Awesome, appreciate all the help! Should I post the test kit results here, or another thread?
Issue With New Fiberglass Pool & Scaling
- Thread starter norsehorse
- Start date
- Jun 22, 2014
- 47,857
- Pool Size
- 17888
- Surface
- Fiberglass
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- CircuPool RJ-45 Plus
Let's keep everything together. In fact, I just noticed the forum this thread is in. I'll move it to a more appropriate forum for testing & balancing water since that's what we seem to be discussing the most here.
Okay sounds good, thank you!Let's keep everything together. In fact, I just noticed the forum this thread is in. I'll move it to a more appropriate forum for testing & balancing water since that's what we seem to be discussing the most here.
Okay, so apparently my kit didn't include R0001 and R0002. I'll order those - probably my oversight as it says right on the kit that not all regents are included. So before I can do the Chlorine and Bonine tests, I'll need to order those. Here are some initial numbers to work with, but I'm going to need to watch some videos on a couple of the other tests before running them.
PH looks like in between a 7.2 and 7.3, so the kit says to default to the lower value.
Alkalinity is 110
CH is 240
Will update other numbers once I have them after watching some videos in the next day or two.
Thanks!
PH looks like in between a 7.2 and 7.3, so the kit says to default to the lower value.
Alkalinity is 110
CH is 240
Will update other numbers once I have them after watching some videos in the next day or two.
Thanks!
- Jun 22, 2014
- 47,857
- Pool Size
- 17888
- Surface
- Fiberglass
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- CircuPool RJ-45 Plus
You ordered the K-2006C kit correct? If so, you really only need the FAS-DPD (powder & drops) to test the FC and CC. It the best way to do it. The CYA test would also be important to start off with when you get time. If you have any questions just let us know.
FC (FAS-DPD) test: 10 ML water sample with ONE generous scoop of powder. Add R-0871 drops while mixing until clear. Take number of drops and divide in half. Example, 10 drops equals an FC of 5.
CYA Testing:
Proper lighting is critical for the CYA test, so you want to test for CYA outside on a bright sunny day. Taylor recommends standing outside with your back to the sun and the view tube in the shade of your body. Use the mixing bottle to combine/gently mix the required amounts of pool water and R-0013 reagent, let sit for 30 seconds, then gently mix again. Then, while holding the skinny tube with the black dot at waist level, begin squirting the mixed solution into the skinny tube. Watch the black dot until it completely disappears. If it helps, pour a little, look away, then look back and pour some more. Some people like to squirt enough solution to go line-by-line for a better feel. Once it disappears, record the CYA reading. After the first test, you can pour the mixed solution from the skinny view tube back to the mixing bottle, 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 the CYA reading. If you are still questioning your own results, have a friend or two do the same test 2-3 times. Share your results only after everyone is done to see if you came up with the same average results.
FC (FAS-DPD) test: 10 ML water sample with ONE generous scoop of powder. Add R-0871 drops while mixing until clear. Take number of drops and divide in half. Example, 10 drops equals an FC of 5.
CYA Testing:
Proper lighting is critical for the CYA test, so you want to test for CYA outside on a bright sunny day. Taylor recommends standing outside with your back to the sun and the view tube in the shade of your body. Use the mixing bottle to combine/gently mix the required amounts of pool water and R-0013 reagent, let sit for 30 seconds, then gently mix again. Then, while holding the skinny tube with the black dot at waist level, begin squirting the mixed solution into the skinny tube. Watch the black dot until it completely disappears. If it helps, pour a little, look away, then look back and pour some more. Some people like to squirt enough solution to go line-by-line for a better feel. Once it disappears, record the CYA reading. After the first test, you can pour the mixed solution from the skinny view tube back to the mixing bottle, 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 the CYA reading. If you are still questioning your own results, have a friend or two do the same test 2-3 times. Share your results only after everyone is done to see if you came up with the same average results.
Sounds good, will have time to do this tomorrow. Kiddos have a football game in just a bit. The PB's maintenance person said the pool would be "safe" to swim in as long as the pH was above 7.0. Based on your suggestion here, is there more to it than that?
- Jun 1, 2018
- 13,775
- Pool Size
- 26000
- Surface
- Vinyl
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Hayward Aqua Rite (T-15)
Can u take some pics of the equipment pad?
Let’s be sure the swg is plumbed AFTER the heater.
- Jun 22, 2014
- 47,857
- Pool Size
- 17888
- Surface
- Fiberglass
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- CircuPool RJ-45 Plus
- Anywhere pH between 7.2 - 7.8.
- Can see the bottom of the pool.
- Some free chlorine. If stabilizer has already been added, then simply refer to the FC/CYA Levels to see what the FC should be based on your current CYA level.
Enjoy!
Ok, I snuck out before the game and here is what I got on the others. You were right, I just looked at the wrong column. The issue with the CYA test was that the water never got cloudy. Not sure what that means.
FC came back at 2ppm and .4 CI2.
Would love your feedback if I'm missing something on the CYA test.
- Jun 1, 2018
- 13,775
- Pool Size
- 26000
- Surface
- Vinyl
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Hayward Aqua Rite (T-15)
If the tube stayed clear all the way to the top u have no cya or at least less than 20ppm.
Do u have a list of what they have put in your pool up until now?
Do u have a list of what they have put in your pool up until now?
I don't have a list. Pretty sure it's just been shock, chlorine and scale tec. I put a note out to the PB to ask.
Question for you guys - my pool got cloudy after this morning, and pH was fine. The chlorine tabs the PB's maintenance person had put in are gone, and since it's not transitioned to salt yet, I'm thinking I'd have to shock the pool. The PB said to go ahead. We have some HTH Super Shock 4 in 1 that we can use, but I'm nervous to use it with the fiberglass. Is this safe to do? I now have the robot in and running, and I don't want to go backwards with our water quality. PB told me to use 1 bag of shock. Water pH was 7.4 yesterday and the kids had their first swim. Any feedback on the shock is appreciated before I go and use it!
- Jun 22, 2014
- 47,857
- Pool Size
- 17888
- Surface
- Fiberglass
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- CircuPool RJ-45 Plus
The pH has nothing to do with it. Without a proper FC-to-CYA ratio as noted on the FC/CYA Levels, you will get algae fast. Cloudiness is the first sign. Use liquid chlorine if you can. Those bags of shock also have stabilizer which will increase the CYA over time, not to mention you don't want the granules to sit on the pool floor. Liquid chlorine is best. You need to know your CYA though so you can go back to that chart and find your ideal FC. Do you know your current CYA?
It was zero on Saturday, but I'll measure the CYA this afternoon when I get home and post results back here in a few hours.
Any recommendation on Liquid Chlorine brand? My wife put a couple tabs in earlier today, but I'm guessing that won't do much. We don't own liquid chlorine, but I can order some from Amazon today, or try to stop somewhere on my way home.
- Jun 22, 2014
- 47,857
- Pool Size
- 17888
- Surface
- Fiberglass
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- CircuPool RJ-45 Plus
Walmart usually has Pool Essentials liquid chlorine. Or your local Home Improvement store's pool section may have some. Pool stores have liquid chlorine (called liquid pool shock) which is fine but might cost a bit more. Lastly there's laundry bleach (regular/plain). Its basically the same thing only not as strong. Using the PoolMath APP, you should add about 4-5 ppm worth of chlorine as soon as possible. Tabs are okay for short-term use, but they are acidic so they should never go in the skimmer and they are "stabilized" which means they do increase the CYA level with each puck.
- Jun 1, 2018
- 13,775
- Pool Size
- 26000
- Surface
- Vinyl
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Hayward Aqua Rite (T-15)
Look at Home Depot, lowes, Walmart- ordering liquid chlorine online is expensive & u can’t check the Julian date code on the bottle to ensure freshness.
With your ph of 7.4 you must be careful if the “shock” product u use is dichlor or trichlor as those will lower your ph. The tabs do this as well. Always use PoolMath effects of adding beforehand so u know what will happen.
Without cya/stabilizer your fc won’t last long & you’ll be back in the no zone quick. While u are out pick some of that up too. Should be in the pool area near the liquid chlorine.
Get 2 bags (usually 4# each). Use the sock method & poolmath to add 30ppm worth & chlorinate accordingly with liquid chlorine. U can use the tabs to help with fc & cya until u get the swg going but u must be mindful of their effects on your chemistry. Also, never put tabs in the skimmer only use a floater or a feeder, as mentioned above they are acidic & that’s bad for all your new equipment.
Have u done an Overnight Chlorine Loss Test yet to rule out the need for the SLAM Process?
With your ph of 7.4 you must be careful if the “shock” product u use is dichlor or trichlor as those will lower your ph. The tabs do this as well. Always use PoolMath effects of adding beforehand so u know what will happen.
Without cya/stabilizer your fc won’t last long & you’ll be back in the no zone quick. While u are out pick some of that up too. Should be in the pool area near the liquid chlorine.
Get 2 bags (usually 4# each). Use the sock method & poolmath to add 30ppm worth & chlorinate accordingly with liquid chlorine. U can use the tabs to help with fc & cya until u get the swg going but u must be mindful of their effects on your chemistry. Also, never put tabs in the skimmer only use a floater or a feeder, as mentioned above they are acidic & that’s bad for all your new equipment.
Have u done an Overnight Chlorine Loss Test yet to rule out the need for the SLAM Process?
Thank you both. No, I haven't done an overnight chlorine loss test yet. My PB was supposed to do "pool school" but I'm learning more and more that I may know more than him about water chemistry at this point. I'll stop by Home Depot on my way home this afternoon.
- Jun 1, 2018
- 13,775
- Pool Size
- 26000
- Surface
- Vinyl
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Hayward Aqua Rite (T-15)
Many find their way here after being left in the lerch by their pb with regards to their water chemistry as u have already experienced. I wouldn’t wait on them to “get things right” at this point. It’s in your backyard, you paid for it & want to use it with confidence. He could care less, he doesn’t live there & look at it every day.
For stabilizer, am I looking for chlorine stabilizer? Going to download the poolmath app today.