Some interesting results from winter rains...and looking for some advice with our chem levels.
Since we do not have an automatic overflow drainage system, we have to use a pump. I lost count around 18 instances of pumping - but I estimate to be 18-22 instances. Each time the water level is dropped ~2.5-3" - that suggests we've had 50-60" of rain since December. Note: we're in San Rafael CA, a Mediterranean-like climate. Closing a pool is little more than adjusting pump run times and leaving the cover on.
(Interestingly enough, this far exceed the 'official rain totals' for our area - and there is NO water draining into the pool. There is very small tree overlap, but should not be enough for a 2x rain total difference.)
What is really interesting how CYA levels dropped so much...and how the rain amounts don't seem to correlate to the CYA drop.
Same thing happened for last year opening, but it was quite a bit more dramatic - we went from ~100 to 0. Pool guy thought we were nuts to be excited about 0 CYA. (We've been battling CYA problems for a couple of years. Two seasons ago, it took a ~55% swap + winter rains to get it from off the charts to ~150.)
Anyhow, the day we closed the pool last season: our numbers were:
8 FC
PH 7.3
Calcium 300
CYA <40
Total Alkalinity 90
Borates ~50
(We added ~1.5 gallons of acid over the winter to control PH levels)
Just 'opened' the pool last week (cleaned it), and the numbers were:
0 FC
PH >8.5
CH 370
CYA <10
Total Alkalinity 70
Borates ~25
Water was a little cloudy from algae.
Dumped in 3 gallons of 12% Chlorine, added ~3 qts of acid
Water temps are in the 50's
Yesterday's Tests:
6 FC
0 CC
PH 7.5
TA 70
We are waiting for FC of 1-2 and then will be dumping in 2# of Ascorbic acid for stains...and will re-balance pool chemistry in a week or so.
Seeking Comments on my goal levels:
TA: 80 (leave TA a little on the low side since CH is a little on the high side)
Borates : 40
CYA: 40
The rest will follow TFP guidelines...
Filtering stats:
Winter: Ran our slightly undersized filter 2.5hrs per night, Pressure side cleaner died last summer
Summer: Will Ramp filter runtime to 8hrs
Cleaner will run 1-1.5hrs nightly, depending on debris load.
Any thoughts on the ideal chem levels?
We've had issues with PH climbing quickly/hard to stabilize...any thoughts on why our PH climbs high/so fast?
Since we do not have an automatic overflow drainage system, we have to use a pump. I lost count around 18 instances of pumping - but I estimate to be 18-22 instances. Each time the water level is dropped ~2.5-3" - that suggests we've had 50-60" of rain since December. Note: we're in San Rafael CA, a Mediterranean-like climate. Closing a pool is little more than adjusting pump run times and leaving the cover on.
(Interestingly enough, this far exceed the 'official rain totals' for our area - and there is NO water draining into the pool. There is very small tree overlap, but should not be enough for a 2x rain total difference.)
What is really interesting how CYA levels dropped so much...and how the rain amounts don't seem to correlate to the CYA drop.
Same thing happened for last year opening, but it was quite a bit more dramatic - we went from ~100 to 0. Pool guy thought we were nuts to be excited about 0 CYA. (We've been battling CYA problems for a couple of years. Two seasons ago, it took a ~55% swap + winter rains to get it from off the charts to ~150.)
Anyhow, the day we closed the pool last season: our numbers were:
8 FC
PH 7.3
Calcium 300
CYA <40
Total Alkalinity 90
Borates ~50
(We added ~1.5 gallons of acid over the winter to control PH levels)
Just 'opened' the pool last week (cleaned it), and the numbers were:
0 FC
PH >8.5
CH 370
CYA <10
Total Alkalinity 70
Borates ~25
Water was a little cloudy from algae.
Dumped in 3 gallons of 12% Chlorine, added ~3 qts of acid
Water temps are in the 50's
Yesterday's Tests:
6 FC
0 CC
PH 7.5
TA 70
We are waiting for FC of 1-2 and then will be dumping in 2# of Ascorbic acid for stains...and will re-balance pool chemistry in a week or so.
Seeking Comments on my goal levels:
TA: 80 (leave TA a little on the low side since CH is a little on the high side)
Borates : 40
CYA: 40
The rest will follow TFP guidelines...
Filtering stats:
Winter: Ran our slightly undersized filter 2.5hrs per night, Pressure side cleaner died last summer
Summer: Will Ramp filter runtime to 8hrs
Cleaner will run 1-1.5hrs nightly, depending on debris load.
Any thoughts on the ideal chem levels?
We've had issues with PH climbing quickly/hard to stabilize...any thoughts on why our PH climbs high/so fast?