Hi my wife and I just had a brand new pool built (start-up 11/14/15) and we're both excited as well as nervous about taking care of it. Per our contract, the builder provides 2 months of service. They are coming once a week on Wednesdays. My wife tells me they added chemicals today but I have no idea what. I want to learn how to do it myself. I'm so thankful I found this site- you guys make it seem easy! I ordered a TF-100 kit and SpeedStir and just used them for the first time tonight. The results make me suspect either I'm testing wrong or the builder isn't properly maintaining the necessary levels. Here's what I got:
OTO FC test: 0? (pretty much stayed clear).
FAS-DPD test: 1.5? (there may have been a very slight pinkish tinge to the sample, that might have turned clear after 3 drops of R-0871 (3 x .5 =1.5). I'm not really sure since as I said this the very first time I've ever tested.
The PB has had chlorine pucks in a floating dispenser for about the last week, so I'm surprised I'm not getting higher readings for FC. (I've read the downsides of trichlor tablets for sanitation, but my understanding based on reading here at the TFP site is that for a new plaster pool it can actually be helpful...). I do plan on using liquid chlorine once I'm doing it on my own.
PH: < 6.8 (color was "off the scale"- more yellow than orange/red)
CC: 0
TA: 0 (which also means, according to the "extended test kit directions" sticky, that my PH is 4.5 or lower.) This I also don't understand- doesn't fresh plaster tend to drift towards higher PH levels? That's what I read in the "A B C's of water chemistry" section.
CH: 375 (it took 15 drops of R-0012 to turn from pink to blue and stop changing color. Multiple by 25 right? I wasn't sure if there was a period between the 2 and 5 in the extended test kit directions thread. If it's 2.5 then my CH would be 37.5.
CYA: <20 (filled tube all the way and dot was only partially obscured).
According to Pool Math I should add a BUNCH of bleach, soda ash, baking soda, and stabilizer, which I'm reluctant to do because the PB is supposed to be handling things for the first 8 weeks and they obviously have more experience than I do. What do you all think? I'd appreciate any advice or input from you experts! The water looks great- crystal clear. Water temp is around 50 degrees F. I'm in central CA and I think in this area people don't usually "winterize" their pools, although it's too cold to swim. Thanks for sharing your collective wisdom and experience with this total newbie!
OTO FC test: 0? (pretty much stayed clear).
FAS-DPD test: 1.5? (there may have been a very slight pinkish tinge to the sample, that might have turned clear after 3 drops of R-0871 (3 x .5 =1.5). I'm not really sure since as I said this the very first time I've ever tested.
The PB has had chlorine pucks in a floating dispenser for about the last week, so I'm surprised I'm not getting higher readings for FC. (I've read the downsides of trichlor tablets for sanitation, but my understanding based on reading here at the TFP site is that for a new plaster pool it can actually be helpful...). I do plan on using liquid chlorine once I'm doing it on my own.
PH: < 6.8 (color was "off the scale"- more yellow than orange/red)
CC: 0
TA: 0 (which also means, according to the "extended test kit directions" sticky, that my PH is 4.5 or lower.) This I also don't understand- doesn't fresh plaster tend to drift towards higher PH levels? That's what I read in the "A B C's of water chemistry" section.
CH: 375 (it took 15 drops of R-0012 to turn from pink to blue and stop changing color. Multiple by 25 right? I wasn't sure if there was a period between the 2 and 5 in the extended test kit directions thread. If it's 2.5 then my CH would be 37.5.
CYA: <20 (filled tube all the way and dot was only partially obscured).
According to Pool Math I should add a BUNCH of bleach, soda ash, baking soda, and stabilizer, which I'm reluctant to do because the PB is supposed to be handling things for the first 8 weeks and they obviously have more experience than I do. What do you all think? I'd appreciate any advice or input from you experts! The water looks great- crystal clear. Water temp is around 50 degrees F. I'm in central CA and I think in this area people don't usually "winterize" their pools, although it's too cold to swim. Thanks for sharing your collective wisdom and experience with this total newbie!