Doing my first full panel in a while and when I went to the new Recommended Levels interactive page ( What Are My Ideal Pool Levels? - Trouble Free Pool ) I saw the CH figures are recommending 350-550. Normally I pick a middle point so I would need to bring my CH up to 450. Have I not been paying attention or has it always been this high? Thats 302 oz (280->450, 15,000gals) that I need to go mix in today.
Are the recommended Calcium Hardness levels higher now?
- Thread starter Skenn81
- Start date
They were altered this Winter as we've found users could control scale well above the levels we were suggesting before. That said, there's also no need to rush out and add calcium. As long as your levels are within the Recommended levels........you're fine.
The problem is now my level is in the minimum range as opposed to the new higher ideal one. I figured I should bring them up to that for now.
BowserB
Silver Supporter
- Jul 29, 2018
- 777
- Pool Size
- 15000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-40
This may be news worth passing on. I've used the card that came with my TF100 test kit, and its recommended 250-400 range. I'd be interested to know what advantage one would see for a pool from a 100ppm higher calcium hardness range and what the downside of that increased calcium level might be. I also wonder what implications that has for other levels: pH, Total alkalinity, for example?
Where I live, calcium and magnesium in the water is a real problem for water heaters, appliances like dishwashers, washing machines, plumbing fixtures, and plumbing generally. We use a water softener with potassium chloride to take out calcium. Inconveniently, our pool autofill also is adding softened water, so I have had to add calcium--and now that I've said that, I even wonder what increased potassium from the water softener in the pool water means to overall pool chemistry. Every answer generates a new question, eh?
Where I live, calcium and magnesium in the water is a real problem for water heaters, appliances like dishwashers, washing machines, plumbing fixtures, and plumbing generally. We use a water softener with potassium chloride to take out calcium. Inconveniently, our pool autofill also is adding softened water, so I have had to add calcium--and now that I've said that, I even wonder what increased potassium from the water softener in the pool water means to overall pool chemistry. Every answer generates a new question, eh?
Plug all your numbers in and see what the CSI works out to. If you're outside the safe zone (+/- 0.3) do something. If you're okay, change the target to the current and you're all balanced without adding a thing.
Keep in mind TFP takes all things and all areas into consideration with these levels. In your case it’s likely that your pool never gets that cold. In the north-East however pools easily see temps where the water is in the 60’s or lower. In that case the extra calcium helps protect the surface of the pool. Post a full set of results and we’ll help make you a game plan on what’s best for your personal pool.
This month the readings are
CL: 9 (bring it up to that daily now)
CYA: 50 (finally got it back up)
Ph: 7.6
TA: 70
CH: 280 - But I added 148oz of calcium hardness stuff so I will need to test that again today or tomorrow to see what the result is. The calculator says this should have brought up to to around 350.
Says my CSI is at -.02
CH at 280 shows a CSI of -.12 so I have to make sure I keep it higher.
CL: 9 (bring it up to that daily now)
CYA: 50 (finally got it back up)
Ph: 7.6
TA: 70
CH: 280 - But I added 148oz of calcium hardness stuff so I will need to test that again today or tomorrow to see what the result is. The calculator says this should have brought up to to around 350.
Says my CSI is at -.02
CH at 280 shows a CSI of -.12 so I have to make sure I keep it higher.
Thanks, I wondered that also. My temp is 75 and my CH is 350. Was going to add more but the price on Amazon jumped 25% in a monthKeep in mind TFP takes all things and all areas into consideration with these levels. In your case it’s likely that your pool never gets that cold. In the north-East however pools easily see temps where the water is in the 60’s or lower. In that case the extra calcium helps protect the surface of the pool. Post a full set of results and we’ll help make you a game plan on what’s best for your personal pool.