New pool, first test results

[moonturko]

Hey everyone,

We had a new pool installed in the fall and finally opened a few weeks ago. I finally got around to bringing a sample to the pool store.

TA= 30
pH= 7.0
CH= 30
FC= 4.0
Bromine= 0
Water clarity was excellent.

From the tests I was doing at home, I knew my TA was low and affecting my pH. Here's what the pool store precribed me. Any thoughts?

They want me to start with 1L of algeacide (60%). After that, it's on to Alkalinity increaser (18KG) and finish up with CH increaser (17KG).

Very new to all of this, and I've read through the pool school multiple times hehe

So does their prescription make sense? The one concern I had was she based it on a 2600 gallon pool, if I do the calculation myself I'm at 22000. Should I scale back on some of those chems?

Thanks!

 

[PaulR]

I would not bother with the algaecide (unnecessary if you maintain adequate chlorine) or the CH increaser (not relevant to a vinyl pool). Raising the TA is probably a good move, though.

You can use the Pool Calculator to calculate amounts of chems for yourself. Even in a 26000 gal pool, 18KG of alkalinity increaser (probably baking soda) is too much. (Are you really mixing metric and British units like that?) Raising TA from 30 to 60 requires about 5KG in a 26,000 gallon pool, 4.5KB in 22,000 gallons.

What is your CYA level?
--paulr

 

[moonturko]

Sorry for the metric measurements, it's just how they measure it here.

I'll definitely not put as much as they recommended though.

I can't see anything reguarding CYA levels on my results.

 

[PaulR]

You need to know your CYA in order to determine the correct FC target level. The SWG instructions should specify the target CYA range. The pool store should be able to test for this; if not, find another store. And of course we always recommend you get your own quality test kit.
pool-school/pool_test_kit_comparison
--paulr

 

[moonturko]

Actually, one of the water parameter listed is called stabilizer, and it's at 50. Could that be it?

I will definitely invest in a quality kit as well so I can keep up with proper tests.

 

[PaulR]

Yes, CYA is also called stabilizer (or sometimes conditioner). 50 is on the low side for an SWG, you might consider raising that to 70; the result is you need to maintain a higher FC level, but counter-intuitively the SWG doesn't have to work as hard to maintain it.
pool-school/water_balance_saltwater_generator
--paulr

 

[moonturko]

Thanks Paul, much appreciated!