ppm
CH: 30 ppm
CYA: <40 ppm

So it seems like my calcium is pretty low, and my CYA was almost nonexistent. What's everyone's recommendation for the calcium replacement/CYA? I have a jar of Tums upstairs....

Looks like CYA is mostly available just from the pool store as a stabilizer, right? I have some stabilizer the guy left behind, but I'm unsure of how much I need put in (likely he doesn't have enough based on what I'm seeing @ pool math).

I know I've seen it elsewhere on the site, but I'd LOVE to hear how often most of you test you pool levels (pH every day?) once you are at stable levels.

Thanks!

 

[Texas Splash]

Test kit - great! So before you increase CYA .... is the water clear? Absolutely NO signs of algae? If not, then yes, increase CYA to "70" because you have a SWG. Increase the FC right away as well with some bleach for the next couple days to keep it at about 5 or so. CH should not apply, at least not for your vinyl pool anyways. If you have a requirement to have "some" calcium for your SWG, then let us know. Your owner's manual may say something about that. TA is great, and pH is okay. Don't let it creep over 7.8 though. Right now, focus on the CYA (yes - stabilizer) to get it to 70 and increase the FC a little. Once the CYA is increased, your SWG should hold the FC much better. Hope that helps.

 

[Nefid]

Water is crystal clear, no sign of algae. Shouldn't I use the salt generator to increase chlorine? Or is bleach better?

 

[Texas Splash]

Shouldn't I use the salt generator to increase chlorine? Or is bleach better?

The suggestion for bleach is only an interim thing until you get the CYA increased and the SWG can hold your FC level better. The last thing you want is for algae to try and get in there when the FC is on the low end. As soon as you are comfortable with the SWG's performance with the new CYA level, stop the bleach and you're good-to-go.

 

[djorn2k]

Hi Nefit. I'm sorry to high jack your posting. I am newbie and started with my own pool. The pool is not up yet but it will be next weekend. Do you have the description of the kit? Is it the one below?

NEW Taylor K-2006 Complete Swimming Pool/Spa Test Kit FAS-DPD K2006 Chlorine

 

[chiefwej]

Hi Nefit. I'm sorry to high jack your posting. I am newbie and started with my own pool. The pool is not up yet but it will be next weekend. Do you have the description of the kit? Is it the one below?

NEW Taylor K-2006 Complete Swimming Pool/Spa Test Kit FAS-DPD K2006 Chlorine

There are only two test kits that we recommend, the Taylor K-2006C (that letter C is important) and the TF-100 from TFTestkits.net.. Of the two the TF-100 is the better value. It contains more of the reagents for the test you will be doing the most.

For more on test kits go here:
Pool School - Test Kits Compared

 

[Fingaling]

Water is crystal clear, no sign of algae. Shouldn't I use the salt generator to increase chlorine? Or is bleach better?

Bleach and SWG chlorine are chemically the same...

Use bleach to get the FC to where you want it and the SWG to maintain that level. It's very hard on the SWG to bring the FC level up, and if you have one that's "appropriately" sized, it may not be able to handle it.