Greetings:
For the past 7 years, I've been quite happily using the BBB techniques I learned about here on TFP. I never have an issue with algae, my water sparkles and my guests are always happy with the subjective feel of the water. In that time, I've not had reason to change anything I've been doing.
Until possibly now! I am planning for the addition of a heater for the 2017 pool season. (I'm starting another thread about that - Preparing for New Heater) I've read that "improperly balanced water" is one of the leading causes of early failure in heaters. (ie, scaling/corrosion) To that end, I'm trying to pay more attention to my CSI this year.
My current TF-100 test results:
TC = 6.0
CC = 0.0
FC = 6.0
pH = 7.2
TA = 90
CH = 210
CYA = 80
Salt = 3200
Temp = 76F
Pool Calculator shows these values result in a CSI of -0.77, which is way out of the suggested range! After fiddling with some numbers I find that:
1. raising pH to 8.0 would bring CSI to -0.02. My concern with that is two-fold. First, it is outside the acceptable pH range. Second, I've learned from experience that my SWG will raise my pH from 7.2 at pool opening to 7.8 at pool closing. Because of that, I never bother adjusting pH.
2. Some combination of raising pH, TA and CH. For example: raising pH to 7.5, TA to 120 and CH to 280 gives a CSI of -0.21.
Please share some of your wisdom! I've never had any visible corrosion or scaling issues with any of my equipment. However, I've never owned a heater and that is my primary concern.
Thanks!
Kelly
For the past 7 years, I've been quite happily using the BBB techniques I learned about here on TFP. I never have an issue with algae, my water sparkles and my guests are always happy with the subjective feel of the water. In that time, I've not had reason to change anything I've been doing.
Until possibly now! I am planning for the addition of a heater for the 2017 pool season. (I'm starting another thread about that - Preparing for New Heater) I've read that "improperly balanced water" is one of the leading causes of early failure in heaters. (ie, scaling/corrosion) To that end, I'm trying to pay more attention to my CSI this year.
My current TF-100 test results:
TC = 6.0
CC = 0.0
FC = 6.0
pH = 7.2
TA = 90
CH = 210
CYA = 80
Salt = 3200
Temp = 76F
Pool Calculator shows these values result in a CSI of -0.77, which is way out of the suggested range! After fiddling with some numbers I find that:
1. raising pH to 8.0 would bring CSI to -0.02. My concern with that is two-fold. First, it is outside the acceptable pH range. Second, I've learned from experience that my SWG will raise my pH from 7.2 at pool opening to 7.8 at pool closing. Because of that, I never bother adjusting pH.
2. Some combination of raising pH, TA and CH. For example: raising pH to 7.5, TA to 120 and CH to 280 gives a CSI of -0.21.
Please share some of your wisdom! I've never had any visible corrosion or scaling issues with any of my equipment. However, I've never owned a heater and that is my primary concern.
Thanks!
Kelly