Need help reading test

Something doesn't seem right with the amount of 31.25% MA you're adding. If you need to drop from 8.2+ down to 7.2 or so. (which will also help bring down your TA, if it's high), 18 ounces isn't anywhere near enough for a pool your size?
 
The question here is... How often do you run both water falls and both bubblers?

Like you, I have 2 waterfalls (60" drop), 2 bubblers, a waterslide, and a disappearing edge. ALL which create TONS of aeration and my pH constantly goes crazy up up up up up unless i combat it with low 60-70 TA. You might have to stop using the water features constantly if it's making you fight with the pH.
The PB had the setting running for 12 hours a day. 7am-7pm. I will now only run them when I want to use them.
 
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The PB had the setting running for 12 hours a day. 7am-7pm. I will now only run them when I want to use them.

You said earlier the swcg can only make 2.3 ppm FC per day. That seems odd if running 24 hours per day.
You likely can lower the rpm. Go down in 100 rpm increments until the flow switch on the swcg opens. Then add 200 rpm.
Okay the flow switch shuts off @ 800 RPM I set it to 1000RPM 24/7.
 
See if that skims your pool of debris. If not , raise it 200 rpm.

Effects of Adding Chemical in Poolmath says your SWCG will add 6.9 ppm Fc to your pool per day, at 100%.
 
The PB had the setting running for 12 hours a day. 7am-7pm. I will now only run them when I want to use them.
That'll help combat the rise of pH due to aeration, and it will make your back yard quieter, lol. Waterfalls can sure get LOUD!!!
 
See if that skims your pool of debris. If not , raise it 200 rpm.

Effects of Adding Chemical in Poolmath says your SWCG will add 6.9 ppm Fc to your pool per day, at 100%.
Will do. Should I lower % back down to 70%(that's where PB set it) and add chlorine. I've been running at 100% since this morning and I just tested FC and it's still at 2.5 and the PH is still above 8.2
 
Will do. Should I lower % back down to 70%(that's where PB set it) and add chlorine. I've been running at 100% since this morning and I just tested FC and it's still at 2.5 and the PH is still above 8.2
See my message above regarding your MA additions. 18 ounces is no where near what you need to bring pH of 8.2 down to 7.2 or so based on your pool size...
 

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See my message above regarding your MA additions. 18 ounces is no where near what you need to bring pH of 8.2 down to 7.2 or so based on your pool size...
Yep I ended up adding about 40 Oz total and I'm about to about another 18 Oz and some chlorine to get the FC up
 
Yep I ended up adding about 40 Oz total and I'm about to about another 18 Oz and some chlorine to get the FC up
Okay, you don't have to add the MA in with such small QTYs at a time if you don't want to. If it says you can add 3 quarts to hit your pH (and TA) target, you'll just dump in 3/4 of a gallon at once and call it done. but I know when you FIRST start doing it, we're all a lot more nervous and super careful and rather go in smaller amounts. No worries.
 
Okay, you don't have to add the MA in with such small QTYs at a time if you don't want to. If it says you can add 3 quarts to hit your pH (and TA) target, you'll just dump in 3/4 of a gallon at once and call it done. but I know when you FIRST start doing it, we're all a lot more nervous and super careful and rather go in smaller amounts. No worries.
Exactly. I'm 34 days in and this is my first pool. So yea I'm super nervous. I truly appreciate this forum you guys are totally awesome.
 
I hear ya.. Been there! Be careful with the MA too. If you're NEW to it, DON'T BREATHE IT IN, hold your breath or face away when you open the bottle. The fumes can be stronger in humid days. Don't get it on your hands (I usually wear protective gloves), and don't get it on your patio/deck either. And don't store it with/near other metal things.!!
 
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I hear ya.. Been there! Be careful with the MA too. If you're NEW to it, DON'T BREATHE IT IN, hold your breath or face away when you open the bottle. The fumes can be stronger in humid days. Don't get it on your hands (I usually wear protective gloves), and don't get it on your patio/deck either. And don't store it with/near other metal things.!!
Okay thanks for the tips. I do wear protective gloves and when I initially opened the bottle and saw smoke coming out of the top I knew then it was not to be enhaled.🤣🤣🤣
 
You'll see the vapors too even when pouring, so be careful of them. I've breathed them in (as you will eventually too, by accident), and it's NOT fun.
 
Okay thanks for the tips. I do wear protective gloves and when I initially opened the bottle and saw smoke coming out of the top I knew then it was not to be enhaled.🤣🤣🤣
Wear EYE protection too. I thought I knew what I was doing (famous last words) and I ended up having liquid chlorine splash on me. Can’t imagine how much worse it could have been had it been MA. Another lesdon I learned that day was to have the top loosened up before you get down by the pool ready to pour it. I was kneeling down and had taken the cap off and that plastics seal of the jug would not come off. I pulled harder, if finally gave and the chlorine splashed. Be careful, these chemicals are not benign and in the wrong place they can be very harmful.

Also, look at this post for a storage method I use - it’s post 21.

 
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In post #6 and #9 you say that your FC is 2.5. Yet in the picture in your first post, the yellow indicates that your chlorine is over 5. How are you getting the 2.5? I never rely on the OTO but I’ve never had it be inconsistent with my DPD test.
 
In post #6 and #9 you say that your FC is 2.5. Yet in the picture in your first post, the yellow indicates that your chlorine is over 5. How are you getting the 2.5? I never rely on the OTO but I’ve never had it be inconsistent with my DPD test.
Honestly I can't tell the difference in the yellows with that test and that was one of the reasons I reached out for help. When I do the chlorine test where it turns pink and then you add drops until it turns clear (not sure of all test names yet) it only took 5 drops to turn clear. So I should go off of the color test instead of the chlorine test?
 
You should go off the drop test (DPD - from the powder you put in to make the sample pink), just make sure you’re doing it correctly.

As for the color test, I just use that to make sure there’s chlorine in the pool. I run a high chloride level so mine always shows greater than the 5-10 color. You should have someone else look at the color test and see if it’s consistent with your results form the drop test. Don’t worry about them being exactly the same, but they should be in the ball park. The main point is to make sure you’re doing the drop test correctly. Too low on chlorine, which 2.5 is, will cause you problems.
 

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