Little help until my TF100 kit arrives. Temp using a strip.

[offtheclock]

New pool finished filling 7 days ago. It is salt water and around 14000 gallons. Added 8 bags of salt on last Saturday, stirred up and had pump and filter going. Pentair chorinator got turned on Tuesday to 60%. Wednesday pool guy came as a part of package and turned chorinator to boost mode and then set to 100% and put in 2 chorine pucks to skimmer. Not sure what else. He comes back tomorrow to check over everything.

I just used test strips that same with liner. What should I do today? I dropped chlorinator to 40% removed what was left of pucks and added 2lbs PH booster. Ordered test kit but they are back ordered until 8/27.

 

[ajw22]

Do NOTHING until you get your test kit.

Your water will be fine for a few week or so with the SWG operating.

What is your pump runtime?

 

[mknauss]

If no CYA has been added (except for the small amount in the pucks) the FC will not last long.
Good on adding a bit of acid. Plan to use muriatic acid in the future. The dry stuff will damage your SWCG.

As Allen says, now just set the SWCG to create 3-4 ppm FC per day until you get your test kit. Be sure the pool guy adds nothing. Or if he does, get pictures of the containers and how much was added.

 

[ajw22]

added 2lbs PH booster.

Good on adding a bit of acid.

I think the pH was raised and not lowered. But whatever it is leave it alone. Test strips are too unreliable to be trying to adjust any water chemistry.

 

[offtheclock]

Do NOTHING until you get your test kit.

Your water will be fine for a few week or so with the SWG operating.

What is your pump runtime?

Pump runs from 7 am to 7 PM which matches the time the pool gets sun.

 

[mknauss]

I think the pH was raised and not lowered. But whatever it is leave it alone. Test strips are too unreliable to be trying to adjust any water chemistry.

Good catch Allen. The one factor that most strips can get close is pH. The small amount of Soda Ash added should not hurt anything.

 

[offtheclock]

If no CYA has been added (except for the small amount in the pucks) the FC will not last long.
Good on adding a bit of acid. Plan to use muriatic acid in the future. The dry stuff will damage your SWCG.

As Allen says, now just set the SWCG to create 3-4 ppm FC per day until you get your test kit. Be sure the pool guy adds nothing. Or if he does, get pictures of the containers and how much was added.

I do not know what setting that would be on the SWG. It was at 100% and I dropped it yesterday to 60 and today to 40% because I thought the FC was too high which was also lowering the PH.

 

[mknauss]

Use Effects of Adding Chemicals in PoolMath

You do not show pool volume or SWCG type/model in your signature or we could give you an idea of the right setting.

 

[ajw22]

Pump runs from 7 am to 7 PM which matches the time the pool gets sun.

What model cell are you running 12 hours a day at 40%? IC20? 40? or 60?

 

[offtheclock]

Use Effects of Adding Chemicals in PoolMath

You do not show pool volume or SWCG type/model in your signature or we could give you an idea of the right setting.

Oops its the Pentair IC40 and the pool is around 14000 gallons. Its a 16x32 with a 3.5ft shallow and 5.5 deep. I will update my sig.

 

[offtheclock]

What model cell are you running 12 hours a day at 40%? IC20? 40? or 60?

IC40

 

[mknauss]

60% for 12 hours will give you just over 3 ppm FC. It should be pretty much gone each day until you get some CYA in the water.

 

[offtheclock]

60% for 12 hours will give you just over 3 ppm FC. It should be pretty much gone each day until you get some CYA in the water.

Ok I will change it back to 60% from 40%. What made me question everything was the rust I was getting on the freshly installed equipment. See pictures. This sits about 10’ away from pool. Was worried I am damaging stuff with low PH

 

[mknauss]

The FC level does not effect the pH of the water.

That looks like something other than rust.

 

[Pv2]

whatever it is, it seems to be on plastic and wood too, maybe rust from metal shavings elsewhere? some kind of fertilizer?

 

[offtheclock]

whatever it is, it seems to be on plastic and wood too, maybe rust from metal shavings elsewhere? some kind of fertilizer?

I think you are correct. This did clean off and 3 days ago the yard was fertilized by a local company. Also my irrigation system to soak this area.

 

[Pv2]

another + for above ground pools!
stuff doesn't fall in them as easily!

 

[offtheclock]

Really looking forward to my test kit coming. I may of raised the PH too much with the 2 lbs of soda ash this morning. Just did a follow up test. Ph may be high and chlorine high. Alkaline up and stabilizer up. Also put swg back to 60% Also used a second test kit I had. Should I still just let it be or should I make an adjust before my kit comes? Thanks y’all

 

[Pv2]

I'd wait until I got a better test kit.

 

[ajw22]

If your FC is over 10 then your pH test may be invalid and reading incorrectly high. You are seeing the flaws in your tests. Just wait for your test kit. Nothing bad happens with high pH for a week or so.