First Test Results w/ TF100

[raiderfan]

Hey all..

I have been reading the forum for years now but have never dove in to testing my own water with a Taylor kit. Used the pool store and strips. And although I never ran into any horrible issues, I was sick of nagging ones and sick of guesstimating my chemistry levels. Anyhow... I ordered a TF100 Pro Kit and it arrived yesterday. Bought the pool math app and did the full range of tests yesterday and again just now:

FC= 28.0
CC = 0
pH = 7.2
TA = 130
CYA = 50

I have been trying to get the TA down to the 70 range as suggested but It still seems to linger high (yesterday's test showed 160 though). My FC is high from shock treatments last week due to me noticing greenish tint on my pool stairs and on some spots of my liner, where the pool walls meet the floor.

How would I go about decreasing my TA to the 70-80 range? And anything else I should retest that looks out of whack?

Thanks.

 

[PoolStored]

Congrats on the test kit! Welcome, formally, to TFP!!!

Your FC is high. Don't add more chlorine...let it come down to range. I would not swim until it comes down below 20. Don't add chlorine until you are in range.
Find your target range here...Link-->FC/CYA Levels

How are you chlorinating?

I would continue to lower pH. Lower it to 7.2, this should also lower TA. pH will rise on its own. When it gets to 8.0, lower to 7,2 again. Do it in .4 increments and test and add more 30 minutes later until it gets to 7.2.
When your TA is down to around 60-80, STOP lowering pH to 7.2. At that point, I wouldn't lower pH below 7.6. pH should be fairly stable around 7.8-8. 7.8 to 8.0 is just fine.

 

[raiderfan]

Thank you!

So my pH is currently reading 7.2, so you are saying to wait for my water to creep up to 8.0 and then lower it with MA, until I get the TA where I want it?

I am chlorinating with liquid (according to Pool Math it looks like I'll need to maintain a FC level of 7-8, once it comes down)

But I did some heavy shocks due to me seeing the algae that I mentioned above. I brushed it that day and then shocked it at night with 3 packs of Cal Hypo (56%). Woke up to dead stuff on the floor (assumed it was the algae that I killed) and vac'd that up throughout the day. Water was clear but I shocked again that night, and to my surprise more dead stuff was on the floor in the AM. So I repeated the process each night (3) with the Cal Hypo (went down to two packets after the initial shock dose of 3). Finding less and less dead stuff each morning, but still finding some. So I figured I should keep shocking until I see none. The final night (night four or five, can't remember) I used 2 gallons of Liquid Chlorine (12.5%). Did not see any dead stuff, just some sediment here and there (it rained hard over night, that night). My pump was running 24/7 through this shocking time.

I was using test strips at this point and it showed my TA as really low and my pH as really high. I added pH down and the water went from hazy to clear. But at this point I did not want to go through this issue again and figured it was time to get a kit and learn how to use it. While the kit was on order, I did take a sample to the pool store and had them do a check. I did the pool math for what I needed in terms of Baking soda but I am guessing that due to their readings, my TA wasn't as low as they thought.

So I'll do as you suggest and just keep monitoring my pH readings to see if they rise up to 8 or so, then treat with the MA

 

[PoolStored]

So my pH is currently reading 7.2, so you are saying to wait for my water to creep up to 8.0 and then lower it with MA, until I get the TA where I want it?

Yes.

We don't shock that way. To clear the algae, follow the slam process. Link-->SLAM Process

Don't use pH down. It adds sulfates, no bueno. Use muriatic acid to lower pH.

The baking soda was not needed. No worries.

 

[raiderfan]

Quick question:

Considering my FC is high, If I am leaving town from today (noon time'ish) to Sunday mid afternoon/early evening, would my pool be fine without needing to additional chlorine those two days? Or should I add a puck to the chlorinator to be safe. I've got my water looking fabulous and don't want to come home to any Crud again!

My pump/filter run on an 8hr timer (12pm-8pm) Thanks!

Tests from this AM

FC = 28
CC = 0
pH = 7.8
TA = 100
Water Temp = 70*F
CYA = 50 (Last reading from 5 days ago)

 

[PoolStored]

You will likely be fine. Throw in a puck if that make you feel safer.

 

[Newdude]

It should be fine for the trip. You're already 8 over slam.

looks like I'll need to maintain a FC level of 7-8, once it comes down)

I wanted to touch on this because so many miss the memo. You won't be maintaining a constant level. You will add to counter yesterday's loss, plus a little extra for wiggle room. (Or pre dose tomorrow's loss, plus a little extra).

Let's say min is 5. It's lava. You don't want to even sniff 5. So take 6 or 7, then dose what the recent loss has been. In August, it may be 4ppm a day. In April or late Sept, maybe 1. Think of a bell curve across the season for UV loss. Little, a little more, holy COW, not as much, a little.

3 ppm may last a week early and late season, but only 3 hours at lunchtime mid season. Adjust the dose as necessary to remain free and clear of min until the next dose time. Gonna be busy tomorrow and test later than usual ? Add a 1.5 dose to cover the extra time. Busy for 2 days ? Double it plus a little extra.

By doing so, you're 'maintaining' a sanitary pool, but you won't be 'maintaining' a 7 or 8 FC. It'll be 9 down to 6, or 10 down to 7, or maybe in the late season 7 down to 6 because you don't need alot to remain above min at that point.

If you aim for a 7 because it's 'in range', but are losing 4 per day, you're 1 under min at the next daily dose and no Bueno. (Using min 5 as an example) etc etc.

 

[raiderfan]

It should be fine for the trip. You're already 8 over slam.



I wanted to touch on this because so many miss the memo. You won't be maintaining a constant level. You will add to counter yesterday's loss, plus a little extra for wiggle room. (Or pre dose tomorrow's loss, plus a little extra).

Let's say min is 5. It's lava. You don't want to even sniff 5. So take 6 or 7, then dose what the recent loss has been. In August, it may be 4ppm a day. In April or late Sept, maybe 1. Think of a bell curve across the season for UV loss. Little, a little more, holy COW, not as much, a little.

3 ppm may last a week early and late season, but only 3 hours at lunchtime mid season. Adjust the dose as necessary to remain free and clear of min until the next dose time. Gonna be busy tomorrow and test later than usual ? Add a 1.5 dose to cover the extra time. Busy for 2 days ? Double it plus a little extra.

By doing so, you're 'maintaining' a sanitary pool, but you won't be 'maintaining' a 7 or 8 FC. It'll be 9 down to 6, or 10 down to 7, or maybe in the late season 7 down to 6 because you don't need alot to remain above min at that point.

If you aim for a 7 because it's 'in range', but are losing 4 per day, you're 1 under min at the next daily dose and no Bueno. (Using min 5 as an example) etc etc.

Hmm.. Ok.. So if Pool Math says (because of CYA being 50 or 60) that my target level of FC should be 7 or 8, I am looking to dose over that, so that my loss during the days only bring me down to that "target" of 7 or 8?

 

[Newdude]

Min is lava. For 50 CYA it's 4. Your wiggle room is 5 or 6. You never want to dip below 5 or 6. Then, when the universe throws a curveball at you like a particularly high UV loss day, or whopper of a storm, you're covered with the wiggle room.

Min
+ recent daily loss
+ 1 or 2 ppm wiggle room
-------------------------------
= stoopid clear trouble free pool.

And again, you probably know your immediate schedule on any given day so if you need more time until you can test again, buy yourself said time with an appropriately higher dose.

 

[raiderfan]

Gotcha. Thanks. I still need to keep doing the CYA test to make sure I am really dialing in on that dot disappearing. But I am guessing it is 50 to 60 from my past attempts. (pool store test gave me a 58). But I'll get on that early next week

 

[Newdude]

The CYA test is fun to get used to at first. And by fun I mean miserable. Mr Funny man googley eye all laughing away at you squinting like a fool.

Establish dominance. Sprinkle a bunch of googley eyes on the patio and crush them with your heel one by one as you test. That little SOB won't be laughing for long.