Pool perfect after SLAM, a few questions on recomended levels

[Arp]

Hi All,

I had a pool installed late last year, quickly became frustrated with advice from my pool shop that seemed a bit lackadaisical and inconsistent, and found TFP. I soon saw improvements, thought my pool was a crystal clear dream, yet saw FC dropping all the time. Finally followed the SLAM process (which I thought was unnecessary given my water was so clear) – and my goodness!! What I thought was clear water was actually a murky swamp of horror, and probably the source of the spate of ear aches my youngest daughter suffered (havent admitted this to my wife or kids! The pool has been crystal clear, with no loss of FC overnight, for a few weeks now.

Thanks for building such an informative and helpful website, it's a very selfless and lovely thing I’m half tempted to paste TFP flyers near all local pool shops and save others the annoyance I went through!

Anyway… gushing rants aside, I do have a few issues I’m still unsure about despite spending a long time reading Pool School and further reading articles…

Firstly, PH. The Pool Math program suggests a target of 7.2 – 7.8, whereas Pool School’s recommended levels says 7.6 – 7.8. Not sure why there is a discrepancy between the two? Anyway I’m at 7.4. Would you helpful people recommend bumping up and trying to keep between 7.6 – 7.8, per Pool School's recomendation, or just leave it?

Second… CH. I have a fibreglass pool with SWG. Pool School recommends between 350-550 – acceptable minimum of 250. Whereas Pool Math says 220 – 320. I’m sitting at 250. I've had minor leaching from coping tile mortar, although will coat with pool grade silicone so probably no issue going forward. I have a gas spa heater, it has developed a noticable and annoying whine – perhaps scaling? Further reading on CH and gas heaters reading says 200 CH is a good compromise to avoid scaling… should I keep at around current level, or even drop to 200? Seems like damage to heater is a greater concern than leaching from the shell? Sorry, if this is too longwinded or complex a question. I’d ask my pool shop, but figure it’d be as useful as asking my dog.

Third… TA is at 125, against a recommended 60-80. However, Pool School says not to worry. Also my PH is pretty much stable. So presume this is OK?

And finally!!! My youngest gets sore eyes… could trying to maintain FC nearer to 4 or 5 assist?

If needed, it’s a fibreglass pool/spa with SWG… fairly consistently CYA at 75, FC 6.5 & CC b/w 0 – 0.5. PH 7.4, TA 125, CH 250, generally 29c (84.2F) all the time.

Again, thanks so much for all the advice you've assembled, and for breaking down fairly complex topics into bite sized chunks that even plebs like I can understand

 

[duraleigh]

1. Any pH in the seven's is fine

2. CH has a wide range of acceptable levels. You are fine at 200.

3. Since your pH is stable I would leave TA alone.

4. I can't help with advice on sore eyes. That's normally a function of pH but yours is fine,

 

[mgtfp]

pH 7.6 to 7.8 is what's recommended, because pH is usually more stable there. Any pH in the sevens is OK. No need to increase pH, it'll do that on its own anyway. When you have a closer look in PoolMath, you'll notice that there is a recommended range (7.2-8.0) and an ideal range (7.6-7.8).

And now I can stop typing, because duraleigh's post just popped up while I was typing, and there's really nothing to be added to that...

 

[Arp]

Thanks heaps - I can relax now Suspect the sore eyes is a symptom of a tired and often grumpy 6 year old rather than the pool

 

[Newdude]

Suspect the sore eyes is a symptom of a tired and often grumpy 6 year old rather than the pool

Know what tired people do ? They wipe their eyes. A tired kid will wipe them so much that they are raw and irritated and/or ensures that any sunblock makes its way to the ouchy parts.

So all the variances in the suggestions cover the big 3 pool types. For vinyl and this century fiberglass, CH really doesn't matter and 50+ is fine. Exceptions are waterline tile fiberglass pools (follow plaster guidelines of 350ish) and certain heaters (target 200).

Swg pools tend to favor high 7s so we recommend 7.6 to 7.8 for them, but if yours tells you it likes otherwise, you do not want to fight this fight and any 7 is ok.

 

[Oly]

Try kids swim goggles for the eye issues. The goggles keep them from rubbing their eyes raw and also relaxes them while under water. Also makes diving for quarters more fun.

 

[mgtfp]

When did the sore eyes problem start? Before the SLAM? After the SLAM? Any changes in swimming habbits?

I maintain CYA of 80 and have FC usually above 8ppm, often around 10ppm, sometimes up to 12ppm. Never had any complaints about sore eyes from my son or his friends.

Are you using a pool cover? If yes then try removing it a bit earlier before swimming. UV helps with removal of potential CCs that I think are more likely to cause problems with sensitive eyes. Covers also stop gases from outgassing, and can for example trap some Nitrogen Trichloride, which is quite volatile and the most irritating of the combined chlorine compounds.

 

[Arp]

When did the sore eyes problem start? Before the SLAM? After the SLAM? Any changes in swimming habbits?

I maintain CYA of 80 and have FC usually above 8ppm, often around 10ppm, sometimes up to 12ppm. Never had any complaints about sore eyes from my son or his friends.

Are you using a pool cover? If yes then try removing it a bit earlier before swimming. UV helps with removal of potential CCs that I think are more likely to cause problems with sensitive eyes. Covers also stop gases from outgassing, and can for example trap some Nitrogen Trichloride, which is quite volatile and the most irritating of the combined chlorine compounds.

Before and after SLAM, no changes in swimming habbits - new pool, so flat out use I do use a cover, however am leaving it off more and more now that FC seems stable and the weather remains warm, and having read a few comments on here about letting a pool breathe.

She is the only one complaining, so I suspect Newdude is right re the wiping / sunblock. Also she is fairly sensative to lots of things, poor thing.

Thanks again all!!!

 

[Mdragger88]

You may want to try a dedicated face sunscreen- there are several body ones that I cannot use on my face because they burn like fire.
The stick kind also works well on kiddos- its like chapstick & doesn’t move so its harder to get in the eyes.

 

[mgtfp]

The fastest way to pin down sun screen would be to do some swimming early morning without sun screen. Then you'll know if it's worth hunting down the one brand that works for her.