Brand new pool, first tests :)

[dunginhawk]

So My pool is in, and finally the COVER is on *auto cover* so im not blowing FC out the top, not having to drain with heavy rains...

First test

PH - 7.9
TA - 90
FC- .5
CC - 0
CYA - 0 (havent added any)
CH - 100
Sal - 3000

So not bad out of the gate really.

First thing first is to get my PH down a bit and TA as well. Would like to get TA down to 70 or so, and PH obviously around 7.6
Also going to bring up my Hardness from 100 to 200 at least... 100 just seems much too low. Do those with low CH usually raise it? or do those with Harder water only lower it?
Ive read if you are at 100 than let it be. thoughts on that?


Let the SWG run today and overnight with the cover on, it should catch up and be good to go... lets see how this goes

 

[dunginhawk]

overnight at 60% the SWG got the FC to 3.5ppm... so I went ahead and bumped it down to 40% for now... cover is on so the burn is a lot less...

 

[Richard320]

Raising Calcium to 200 or so would be prudent. We're learning that some fiberglass pools do use calcium as a filler and the finish suffers at low levels. If you haven't added any CYA yet, 3.5 Fc is actually kinda harsh.

 

[dunginhawk]

kids were in it (and its sunny) for about 2 hours this morning.. so im guessing most of that is burned off... I may go to the store and get more CYA and add what the calc says to get to 50... knowing It may be off...

 

[Richard320]

kids were in it (and its sunny) for about 2 hours this morning.. so im guessing most of that is burned off... I may go to the store and get more CYA and add what the calc says to get to 50... knowing It may be off...

With a cover you can aim for 30.

 

[dunginhawk]

See thats something no one mentioned (maybe lightly in passing and I missed it). I have an auto cover that will be on every second when no one is swimming.. so if 30 is the aim, i have enough CYA i think to get there now...
thank you very much

 

[Oly]

One of the graphs detailing FC loss from solar radiation relative to CYA levels clearly documents that most of the protection is achieved at CYA levels of 30 - 40 ppm. There continues to be additional although diminishing FC protection as ppm levels rise to 80ppm.
In your situation use of the cover adds protection and the 30ppm CYA is easy insurance and also buffers the harshness of the FC. You will want to monitor your CC levels as the cover will slow its breakdown and release.

 

[SoCal2018]

Sorry to hijack: I also have an auto-cover that will always be on except when in use or cleaning. What would be the recommended FC levels for 30 CYA + SWCG + auto-cover? Would it be the same as a non-SWCG pool with 30 CYA?

 

[mknauss]

What would be the recommended FC levels for 30 CYA + SWCG + auto-cover? Would it be the same as a non-SWCG pool with 30 CYA?

A minimum of 3 ppm FC is recommended. I suggest staying at the 4-5 ppm FC range.

 

[dunginhawk]

Recent set of tests after cover on 2 days with no swimming.. lowered swg to 20%.

PH - 7.4
TA - 100
FC - 8
CC - 0
CYA- 30
CH - 225

Everything looks within reason (FC would have been higher given its not been opened in 2.5 days) except for TA.
TA last test was 70, and PH while a bit low is ok...
TA went up 30 in a couple days? Does CYA increase TA?

 

[mknauss]

TA should not have changed. That is testing error.

 

[Richard320]

Recent set of tests after cover on 2 days with no swimming.. lowered swg to 20%.

PH - 7.4
TA - 100
FC - 8
CC - 0
CYA- 30
CH - 225

Everything looks within reason (FC would have been higher given its not been opened in 2.5 days) except for TA.
TA last test was 70, and PH while a bit low is ok...
TA went up 30 in a couple days? Does CYA increase TA?

Somehow, yes. Poolstores often give "Adjusted Alkalinity" that deducts some percentage of the CYA. Beyond that, I have no idea how or why.

But now I do. A little googling found Role Of Cyanuric Acid (CYA)…

The cyanuric acid/cyanurate system contributes to total alkalinity since total alkalinity is the sum of all titratable alkaline substances and cyanurate is a titratable alkaline substance. Therefore, the total alkalinity titration measures both carbonate and cyanurate alkalinities.

 

[dunginhawk]

hmmm interesting... so now I have to lower TA with an already low PH.. I fear with my low PH i may not be able to aerate it enough to get it back in the good range... bit of a pickle.

 

[Richard320]

hmmm interesting... so now I have to lower TA with an already low PH.. I fear with my low PH i may not be able to aerate it enough to get it back in the good range... bit of a pickle.

Why? 100 TA isn't going to cause any problems.

 

[dunginhawk]

No? just trying to keep it in range of what ive seen.. If there are no issues than ill leave it. If thats the case I have a pretty balanced pool which is great.... Perhaps time to add borates

 

[Richard320]

No? just trying to keep it in range of what ive seen.. If there are no issues than ill leave it. If thats the case I have a pretty balanced pool which is great.... Perhaps time to add borates

I'd wait until you get the hang of balancing it now. Why add another ball to juggle?

 

[dunginhawk]

So I do not like the fact that I need to open my cover often enough to burn off the FC... so the pool hasnt been used since sunday and the FC is now at 12-13.. swg is on 20% But i want to run my filter 24/7 so I guess its not an option... perhaps I can run the swg on 20% for 12 hours a day and be in a good spot...

 

[santacruzpool]

I mentioned in one of your other threads (cough - the zero CYA one )...that I run my CYA between 30-40 with a cover on the pool the majority of the time.

I am right now running my pool pump for 5 hours each day and my SWCG is set at 25% when closed...Now that we have warmer water, and are actually swimming a bit, I am probably going to up my pump run time a bit. I tend to max at 7-8 hours during the summer and can stay around 25% on the SWCG and generate enough to keep the FC at 4-6ppm. I bump it up or down a tiny bit as needed.

 

[duraleigh]

If you cover the pool all the time, you may have some issues.

One is an increase in CC's....pools like UV from the sun to get rid of CC's

Another is quicker deterioration of your cover. Somehow the closed environment is hard on covers....I don't know why but it is.

Pools like to breathe. I would suggest uncovering (in daylight) for several hours maybe twice weekly.

Do you have a reason for wanting to keep it covered constantly?

 

[dunginhawk]

Dave... its all about safety... I have a 7 and 5 year old and there are about 50 other kids in the neighborhood of similar age... we have a fence and thats fine... but its still a major safety concern for my wife and i.
anytime its not being used, its covered. period...
well right now I need to try to burn off some of the FC so its open, but im also in my office working (and can physically watch it ).
I am certainly aware of the fact that the cover will wear out quicker, and they arent cheap thats for dang sure... Its just a thing we need to do.
I may look at lowering the pump run time... My PB has his running non stop 24/7 all summer and ive read a lot of things that if you can do it, do it.. however there isnt a lower setting than 20% on my SWG and I am producing too much chlorine right now... Im actually going to go turn it off right now so I dont build up even more.