We replastered the pool 31 May 11- filled that day. Installed a sand filter with zeosand, a two speed EcoPump EP-6, a Spectralight SL-500, a GE 15087 DPDT controller, and kept the RayPak 2100. Because we ripped out the old booster pump, I just switched from a Polaris 280 to a Polaris 360, which I run (on high speed) one hour a day. The pump runs at low speed the other 23 hours a day. (Filter is 3 psi at low speed-pump at low speed is 53 decibels at 3 feet.) Pipes are 1.5". The Spectralight is on 24/7.
Last week, I bit the bullet, and based on a 20k gal. pool, I put in 16 boxes of mule team borax and 5 gallons of 20 baume.
(I noticed something; I did it in two phases, 8 boxes, 2.5 gallons, adjusting pH afterwards. After the first phase, which would be about 25 ppm borax, the water felt WORSE- eyes burned. After the second phase, 50 ppm, the problem went away. What's that all about?)
This week, I put in 200 lbs of blue bag water softener salt. After I put it in, I liked the feel, so I put in another 160 lbs. The change is night and day- far better on the eyes and skin. Plus, the water appearance is more crystalline. (I was skeptical.) Adding chlorine with safeway regular bleach when I test, which has been about 3 times a week.
(I need a SWCG, but there are other priorities right now.)
That's the background.
As far as chemistry goes, my numbers this morning at 0900 are as follows: (Taylor K-2005; will get a 6 or T100 soon..)
temp- 84f.
TC-1
FC-1
CC-0
pH-7.4
TA-130
CH-450
CYA-45
CSI-.5
Borates-50 ppm
(Don't have sodium test strips yet, but should be about 2000 ppm.)
Now, according to the CYA/Chlorine chart, I'm way low on chlorine. (Minimum FC 3, goal FC 5, according to the chart.) My CH is high, but this is new plaster, so I expect that. And my CSI is at risk for scaling, although I doubt that will happen. Ideally, I'd like to get my CYA down to about 20 or so, but I'm not in a rush, as I don't see the need, and I'm dubious about the "CYA REMOVER" on sale at the local pool store. What I find interesting, is the appearance of the water under these conditions. (CAVEAT- The family is away- I am the only swimmer, 1 hour a day for the last week.) Any suggestions?
Last week, I bit the bullet, and based on a 20k gal. pool, I put in 16 boxes of mule team borax and 5 gallons of 20 baume.
(I noticed something; I did it in two phases, 8 boxes, 2.5 gallons, adjusting pH afterwards. After the first phase, which would be about 25 ppm borax, the water felt WORSE- eyes burned. After the second phase, 50 ppm, the problem went away. What's that all about?)
This week, I put in 200 lbs of blue bag water softener salt. After I put it in, I liked the feel, so I put in another 160 lbs. The change is night and day- far better on the eyes and skin. Plus, the water appearance is more crystalline. (I was skeptical.) Adding chlorine with safeway regular bleach when I test, which has been about 3 times a week.
(I need a SWCG, but there are other priorities right now.)
That's the background.
As far as chemistry goes, my numbers this morning at 0900 are as follows: (Taylor K-2005; will get a 6 or T100 soon..)
temp- 84f.
TC-1
FC-1
CC-0
pH-7.4
TA-130
CH-450
CYA-45
CSI-.5
Borates-50 ppm
(Don't have sodium test strips yet, but should be about 2000 ppm.)
Now, according to the CYA/Chlorine chart, I'm way low on chlorine. (Minimum FC 3, goal FC 5, according to the chart.) My CH is high, but this is new plaster, so I expect that. And my CSI is at risk for scaling, although I doubt that will happen. Ideally, I'd like to get my CYA down to about 20 or so, but I'm not in a rush, as I don't see the need, and I'm dubious about the "CYA REMOVER" on sale at the local pool store. What I find interesting, is the appearance of the water under these conditions. (CAVEAT- The family is away- I am the only swimmer, 1 hour a day for the last week.) Any suggestions?