Thanks for the response. These results are from a Taylor test kit. Running the salt cell at a lower percentage does help with scaling, but I'm not getting enough chlorine productionFollow this advice. We don't trust pool store test results or advice. Get your own TFP recommended test kit and post your test results. Running a lower (60 ppm) will help reduce SWG calcium scaling. See the link below for your recommended levels..
What Are My Ideal Pool Levels?
Use our tool to find ideal chemical levels for any swimming pool. Check TFP recommended levels on pH, free chlorine, cyanuric acid, and more.www.troublefreepool.com
White flakes in pool and pump basket
- Thread starter VST
- Start date
- Apr 10, 2018
- 6,457
- Pool Size
- 18375
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- CircuPool RJ-45 Plus
Sorry, it looks like I missed something in my previous post. See the underlined area above. Try running a lower TA level to mitigate scaling.
Yes, I have mine in high 50s low 60s
- Apr 10, 2018
- 6,457
- Pool Size
- 18375
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- CircuPool RJ-45 Plus
None of the results you posted are consistent with those of a Taylor test kit. You need to rule out algae by completing an Overnight Chlorine Loss Test, but you do need the proper FAS/DPD test kit to do that.
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Sorry. To be clear, I went to Leslie's and then compared the results with my weekly pool service, who uses a Taylor test kit. The numbers were within a few digits of each other across the board, so I took Leslie's to be accurate.
My pool guy said if I had algae I wouldn't have held shock for as long as I did, before the chlorine level dropped. The pool has never come close to turning green, even when chlorine was less than 1 for weeks on end.
I do need to order my own test kit I guess to trouble shoot further
- May 27, 2021
- 1,357
- Pool Size
- 17000
- Surface
- Fiberglass
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-40
Your pool store test results indicate a CH of 277. Then your later test results indicate 321. Neither are consistent with results you would get from a proper Taylor test kit. I’d suggest your hardness is likely much higher than reported by either source and whatever testing means they are using is inaccurate. Please indicate what was done to increase CH between the two tests?
- Apr 10, 2018
- 6,457
- Pool Size
- 18375
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- CircuPool RJ-45 Plus
You indicated in your post that your chlorine level had dropped below 1 ppm despite your cell producing chlorine. This is is indicative of an organic problem. The best way to rule that out is with an Overnight Chlorine Loss Test. A pool man's credibility carries no weight here. This is why we stress owner testing with a recommended kit.
I understand. I will order the test kit tonight and come back once I have my own numbers. Thanks
- Apr 10, 2018
- 6,457
- Pool Size
- 18375
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- CircuPool RJ-45 Plus
- Jun 24, 2021
- 16,604
- Pool Size
- 29000
- Surface
- Vinyl
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- CircuPool RJ-60 Plus
Have the Taylor 2006c test kit.
To conduct the overnight chlorine test, is this correct?
After the sunsets, I check free chlorine by filling to 25 ml of pool water and add two scoops of dpd. Then dropwise add r0871 until clear. Then multiply the number of drops by .2. I proceed with the test if chlorine is equal to or greater than 3. If it's less, I add chlorine.
Once 3 or greater, I note the chlorine level and repeat the test in the morning before the sun comes up. If I lose more than 1 ppm of chlorine, I need to slam. If not, then there's some other reason for my pool not holding chlorine, which I'm not sure what that would be since my cya had been at 60.
Thanks for your input.
- Jun 24, 2021
- 16,604
- Pool Size
- 29000
- Surface
- Vinyl
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- CircuPool RJ-60 Plus
Do 10mL sample. Each drop is .5 FC. So total drops divided by 2.
If you need to add chlorine, wait 30 minutes with pump running after the addition, then test.
Rest is correct!
If you need to add chlorine, wait 30 minutes with pump running after the addition, then test.
Rest is correct!
Since it was my first time ever using my own test kit, I repeated the free chlorine test a few times. I did it twice using 10 mL and each time got a free chlorine reading of 8.5 (17 drops x 0.5). I did it once using 25 mL and got a free chlorine reading of 4.6 (23 drops x 0.2). Not sure why the discrepancy, but I believe the latter more because I had 0 free chlorine and add a little of 0.5 gallons of liquid chlorine (10.5% sodium hypochlorite) to a 15000 gallon pool 1.5 hrs earlier. I will check the free chlorine again in the morning before sunrise.
If you have any insight into why I would get discrrepant results, please let me know. My readings were from 18 inches below the surface in each case. The two 10 mL tests were minutes apart. The 25 mL test was 45 mins later.
- Jun 24, 2021
- 16,604
- Pool Size
- 29000
- Surface
- Vinyl
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- CircuPool RJ-60 Plus
Thanks great article
I completed the overnight chlorine test and I have the same reading of 4.6 ppm that I had yesterday evening. My pool has never turned green. The most I've seen is foamy bubbles from when the chlorine fell to near zero.
I've replaced the salt cell as well. Still, can't hold chlorine. My cya is 40. Combined chlorine is 0. So, I'm not meeting criteria for slam.
Please tell me what I should do next to try to figure out why my pool is not holding any chlorine.
- Apr 10, 2018
- 6,457
- Pool Size
- 18375
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- CircuPool RJ-45 Plus
You can increase your CYA level to 70 ppm. Use liquid chlorine to reach reach target level for that CYA level based on FC/CYA Levels. Use pool math to determine how long and at what percentage to run your SWG to produce approximately 4 ppm of FC daily. Use the "effects of adding" tool. For a few days, monitor FC levels and adjust SWG output accordingly.
For future FC testing, use a 10 mL sample instead of a 25 mL. Use one scoop of powder and multiply the number of drops by 0.5.
For future FC testing, use a 10 mL sample instead of a 25 mL. Use one scoop of powder and multiply the number of drops by 0.5.
- Apr 10, 2018
- 6,457
- Pool Size
- 18375
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- CircuPool RJ-45 Plus
Please post a full set of results.
How long and what percentage are you running the SWG? Running it 24/7 at 100% should raise FC by 11 ppm.
Have you estimated your daily FC loss based on your test results? Most pools will lose 2-4 ppm daily during the swim season.