Pool just turned over... Now what?

[Turbo1Ton]

Pool builder just turned over the pool to me last Tuesday. I had bought my TF-100 Test kit a little while back so I could have it ready to go. I did several practice runs while it was still under the PB control. Everything looked pretty good (I think) when I ran those tests.

Ran tests today... Here are the results:

Water Temp - 66 F
FC - 0.0
PH - 8.2
TA - 110
CH - 475
CYA - 20
Salt - 600
BOR - 0 (not using any at the moment)
CSI - 0.82

I have added the recommended acid based on the TA and PH numbers, according to the pool math app. It recommended lowering PH to 7.2 to lower TA, then aerate. So I added the 47oz. of acid as recommended and will aerate later with the bubblers and waterfalls.

Is the CH so high because of the new plaster?

CH of replacement water is 225.

Looking forward to the responses from brain trust.

Thank you,

Jeff

 

[ajw22]

How long since water was added to pool.

You need chlorine ASAP. Add at least 3 ppm of liquid chlorine to the pool.

Don't worry about your TA right now. Run your pH around 7.6-7.8.

Your CH is fine.

Maintaining your FC following the FC/CYA Levels and keeping your pH in the 7's should be your priorities right now.

 

[JJ_Tex]

+1 on Chlorine ASAP. Did the builder not put any? Have you not put any?

 

[YippeeSkippy]

Is your SWG actually working in the cold water? Most of the time they stop after the water cools down below 60degrees or so. During those times just use liquid chlorine until the water is warm enough to turn the SWG on again.
Luckily, FC lasts a lot longer in winter with cold water too.....

Re: CH question- yes, probably new plaster dust still in the water.

Maddie

 

[Turbo1Ton]

Pool was filled on Jan 27th. I have added a little bit since then, not much. It is on an auto fill now.

Builder had chlorine in... Last time I checked while under their care, FC was 2.5, CC - 0.5. Just turned over on Tuesday, I poorly assumed that they had been keeping up with the everything. Clearly they had not.

Maddie - No the SWG is not even connected at the moment. Salt has not been added to the pool yet. Builder will do that once temps warm up.

Added chlorine bleach... straight, basic, no added stuff, 5.7% chlorine bleach per the recommended quantity on pool math to bring FC up to 4.

@ajw22 - Looks like I need to add some stabilizer as well, based on the chart. Since the SWG is not running currently, should I follow the non SWCG chart for the moment?

Thanks for the responses!

--Jeff

 

[JJ_Tex]

When mine was starting up this winter, I added pucks to a floater (4 at a time). They were able to get my CYA at 20-30 and meet most of my FC requirements with some added liquid chlorine every so often. I followed the non SWCG chart at that time.

Now that the weather has started to turn and my SWCG is running consistently, I have bumped up the CYA and am following the SWCG chart.

 

[ajw22]

@ajw22 - Looks like I need to add some stabilizer as well, based on the chart. Since the SWG is not running currently, should I follow the non SWCG chart for the moment?

Yes, add 10 ppm of stabilizer to get your CYA around 30 and follow the non SWG chart.

When the salt is added you can raise your CYA to 60-70.

 

[Turbo1Ton]

Today's test results:

FC - 3.0
CC - 0.5
PH - 7.5
TA - 80
CH - 375
CYA - 20
Salt - 600
BOR - 0 (not used)
Temp - 64F
CSI - -0.13

Adding stabilizer to bring CYA up to 30 and will follow the chart.

Thanks

--Jeff

 

[Turbo1Ton]

Alright... PB added salt this week. Water temps are near 60 now. SWCG should be producing chlorine now. They didn't add quite enough so I don't think the SWCG was producing for the first couple of days. I added salt yesterday to bring the level up to where it is now. The red 'low salt' light finally went off on the IC40.

I have been testing every couple of days and monitoring/adjusting as necessary. This is not the first test since my previous post.

Test results today

FC - 8.5
PH - 8.2
TA - 100
CH - 400
CYA - 60
Salt - 3200
BOR - 0
CSI - 0.37
Temp - 57F

I added acid to bring down the PH and I added CYA thursday to start bringing that up since I should be following the SWCG FC/CYA chart now.

Intellicenter chemistry shows 2800 salt level. I did read that the accuracy of that value can be +/- 500ppm.

The PB had the IC40 cell at 50%. I am currently running the pump 24/7. Intend to cut the run time back as I learn the pool. I cut back the SWCG to 20% at the moment.

Any advice/thoughts are much appreciated.

Thanks

--Jeff

 

[YippeeSkippy]

Just test daily and if your FC rises more than necessary either lower the % or the pump hours. Either one will reduce the chlorine production.

Most SWG pools seem to like a pH of 7.8 for some reason. Don't fight it

Maddie

 

[Turbo1Ton]

Most SWG pools seem to like a pH of 7.8 for some reason. Don't fight it
Maddie

Thanks Maddie.

Yeah, I have read that multiple times on here. I guess the question I have is, do I add acid to drop it below that when I do make adjustments, like shoot for 7.5 or so, or just to bring it back down to 7.8? And if they like to reside around the 7.8 mark, at what high level do you bring it back down, 8.0, 8.2?

I can tell you I am seriously considering an IntelliPH after chasing this PH for the past couple of weeks. Dosing a few ounces a day, automatically seems like the way to go.

Thanks,

--Jeff

 

[ajw22]

Let the pH rise to 8 and then add MA to drop pH down between 7.6 - 7.8.

 

[mariane]

Test results today

FC - 8.5
PH - 8.2
TA - 100
CH - 400
CYA - 60
Salt - 3200
BOR - 0
CSI - 0.37
Temp - 57F

@ajw22 and @YippeeSkippy
Is it too early for Turbo1Ton to lower TA since it is high? And wouldn't that help to bring the pH down to a better level?

 

[ajw22]

Better to just let TA drop down as pH is lowered.

@Turbo1Ton what is the pH, TA and CH of your fill water?

 

[Turbo1Ton]

@ajw22

Fill Water
PH - 7.8
TA - 100
CH - 175

 

[ajw22]

With a fill water TA of 100 trying to knock the TA down will be frustrating as every time you add fill water your TA will rise again.

 

[Turbo1Ton]

Just trying to make sure I have the hang of this...

Added a little bit more CYA to bring up to 70 earlier this week. Added a few cups of acid to bring PH back down.

This morning's results:

FC - 10.0
CC - 0.0
PH - 7.8
TA - 80
CH - 375
CYA - 70
Salt - 3400
Bor - 0 (not using)
CSI - -0.06
Temp - 73F

I am not sure what I should be targeting for FC other than what the chart says. Seems the consensus is to keep it on the higher side of the target for instances where it might get used up. Pool Math app says 3-10. It is climbing as it was 8.5 the other day when I checked. So I have backed off the SWCG % a little bit.

Other than trying to reduce TA so the PH will be more stable, anything else I should be doing?

Thanks,

--Jeff

 

[mknauss]

Looks good.

When your pH hits 8. lower it to 7.6. That will manage the TA.

Let your FC settle somewhere in the 5-7 range. With a CYA of 70, that will be perfect.

 

[Turbo1Ton]

Thanks Marty! Will keep on, keeping on this path! Appreciate you taking a look!

 

[JJ_Tex]

Make sure you are looking at the SWCG version of the chart at the bottom. CYA of 70 = target FC of 5 and min of 3 (but there is no harm in it being 7.0 or even 10).