Learned a great deal by reading through the posts here. Hoping to understand a bit better some of the specific guidance in the Water Balance for SWGs post.
This is my third season owning a pool and my second maintaining it myslef (the pool service company I used the first season was revealed to be a real crook).
My water is clear but there is some brownish staining on the sides and on the floor of the deep end of the pool. My latest test results from the local Leslie's is:
FC:4 pH:7.4 TA:110 CYA:55 CH:240 Salt:3400 Phosphates:750
I already ordered a K-2006 and should have it in a couple of days. I hope to test the FC at dusk and dawn to determine whether there is an algae presence.
Comparing that with the recommendations in the Water Balance for SWGs post I should be looking to:
Maintain FC
Raise pH slightly to 7.5-7.8
Lower TA dramatically to 60-80
Raise CH dramatically to 350-450 for plaster
Raise CYA to 70-80
Maintain Salt
Questions:
1. The Lower Total Alkalinity post says "You shouldn't lower TA just to reach a target number". Considering how much higher my reading is over the recommended level, should I make an effort to lower TA?
2. Similarly, do I really need to raise CH above 350? The Hayward CHEMISTRY QUICK START GUIDE recommends a range of 200-400 without differentiating between pool types.
3. I Based on what I learned here so far I understand that I should not increase CYA until I am sure that the staining I see is not algae, because if it is elevated CYA will require more chlorine to treat it.
4. I already own Kem-Tek KTK-50-0006 Pool and Spa 60-Percent Concentrated Algaecide. The instructions say to add after super-chrlonating to FC 5. Any thoughts on whether this could hurt?
Any help and advice would be much appreciated.
This is my third season owning a pool and my second maintaining it myslef (the pool service company I used the first season was revealed to be a real crook).
My water is clear but there is some brownish staining on the sides and on the floor of the deep end of the pool. My latest test results from the local Leslie's is:
FC:4 pH:7.4 TA:110 CYA:55 CH:240 Salt:3400 Phosphates:750
I already ordered a K-2006 and should have it in a couple of days. I hope to test the FC at dusk and dawn to determine whether there is an algae presence.
Comparing that with the recommendations in the Water Balance for SWGs post I should be looking to:
Maintain FC
Raise pH slightly to 7.5-7.8
Lower TA dramatically to 60-80
Raise CH dramatically to 350-450 for plaster
Raise CYA to 70-80
Maintain Salt
Questions:
1. The Lower Total Alkalinity post says "You shouldn't lower TA just to reach a target number". Considering how much higher my reading is over the recommended level, should I make an effort to lower TA?
2. Similarly, do I really need to raise CH above 350? The Hayward CHEMISTRY QUICK START GUIDE recommends a range of 200-400 without differentiating between pool types.
3. I Based on what I learned here so far I understand that I should not increase CYA until I am sure that the staining I see is not algae, because if it is elevated CYA will require more chlorine to treat it.
4. I already own Kem-Tek KTK-50-0006 Pool and Spa 60-Percent Concentrated Algaecide. The instructions say to add after super-chrlonating to FC 5. Any thoughts on whether this could hurt?
Any help and advice would be much appreciated.