New pool owner in Houston!

[MiguelACA]

Hello everyone, I've been lurking around here for a few months. There is a lot of great info here! Pool was completed 2 months ago and have been enjoying it! It's not very big, but it does what its supposed to! I added all the equipment to my signature, feel free to pas along any tips or tricks about the pool or the equipment!

 

[Texas Splash]

Nice, cozy set-up you have there. Good job with your signature. Since you've been lurking for a while, you've probably heard most of our speeches, but if you have any questions for us, just shout.
ABCs of Pool Water Chemistry

 

[MiguelACA]

Thanks! I wish it could've been a bit bigger, but that's as big as I could go with a 7 foot utility easement! I could've made it a big longer, but I left space for a chair or two and for my grill. I seem to be doing ok for now, my eyes aren't perfect. The CYA test with the dot messes with me, I'll have to take it in to a pool store to get it done. One question, I've read online says to keep TA 80-120 and pH 7.4 - 7.6...but when I checked on the Ideal Levels link here, it says to keep TA 60-80 and pH 7.6-7.8?? I am not using liquid chlorine, I use the chlorine pucks in an inline tube thing. Thoughts?

Nice, cozy set-up you have there. Good job with your signature. Since you've been lurking for a while, you've probably heard most of our speeches, but if you have any questions for us, just shout.
ABCs of Pool Water Chemistry

 

[Texas Splash]

I'll have to take it in to a pool store to get it done. One question, I've read online says to keep TA 80-120 and pH 7.4 - 7.6...but when I checked on the Ideal Levels link here, it says to keep TA 60-80 and pH 7.6-7.8?? I am not using liquid chlorine, I use the chlorine pucks in an inline tube thing. Thoughts?

So yes, a few things to clear-up ....
- Those numbers you read online are generic industry numbers posted across the board without regard to pool type, method of chlorination, and potential side effects.
- Are you using our PoolMath APP yet? If not, you should. It's a great tool that tells you if you're water is within TFP ranges.
- TFP has uses science and years of pool evaluations to develop specific levels for each pool type. For example, salt pools require a higher CYA level. Tabs/pucks increase CYA over time that can disrupt proper chemistry. A lower TA can help prevent the pH from rising too fast. There are many more examples, but most of it starts with our ABCs of Pool Water Chemistry and using the PoolMath APP.
- As you may have heard already, we never trust pool store testing, and their CYA test is notorious for being incorrect. If you have the Taylor K-2006C test kit, that is all you need. See my CYA testing note below and let us know if we can help you on that.
- For a non-salt pool, liquid pool chlorine and/or regular bleach is your best long-term sanitizer. Keep the FC and CYA balanced as noted on the FC/CYA Levels. As I said, with tablets CYA will grow too fast and too high, then the pool store will tell you to replace your water. But the liquid chlorine has no side effects. Tabs are also very acidic and will drive the pH down which is why you see "generic" recommendation for a higher TA to compensate. We cover all of that for you.

But feel free to post your own numbers at ANY time. We'll look them over, tell you what's best to use, show your why (in writing), and help you learn to take 100% control.

CYA Testing:
Proper lighting is critical for the CYA test, so you want to test for CYA outside on a bright sunny day. Use the mixing bottle to gently mix the required amounts of pool water and R-0013 reagent, let sit for 30 seconds, then gently mix again. Recommend standing outside with your back to the sun and the view tube in the shade of your body at waist level. Then, begin squirting the mixed solution into the skinny tube. Watch the black dot until it completely disappears. Once it disappears, record the CYA reading. To help the eyes and prevent staring at the dot, some people find it better to pour & view in stages. Pour some solution into the viewing tube, look away, then look back again for the dot. Repeat as necessary until you feel the dot is gone. After the first CYA test, you can pour the mixed solution from the skinny view tube back to the mixing bottle, gently shake, and do the same test a second, third, or fourth time to instill consistency in your technique, become more comfortable with the testing, and validate your own CYA reading. Finally, if you still doubt your own reading, have a friend do the test with you and compare results.

 

[MiguelACA]

Thank you for the info, I had forgotten about the poolmath app, ill give it a go. I just realized doing some more reading today that FC/CYA levels need to complement each other. Ive just been trying to keep my chlorine at a 2. I'll be testing today to see what everythings at again. Are there pucks without CYA? I really like the convenience of them lol. Thanks again.

So yes, a few things to clear-up ....
- Those numbers you read online are generic industry numbers posted across the board without regard to pool type, method of chlorination, and potential side effects.
- Are you using our PoolMath APP yet? If not, you should. It's a great tool that tells you if you're water is within TFP ranges.
- TFP has uses science and years of pool evaluations to develop specific levels for each pool type. For example, salt pools require a higher CYA level. Tabs/pucks increase CYA over time that can disrupt proper chemistry. A lower TA can help prevent the pH from rising too fast. There are many more examples, but most of it starts with our ABCs of Pool Water Chemistry and using the PoolMath APP.
- As you may have heard already, we never trust pool store testing, and their CYA test is notorious for being incorrect. If you have the Taylor K-2006C test kit, that is all you need. See my CYA testing note below and let us know if we can help you on that.
- For a non-salt pool, liquid pool chlorine and/or regular bleach is your best long-term sanitizer. Keep the FC and CYA balanced as noted on the FC/CYA Levels. As I said, with tablets CYA will grow too fast and too high, then the pool store will tell you to replace your water. But the liquid chlorine has no side effects. Tabs are also very acidic and will drive the pH down which is why you see "generic" recommendation for a higher TA to compensate. We cover all of that for you.

But feel free to post your own numbers at ANY time. We'll look them over, tell you what's best to use, show your why (in writing), and help you learn to take 100% control.

 

[Texas Splash]

Pucks are convenient, but most have stabilizer. Some are pressed with calcium I believe, but that's just as bad in our area with hard water which is why it's also important to avoid those pool store powdered bags of shock and stuff. Same thing in those. Before I went with an SWG, I got my chlorine from Home Depot (3-packs) and/or Walmart's Pool Essentials.

 

[MiguelACA]

Thanks for the info, I checked the CYA level and was a bit higher than I wanted, around 50-60...still getting the hang of the disappearing dot lol. My pool is fairly small, A LOT of water is removed when we have a good amount of people in it (especially if its a bunch of kids). I can hear the auto fill going hard after a party. I figure between that and the rain, I should be ok enough as far as CYA levels. Eventually I'll give liquid stuff a go. I still have A LOT of the pucks to go through. Thoughts?