Water chemistry - Question

[mdmello]

Hey everyone,
I’ve done a lot of reasearch on pool chemistry and have read the ABC’s but had a question about the FC and CYA. I’ve seen so many different things and opinions.
I get my water tested at a pool place and my FC was 3.92ppm (Recommended 1-3ppm) and CY was 37 (Recommended 40-80).

They told me to wait until the FC is in the recommended stage before adding the stabilizer but when I was reading here I saw FC to be anywhere from (3-6).

So what should my levels be and should I add the stabilizer or wait until the FC lowers?
Additional info:
Salt water Outdoor pool.

 

[mknauss]

You need your own test kit.

Follow Recommended Levels

We do not provide specific guidance based on pool store tests.

 

[BenB]

3.92ppm

This is a level of precision so comically and unreasonably high, I genuinely wonder what would happen if you put the same sample through several times over. Or took it outside into the sunlight for 1 minute. Would it degrade by 0.01ppm?

I’ve seen so many different things and opinions.

That's the nice thing about this place, no conflicting advice - just a single methodology that is cheap and easy to follow.

The advice you got was not good. You need to raise both CYA and FC. But as Marty says, you really need to test your own water, as the pool store results could very realistically be very significantly off.

 

[mdmello]

I’m testing water but only with strips. I’ll be getting the kit soon.
Read the manual on my salt generator and Preferred FC was 1-3.

 

[LoneWolfArcher]

I’m testing water but only with strips. I’ll be getting the kit soon.
Read the manual on my salt generator and Preferred FC was 1-3.

Welcome to TFP! This place will make you love your pool! (I hated mine the first year I owned it until I found TFP.)

I wrestled with chemistry issues trying to use strips to test. Around here they are referred to as "guess strips". Once I got a real test kit, with the help of the experts here at TFP, I was able to master my pool water chemistry because I knew exactly what the levels were in my water. (Pool store testing is shady at best. Most pool stores use free testing to get you into the store to sell you a bunch of chemicals that you do not need.)

I'd also highly suggest you read the Pool School articles. I found them so informative when I first came to TFP.

 

[BenB]

Preferred FC was 1-3.

This blanket statement is outdated. You need to follow this FC/CYA Levels.

 

[Oly]

Welcome mdmello. Get the proper tools to self test at home.

 

[mdmello]

This blanket statement is outdated. You need to follow this FC/CYA Levels.

Thanks for the help!