Water Chemistry Adjustment Help

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CaliC7Corvette

Member
May 25, 2020
9
Bakersfield, CA
Hi, I need some help. I'm new to maintaining my own pool. I have read a lot but there's a lot to take in and much to learn. I tried using the PoolMath calc but it's overwhelming for me (I am understanding the more I look at it and plug in numbers.) Is the Pool Math iOS app easier to understand and recommended for beginners?

My pump runs 8-9 hours a day. Half the time it's a lower RPM for circulation and the other half the RPM is higher for the vacuum and the sheer descent. SWG is at 70%. Water temp was 76 degrees at time was 1:30 PM for my test:

FC 3.0
CC 0
PH 8.3 (lower PH for acid demand 4 drops)
TA 170
CH 450
CYA 32
Salt 2400
Saturation Index 1.25
Water Temp: 76

Here's what I believe I need to do:
Lower PH (Muriatic Acid pH Adjuster 31%)
Lower TA (Muriatic Acid pH Adjuster 31%)
Raise CYA (Pool Time Chlorine Stabilizer 5 lbs. Balancer)
Should I increase SWG 70% higher? How do I know when the SWG needs replacing?

Am I reading my test results and making the necessary changes?

Thank you!
 
Do lower your pH to 7.4 with acid. That will lower your TA a little. Then check pH every day and when it gets to 7.6, lower to 7.2 or so. Over time that will lower your TA.
Do raise your CYA to 70 ppm. Adjust your FC with liquid chlorine to the target range for that CYA - FC/CYA Levels
Your SWCG is creating 1.4 ppm FC at 8 hours run time at 70%. You should be adding close to 3 ppm FC to your pool right now. You will need to run the SWCG more hours. At 100% setting and 12 hours, the SWCG can add 3 ppm FC to your pool each day. That will likely go up as we get into summer, though should peak at about 4 ppm FC used each day.
 
Check that your SWCG can run at that low salt level. Most need close to 3000 ppm for them to operate correctly.
 
Lower the PH in half stages and not in one large amount. Do half and let circulate 30 minutes then check again and recalculate and then whatever you still need add it then. As your new I'm trying to help you overshooting.
 
CaliC7Corvette said:
Does salt dissipate over time?
Click to expand...
Salt is only removed by removing the water in the pool with the salt. As you do not have overflow from rain, nor a sand or DE filter you backwash, then in reality, unless you have some very rambunctious pool parties, the salt level will rise in your pool. This will be due to adding acid, sweat, liquid chlorine, etc. All those items add salt to your pool.

Add about 400-500 ppm worth of salt to the pool. Let that fully dissolve and circulate (best to have the SWCG off while the salt is dissolving), then test with your K1766 in a day or two.
 
mknauss said:
Salt is only removed by removing the water in the pool with the salt. As you do not have overflow from rain, nor a sand or DE filter you backwash, then in reality, unless you have some very rambunctious pool parties, the salt level will rise in your pool. This will be due to adding acid, sweat, liquid chlorine, etc. All those items add salt to your pool.

Add about 400-500 ppm worth of salt to the pool. Let that fully dissolve and circulate (best to have the SWCG off while the salt is dissolving), then test with your K1766 in a day or two.
Click to expand...
Thanks for the help. Should I adjust my SWG to 100%, increase the pump run time, or wait until I add the salt?
 
What does the SWCG say? Is it reporting low salt? If not, raise the % generation and run time now. Add the salt soon. Remember to add more CYA and add some liquid chlorine to raise our FC to target level for the higher CYA.
 
mknauss said:
Do lower your pH to 7.4 with acid. That will lower your TA a little. Then check pH every day and when it gets to 7.6, lower to 7.2 or so. Over time that will lower your TA.
Do raise your CYA to 70 ppm. Adjust your FC with liquid chlorine to the target range for that CYA - FC/CYA Levels
Your SWCG is creating 1.4 ppm FC at 8 hours run time at 70%. You should be adding close to 3 ppm FC to your pool right now. You will need to run the SWCG more hours. At 100% setting and 12 hours, the SWCG can add 3 ppm FC to your pool each day. That will likely go up as we get into summer, though should peak at about 4 ppm FC used each day.
Click to expand...
You mentioned liquid chlorine. Do I need liquid chlorine AND chlorine stabilizer?
 

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Yes. When you raise your CYA, your target level of FC goes up. The SWCG will struggle to raise the level FC, it is good at maintaining. So raise the FC to target level for the CYA you add for and use the SWCG to maintain that level.
 
mknauss said:
What does the SWCG say? Is it reporting low salt? If not, raise the % generation and run time now. Add the salt soon. Remember to add more CYA and add some liquid chlorine to raise our FC to target level for the higher CYA.
Click to expand...
It does not indicate low salt but I trust the titration test kit over the SWG panel reading. I've had problems with the AquaLink panel.
 
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Does it matter if I use liquid chlorine or bleach? I just read they are the same just liquid chlorine is stronger. Just wondering if based on the size of my pool or something is why you recommended liquid chlorine over bleach? Thank you so much for answering my questions so quickly.
 
If you can find plain bleach, that is fine. It is hard to find. Not splashless, no scent, no Cloromax, fabric protection, etc.
 
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