Newbie Pool Owner Needs Help

[Silva1181]

I am still away from home and decided to ask my roommate to do the FC and CYA test for me. I walked him through each step via video chat. Unfortunately, on Friday after placing more chorine in the pool, i was unable to test FC before leaving for airport..

today at 11 am TX time the results of the test were as follow:

FC-8
CYA is now at the mid line between 50-60.

I will retest again Saturday when I am back home.

 

[Texas Splash]

FC-8
CYA is now at the mid line between 50-60.

That's a good place to be right now.

 

[Silva1181]

good morning. I am back home and tested the water at 8:30 am. Here are my results. The FC is still a concern at this point as it appears to have dropped 3 ppm since yesterday morning.

I also turned off my chlorinator since we don't use it and it has no pucks in it.

FC - 5
PH - 7.8 / 8
TA - 110
CH - 350
CYA - still between 50 - 60 mark
water temp 68

according to pool math I need to add about a 1/2 gallon of chlorine to bring my FC up to 7-8. PH also seems a bit high but not sure.

Pat, I am guessing I need to do the overnight chlorine test???

 

[Silva1181]

Good morning and Happy Easter! Hope y'all don't mind the early post on a holiday.

I completed the Overnight FC Loss Test as directed in Pool School and here are my results using 10 ML, 1 heaping scoop of DPD, R0871:

Saturday night @ 9 pm it took 18 drops of R0871 to clear water = FC-9. This was after adding chlorinating liquid at 7:45 pm earlier.
This morning @ 6:30 am, 17 drops of R0871 to clear water = 8.5. Also did a CYA and it is now just below the 40 line mark.
I also did a (CC) test and the water just barely turned a hint of pink after adding 5 drops of the R0003, and I mean just barely a hint of color.

I repeated FC and CYA again with the same results. The water continues to look clear and blue. I did go in the pool yesterday afternoon to place the cover on the main drain at the bottom, since the one I had cracked. I will say I was nervous going in the water, mainly because all the reading about algae and stuff made me nervous. And, because I've added so much chlorine over the past few days.

just for reference, this is the Chlorinating Liquid I've been adding. I picked up six more bottles yesterday.

 

[Silva1181]

I am starting to feel better about the testing based on these results a few minutes ago. I will test again this evening when i get home.

FC-8
CYA-50

 

[Silva1181]

Hello, is Taylor's the best place to purchase refills of DPD and other reagents? I also found Taylor supplies on Amazon for better price but thought I'd ask if Amazon is good to buy these from. Only concern with amazon is there shipping time is about two weeks.
Thanks,

 

[mknauss]

We recommend you get refills through TFTestkits.net as you know the reagents will be fresh and they have great customer service.

 

[splashpad]

Saturday?

... I am back home and tested the water at 8:30 am. ...
CYA - still between 50 - 60 mark

Sunday?

... Also did a CYA and it is now just below the 40 line mark.
...

Monday

CYA-50

• While your FC readings look great, I want to suggest doing the CYA test in the same conditions -every time-.
• Lighting is VITAL
  • too dark/dusk and the CYA will read "lower" than it is (it will take more solution to obscure the dot)
  • too much light and the CYA will read "higher" than it actually is (less solution required to fill view tube)
• Also you do not need to test the CYA again, after confirming results, unless there is a major water event.
  • Here are Taylor's CYA Test Instructions: (with pics) Why Monitor Cyanuric Acid?

 

[Silva1181]

Marty, thank you sir. I need to order more DPD since I have been doing so much testing since receiving the kit.

splash pad thank you, this is very helpful and noted re the CYA testing. this test seems to be the most difficult when staring down to see when the black dot disappears. I've tried in direct sun light, under the patio in shade, in the house and it's been tricky. thanks again.

 

[Silva1181]

good evening, thought I'd share my readings from 5:30 pm today.

FC-5. I added appropriate level of chlorine
CC - 0
PH - 7.8
TA - 100
CH - 330
CYA - 50

I also noticed a nickel size brown spot on the pool floor which was there when I removed a a couple of leaves. In the past I would pour shock over the area and the stains would go away. This is how I was told to handle by previous owners. Here's a picture of the product I have and used to use but have not used since joining TFP. I don't think I should use this as I understand it can raise my CYA. How best to remove these types of spots?

thank you

 

[mknauss]

SLAM Process

 

[Silva1181]

Oh man, okay.