Calcium Hardness

[Texas Mom]

Newbie. Had algae & completed SLAM. Pool looks good. I am trying to get to weekly maint. I tested water last night using K2006. CH was 180. Pool math is indicating ideal 350-550 so I would need to add 40 lbs of calcium chloride. I have never (25 yrs) added 40 lbs of anything to my pool & I don’t recall ever adding cal chloride. Test booklet indicates ideal range 150-400. Just seems like a large spectrum & I am unsure of where I need to be in the spectrum.

Also…..it seems like there is a certain order to follow when testing since some values operate in conjunction. This is the order I went in: ALK, PH Then adjusted PH & ran pump for awhile
CYA, FC, CH Then adjusted FC & ran pump for awhile
Thanks!

 

[Texas Splash]

You can run your tests in order you wish. In some scenarios, applying new chemicals may depend. But for your calcium, 180 is a bit low for plaster, but I wouldn't go to 350 right off the bat. I would consider the minimum of about 250 and let seasonal top-offs take it from there.

 

[Rancho Cost-a-Lotta]

Curious how your CH level got (or remains) so low. Is your pool fill line connected to a water softener? Did you drain refill recently? If connected to muni-water, can you test the CH?

 

[Texas Mom]

Curious how your CH level got (or remains) so low. Is your pool fill line connected to a water softener? Did you drain refill recently? If connected to muni-water, can you test the CH?

No water soft. I did have to drain a bit due to high CYA before I performed SLAM.