I posted the other day about which to do first - SLAM/balance or treat metals through the AA process. Got advice to balance first so I got out my test kit to see where things stand.
1. Let me start by saying I KNOW I MESSED UP. We did not cover our pool this winter - kept it open and pumps running to keep the water flowing. My husband ran the polaris and cleaned the filters on a regular basis. He threw in some chlorine every once in a while (pucks) but I kind of slacked on the testing. This is bad. I know. I know. The pool WAS in perfect balance when we stopped swimming last fall. It has remained clear and sparkly this entire time.
2. Last week we had a metal bloom - for lack of a better word. Our fiberglass steps are rust colored but the liner is not stained (yet). I did the AA test and it is obviously metal staining.
3. I have the TF-100 from TF Test Kits. I got all new reagents at the beginning of last summer, kept them inside, in a dark cabinet. Had reliable readings all summer. This is the kit I used tonight. Here are my results:
FC----3
CC----0
Ph ---6.8 (or possibly lower?)
TA----I stopped counting after 100 drops of the reagent and the solution was still pink. OMG!!!!!!!
CYA--80 (this is intentional - pool gets 12+ hours full sun in the summer)
Since we got a new liner last summer we struggled with chronically low CYA - so we used pucks on purpose over the winter to try and build CYA.... So the high CYA was an expected reading after the winter. I am freaked out by the pH and TA readings though. The crazy thing is that other than the staining on the steps the pool looks good - water is clear.
I should order new reagents, right? I was thinking of taking a sample of water into a store tomorrow just to get another reading using different reagents while I wait for an order to come in.
The TA can't possibly be that high, can it??????
1. Let me start by saying I KNOW I MESSED UP. We did not cover our pool this winter - kept it open and pumps running to keep the water flowing. My husband ran the polaris and cleaned the filters on a regular basis. He threw in some chlorine every once in a while (pucks) but I kind of slacked on the testing. This is bad. I know. I know. The pool WAS in perfect balance when we stopped swimming last fall. It has remained clear and sparkly this entire time.
2. Last week we had a metal bloom - for lack of a better word. Our fiberglass steps are rust colored but the liner is not stained (yet). I did the AA test and it is obviously metal staining.
3. I have the TF-100 from TF Test Kits. I got all new reagents at the beginning of last summer, kept them inside, in a dark cabinet. Had reliable readings all summer. This is the kit I used tonight. Here are my results:
FC----3
CC----0
Ph ---6.8 (or possibly lower?)
TA----I stopped counting after 100 drops of the reagent and the solution was still pink. OMG!!!!!!!
CYA--80 (this is intentional - pool gets 12+ hours full sun in the summer)
Since we got a new liner last summer we struggled with chronically low CYA - so we used pucks on purpose over the winter to try and build CYA.... So the high CYA was an expected reading after the winter. I am freaked out by the pH and TA readings though. The crazy thing is that other than the staining on the steps the pool looks good - water is clear.
I should order new reagents, right? I was thinking of taking a sample of water into a store tomorrow just to get another reading using different reagents while I wait for an order to come in.
The TA can't possibly be that high, can it??????
