We've been testing with guess strips for a little more than a year. We've got a pool store with a pretty solid neighborhood reputation that we take water samples to about every other week. They do pH and chlorine readings, but very little else unless we've got a visual problem.
My wife usually tends to the pool chemistry, but I've offered to that that job and purchased the TF Test kit to help.
We had a small bout with algea about 10 days ago, but raised the chlorine level, did some brushing and vacuuming and feel like we are about back to normal.
I ran a set of tests on this past Wednesday...then another today...just to practice with the kit & get a feel for pool chemistry rates of change.
Anyways...here's the data:
Weds....................Fri
--------................-----
FC: 19...............FC: 17
CC: 1...............CC: 0
TC: 20...............TC: 17
pH: 6.8..............pH: 7.2
T/A: 100............T/A: 110
CH: 220.............CH: 220
CYA: 90..............CYA: 90
It's a 24' round pool with a 4' depth. About 13,500 gallons I believe. Sand filter.
We keep a floating pool chlorinator & add a pre-dissolved 1lb package of powdered shock routinely once or twice a week (depending on usage, weather, guess strip readings & feedback from the pool store).
After seeing Wednesday's test results & noting the low pH level, I consulted the poolcalculator (erroneously inputting 12,000 gals), which suggested about 75 oz of Borax to raise the pH. I bought a box & broadcast the whole thing (about 77 oz) into the pool wednesday evening. Our filter runs 7 hours during the day, and another 7 hours while we sleep.
Anyways, the pH moved from 6.8 to 7.2, which was less than I had targeted...but then, I failed to account for about 1500 extra gallons of water. I'll add more Borax this evening & try to fine-tune the pH to 7.5.
My free chlorine remains high, but did fall 2 ppm in 2 days. I'm a tempted to take the floating chlorinator out to allow the chlorine level to fall faster, but because we'll be away for the long weekend, and fresh from a battle with the algae-monster, I'll probably keep it in and let the FC fall slowly.
My wife will want to add another pound of powdered shock before we leave for the weekend (she HATES algae) , but I don't see the need, especially if the pool remains covered and the floating chlorinator remains in.
Anyone see anything else that looks odd or out-of-whack?
Am I sound in my reasoning to resist adding additional powdered-shock chlorine for the weekend, given the Friday morning readings?
My wife usually tends to the pool chemistry, but I've offered to that that job and purchased the TF Test kit to help.
We had a small bout with algea about 10 days ago, but raised the chlorine level, did some brushing and vacuuming and feel like we are about back to normal.
I ran a set of tests on this past Wednesday...then another today...just to practice with the kit & get a feel for pool chemistry rates of change.
Anyways...here's the data:
Weds....................Fri
--------................-----
FC: 19...............FC: 17
CC: 1...............CC: 0
TC: 20...............TC: 17
pH: 6.8..............pH: 7.2
T/A: 100............T/A: 110
CH: 220.............CH: 220
CYA: 90..............CYA: 90
It's a 24' round pool with a 4' depth. About 13,500 gallons I believe. Sand filter.
We keep a floating pool chlorinator & add a pre-dissolved 1lb package of powdered shock routinely once or twice a week (depending on usage, weather, guess strip readings & feedback from the pool store).
After seeing Wednesday's test results & noting the low pH level, I consulted the poolcalculator (erroneously inputting 12,000 gals), which suggested about 75 oz of Borax to raise the pH. I bought a box & broadcast the whole thing (about 77 oz) into the pool wednesday evening. Our filter runs 7 hours during the day, and another 7 hours while we sleep.
Anyways, the pH moved from 6.8 to 7.2, which was less than I had targeted...but then, I failed to account for about 1500 extra gallons of water. I'll add more Borax this evening & try to fine-tune the pH to 7.5.
My free chlorine remains high, but did fall 2 ppm in 2 days. I'm a tempted to take the floating chlorinator out to allow the chlorine level to fall faster, but because we'll be away for the long weekend, and fresh from a battle with the algae-monster, I'll probably keep it in and let the FC fall slowly.
My wife will want to add another pound of powdered shock before we leave for the weekend (she HATES algae) , but I don't see the need, especially if the pool remains covered and the floating chlorinator remains in.
Anyone see anything else that looks odd or out-of-whack?
Am I sound in my reasoning to resist adding additional powdered-shock chlorine for the weekend, given the Friday morning readings?