Search results

Great! Thanks for all the advice everyone.

What do you suggest I use to increase the CYA? Before we switched to BBB and before I had any knowledge about pools we were just using the tablets for chlorine and when I found TFP and tested for CYA I found that it was off the charts - I can't remember what it was but we had to empty almost...

I was looking up something else on TFP and came across a comment on CYA - that CYA should never be zero even in an indoor pool b/c having any FC over 2 can be irritating to the skin, eyes etc b/c without CYA it makes the FC harsher or something like that . . . is that true? I did look up the...

Sorry for the delayed follow up, but we did end up going to the pediatrician's last week and it turned out to be abrasion and dry skin. there was inflammation from the rubbing of the floation device. Dr. Told us to use OTC 1% hydrocortisone and make sure he stayed moisturized (which we...

Ok, I didn't know where else to post this question but I figured only the really technical pool people would have heard about something like this. My son (2 years old) took his first real swim lesson at the local YMCA this past Saturday. He wore a rash guard. That evening he developed rash...

No, I have not been doing this. Does static electricity cause inaccurate pH readings?

pH is definitely 7.8 - can I leave it at 7.8 or should I bring it down? TA is now slowly going up! Why? it started out at 100 -> 110 -> 130 (today). thanks, Cissy

So we finished refilling the pool yesterday and I tested the water again . . . FC = 1 (went down, to be expected) pH = 7.8 or 8.2 (went up . . . why?) CH = 180 (went down - as many of the other comments said I probably did the previous test wrong) TA = 110 (also went up - probably b/c pH went up...

I feel like the sock method will give me the least control over how much CYA I am adding. Since I've had problems with high CYA in the past - will the liquid form give me more control?

Yes, I do admit I feel a huge cloud lifted off of me now that I get a fresh start! :-D So, you are saying to add the stabilizer first and then the bleach for chlorine? Or it doesn't matter? I don't want to screw it up this time. And just to double check - the stabilizer and the bleach...

Ok, if any of you have read my previous posts you know I must have failed high school chemistry. But I think I'm on the right track now - at least I hope! I've emptied my pool AGAIN to try and start from scratch with the chemicals b/c I'm tired of playing around with the chemicals. I used a...

Well I'm starting from scratch. We emptied the pool today and are filling it up now. I did make a mistake in my previous posting I never was able to get it to turn pink with the powder - I know I heard that if we add 2 scoops of the FAS-DPD powder and it doesn't turn pink there is no chlorine...

Oh no! So, I've been testing the pH regularly and trying to get that down first b/c the guy a the pool store said I needed to get that down first. I've already added 3 of those big gallons of muratic acid. I didn't know about the chlorphenol. You really need to be a chemist to own a pool. I...

Well the pool store never told us the actual chlorine level. They did get rid of all the chlorine in the sample to test the pH and they said that was very high. But they said the chlorine was too high to measure. Do you think I can do all those dilutions/tests you listed above . . . seems...

I hope this is ok to post this question on this thread b/c it is about chlorine neutralizer. We finally got our pool chems balanced using bleach. We tested the chlorine weekly for a few months and determined we needed to add 1 jug of chlorine per week. We have an indoor pool. But after 1 month...

I don't have current tests results but we usually only add liquid bleach once a week and current pool temp is around 85 degrees. Our pool filter is on and will be running 12 hours a day.

I'm going on vacation for 2 weeks and we finally have our pool under control. I don't want to return and find all the chemicals all out of wack. What do I do? How much chlorine can I add before we leave and not damage the pool with too much chlorine?

So, I was previously having trouble with chemicals. That is all fixed for the most part. The TA was high (180) for a while and it looks like we now have scaling at the bottom of our pool in the deep end. At least that is what the pool guy said when I had him come out to look at it. Also...

I thought I read that article "lower TA the sticky" correctly but after you posted this last post I re-read it and I misunderstood. I thought it said that the aeration would lower the TA. We just tested the pH and it is 7.8. I am concerned that our aeration technique is not effective b/c it...

Since one chemical seems to always cause another measurement to change . . . do I have to worry about calcium chloride or calclium chloride dihydrate changing any other readings other than the CH? I am only trying to get our CH from 230 to between 250 and 350 as recommended and we finally have...

Update . . . Test results . . . FC = 6+ pH = 7.9 TA = 160 (we just finally figured out a way to aerate the pool so we will test again tonight.) CYA = 65 (after dumping 60% and adding water) CH = 230 (we have a plaster pool - I know TFP recommends 250 - but is 230 still ok?) TDS = 1000 (from...

Actually I am using a little chemical kit from the local pool store - it is the cheaper kit with only the basics. We were previously using only the strips and that's when all this chem business started - we couldn't get a reading for chlorine on the strips. So, my husband went to the local...

Good news. This morning the pool chemical tests were . . . FC = 5 TC = 5 pH = 7.2 TA = 190 (wow that shot up) We will see how long that lasts. If your water is relatively clear, I would just continue as you have been going. But if the pool is very green, then you are probably wasting your...

Still having problems . . . So, we drained the pool about 60% (as instructed by the pool calculator) and added new water. Test results after draining . . . FC = .5 TC = 1 We could not test for CYA b/c pool stored closed for the holidays and we just ordered the CYA test online. We added 1 gal...

Thanks for the help. I feel more confidant and at least we have a plan now on how to get things balanced.

I just wanted to say thank you for the advice. I'm in the process of reading the article 'lower TA sticky' - I'll put a post up in a few days as to how it all turned out.

First, I love your website - so glad I found it! OMG - I've read pool school and a ton of posts. I feel like I'm back in H.S. chemistry class. Sorry, this email is so long, but after reading your website I need some specific help now. So, on to the problems . . . We've lived here for 5 years...