New contract / New build - SE Pennsylvania, Gunite free form pool and spa

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Just going to throw this out there. I know some people on here use the blue devil for cya vs the one in the kit. Check it out. I bought one. It’s much easier for me know. You still need to read a dot but the process is different so you can go back and forth easier to see it and not see it. Check it out. When u see it u will understand what I mean. The tube starts filled and you move the dot up and down.
 
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kimkats said:
All of that sounds wonderful!

The pucks will help keep the pH in check. Keep that in mind when you stop using them and be ready.

Kim:kim:
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Thanks Kim. Good point regarding the ph, after running the math via pool math, the 10+ pucks I'm consuming overall in the past 2 weeks are really holding PH down. I was wondering why I've had to add so little MA over the last week, lol. Theoretically I should be around 35-40 CYA or so once all of these dissolve but will confirm via testing probably on Saturday.

jimim said:
Just going to throw this out there. I know some people on here use the blue devil for cya vs the one in the kit. Check it out. I bought one. It’s much easier for me know. You still need to read a dot but the process is different so you can go back and forth easier to see it and not see it. Check it out. When u see it u will understand what I mean. The tube starts filled and you move the dot up and down.
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Thanks Jim! I may need to pick up an alternate test as well. Looking on amazon the pentair kit is highly rated as well, anyone used that? Looks like you might get a little more mileage out of this one vs. the BlueDevil -
Amazon.com : Pentair R151226 79 Cyanuric Acid Test Kit : Swimming Pool Liquid Test Kits : Gateway

vs BlueDevil

Amazon.com : Blue Devil Cyanuric Acid Test Kit for Swimming Pools, 4 oz. : Gateway
 
jimim said:
From what I read on here they r the exact same. I also read to get a refill quart bottle cause you go through it quick. I did what was said. You do go through it very quickly.
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Ah ok. I was assuming the smaller bottles (4 and 8oz) would go VERY quickly and thought the 32oz would make sense. Ugh, I've already spent so much on testing and chemicals in the last couple weeks. On the other hand, what's another 45 bucks, lol!
 
Gorilla83 said:
Ah ok. I was assuming the smaller bottles (4 and 8oz) would go VERY quickly and thought the 32oz would make sense. Ugh, I've already spent so much on testing and chemicals in the last couple weeks. On the other hand, what's another 45 bucks, lol!
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I can make you spend more now. I just bought a ph meter. I have a thread on here somewhere about it. Love it. Now at least I know my ph is accurate. I compare it to the drop test.
 
jimim said:
I can make you spend more now. I just bought a ph meter. I have a thread on here somewhere about it. Love it. Now at least I know my ph is accurate. I compare it to the drop test.
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Found your thread. Really Jim, really? Now you have me looking at those. LOL.

In all seriousness, do you really need to calibrate every other day? That would definitely be a turnoff for me. I even considered finding just the Pentair Intellichem control unit with just the sensors on a deal to monitor ORP and PH remotely. I don't think i'd trust it to control but would be awesome to have that info on my phone all the time. I have a NIB intelliph unit in my garage that I figured I'd wait to install until the PH settles down some.
 
Gorilla83 said:
Found your thread. Really Jim, really? Now you have me looking at those. LOL.

In all seriousness, do you really need to calibrate every other day? That would definitely be a turnoff for me. I even considered finding just the Pentair Intellichem control unit with just the sensors on a deal to monitor ORP and PH remotely. I don't think i'd trust it to control but would be awesome to have that info on my phone all the time. I have a NIB intelliph unit in my garage that I figured I'd wait to install until the PH settles down some.
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The company recommends to re-calibrate it every other day which I think is completely insane but I understand where they’re coming from and I know others on here have recommended calibrating it pretty frequently I end up doing it I would say once a week at first it was taking me a bunch of minutes to do it but now I could literally do it in about a minute and a half so it’s really easy and I definitely don’t mind having to do it at least once a week or even twice if I think my pH reading is wonky
 
Gorilla83 said:
Found your thread. Really Jim, really? Now you have me looking at those. LOL.

In all seriousness, do you really need to calibrate every other day? That would definitely be a turnoff for me. I even considered finding just the Pentair Intellichem control unit with just the sensors on a deal to monitor ORP and PH remotely. I don't think i'd trust it to control but would be awesome to have that info on my phone all the time. I have a NIB intelliph unit in my garage that I figured I'd wait to install until the PH settles down some.
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I get very paranoid about my pH being that it’s fluctuating still especially in the summer when the salt unit is on and I like to run my CSI pretty negative so I don’t have to worry about scale so I like to make sure I’m accurate with the pH because that has the biggest influence on my CSI I just don’t trust my eyes with the drop kit at all
 

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jimim said:
The company recommends to re-calibrate it every other day which I think is completely insane but I understand where they’re coming from and I know others on here have recommended calibrating it pretty frequently I end up doing it I would say once a week at first it was taking me a bunch of minutes to do it but now I could literally do it in about a minute and a half so it’s really easy and I definitely don’t mind having to do it at least once a week or even twice if I think my pH reading is wonky
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I sometimes struggle with the colors as well, but seem to get it in the right range or so at least with .2ph or so which might be good enough. I'd still consider the meter, but the calibration thing seems like it might be more work that it's worth for me. :(

YippeeSkippy said:
Most folks aren't testing their CYA but for a couple times each season unless they've made some alterations in something.
Maddie :flower:
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Thanks Maddie, I was hoping the same. I should be close to 40 once everything in the pool currently dissolves, and I'll slowly ramp it up as it comes time for the SWCG to be setup and installed. :) Hopefully 3-4 more tests and I should be dialed in.
 
jtburf said:
Wozer, Beautiful slice of paradise in your back yard!!!!


John
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Thank you John! We are excited to have it finally come together.

2 big milestones today:

1) Got the robot in the pool and it did a fantastic job cleaning. Definitely an awesome purchase. Thanks to Margaret @ Marina for the great deal on our Dolphin M400.

2) Whole family got in the spa today and had a lot of fun. Really nice cranking up the heater! Might be a bit much to heat the whole pool right now, but in a couple of weeks the water temps should be in the 70s so we'll crank it up soon.

Did a sweep of tests today too:

FC 6 (at the upper range here but haven't added anything, pucks are finally dissolving)
PH 7.4
TA 60
CH 200 (added 8 lbs)
CYA 30 (will continue using pucks for a couple weeks to bump this up a little, then will add conditioner again once we have the SWCG up and running)
CSI -0.38
 
jimim said:
Nice job man! The robots r awesome. I through mine in for 4 hours today. Figured that would be my brushing for the day also while I washed my truck. Lol
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Thanks Jim! I'm still considering that dang PH meter of course, haha. Going to think over the weekend on it and likely order next week. I'm becoming a bit obsessed with keeping everything in check. :) We're leaving for a day to head down the beach so it will be the first time I go a whole 36 hours without testing hah.

Numbers for the morning:
FC 6
CC 0
PH 7.6, added a quart to keep it in check over the next day
CH 250 (tested again after adding yesterday, looking good)
 
What beach u going to? You are pretty close to cape May?

My buddy is my pool boy when we go away if my parents are with us. If they aren’t my parents get the job. Lol

If you getcthe meter getcthe one I have notcthe blue version. That one does salt levels too I guess and the salt readings aren’t very accurate so no need for it. Get the meter as the kit not just the meter. That way u get the large bottle of buffer solutions to calibrate vs the small bottles the unit comes with. The kit has a nice tray u pour little bits of solution in to calibrate. I then use the small buffer solutions as “quick calibration check” before I do my good reading. I just stick the probe in the 7.0 little bottle. You will understand when u get it. Oh that thread has pics of it all. I’ll post my daily process also when I get a chance. For now just get the full kit.

Oh and if you are going to the beach please tell me you are going to fish! Nothing like surf fishing! The best!
 
We have a place in sea isle city so not far from cape may at all. We rent our house out in the peak season of July and August so have the pool at home will be awesome to hold us over and keep us from missing it too much. No fishing this trip but probably in June. :)

From our deck - we are blessed indeed
99748


Checking out the meter now.....
 
Nice! I love surf fishing. We go to North Carolina each summer. What’s nice down there is no life guards so u can fish all day. Plus when ocean front you own ur beach front so it’s only u and ur neighbors so if they aren’t out I go onto their property get my poles in so the kids can still swim on our side and fish on!
 
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Sorry to change the conversation @Gorilla83 although I would love a place by the beach.

Anyway I checked out your build and overall everything looks great to me. Hope the weather warms up so you can enjoy it.

By chance is your plaster ansylbrite colbalt blue? If so, that's our color as well.
 
I don't get the extra hassle of having a pH probe (unless it's just a tech addiction thing). IF you can read the pH test easily (which takes a little practice) it's super simple and reliable.
 
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