This is my first time posting test results to this site. If I have omitted information, please let me know. I am a pharmacist by trade and after a couple years listening to the poor explanations of my local pool suppliers, not to mention after they ruined some of my equipment, I decided it was time to understand what was going on myself.
Here are the basics of my pool:
- 25,000 gallons IG pool with vinyl liner (approximate dimentions: 20 ft x 40 ft)
- 3 ft to 5 ft depth with slide
- Hayward S200 sand filter (200 lbs media with flow rate 44 GPM/166 LPM)
- Current sand in place for last 3-seasons (new sand purchased today and will change as soon as steps issue is resolved)
- Hayward 1.5 hp pump running 24/7 from open to close of season
- AquaChem floating chlorinator (holds 6 tablets) and recently needing an additional 1-2 tablets to keep chlorine level at ~1 ppm with pH ~7.2
Pool chemicals
- AquaChem 3 inch chlorinating tabs
- AquaChem Shock Xtra Blue (used two boxes thus far) now I am using Pool Life Turbo Shock
- AquaChem Algaecide 50%
- AquaChem Super Water Clarifier
- Arm and Hammer Baking Soda
Pics from pool today
An overall view:
The water is clear and we have been swimming twice thus far. In the last 24-hours, (weekly maintenance is performed on Sunday evening) I added:
- 3 lbs of shock (to deep end)
- few ounces of clarifier to the skimmer
- 2 lbs of Pool Life alkalinity increaser (to deep end)
- few ounces of algaecide (to shallow end and steps)
Here is the issue:
As you can see, the steps are remaining discolored, since pool opening. The discoloring is even seen on the skimmer opening. I initially thought it was algae, but it does not scrub off. Another post on this forum suggested a trial with ascorbic acid (vitamin C). A little scrubbing with a single 500 mg tablet cleared this spot right up! What does that mean?!?
I purchased the XL test kit and performed my first this evening. Here are the results:
Weekly simple test:
- Cl and pH test = ~2 ppm and pH ~7.2
Complete test:
- FC: 2 drips cleared tube, but after a few seconds, became slightly pink again, so 3 gtts x 0.5 = 1.5 ppm
- CC: 2 gtts x 0.5 = 1 ppm
- TC: FC + CC = 1.5 + 1 = 2.5
- TA: 6 gtts x 10 = 60
- Ca: started witnessing a purple, continually suspended precipitate that remained even when the tube turned blue with approx 22 gtts x 10 = 220 (Is a precipitate normal or should it be clear?) ** I have a pic if needed **
- CYA: black dot seemed to disappear between 35 - 40
Sorry for the long post but I wanted to be as complete as possible. If there is any other information needed to help with my pool, please let me know. Please let me say in advance, I appreciate your time and concern.
Chadrick
Here are the basics of my pool:
- 25,000 gallons IG pool with vinyl liner (approximate dimentions: 20 ft x 40 ft)
- 3 ft to 5 ft depth with slide
- Hayward S200 sand filter (200 lbs media with flow rate 44 GPM/166 LPM)
- Current sand in place for last 3-seasons (new sand purchased today and will change as soon as steps issue is resolved)
- Hayward 1.5 hp pump running 24/7 from open to close of season
- AquaChem floating chlorinator (holds 6 tablets) and recently needing an additional 1-2 tablets to keep chlorine level at ~1 ppm with pH ~7.2
Pool chemicals
- AquaChem 3 inch chlorinating tabs
- AquaChem Shock Xtra Blue (used two boxes thus far) now I am using Pool Life Turbo Shock
- AquaChem Algaecide 50%
- AquaChem Super Water Clarifier
- Arm and Hammer Baking Soda
Pics from pool today
An overall view:
The water is clear and we have been swimming twice thus far. In the last 24-hours, (weekly maintenance is performed on Sunday evening) I added:
- 3 lbs of shock (to deep end)
- few ounces of clarifier to the skimmer
- 2 lbs of Pool Life alkalinity increaser (to deep end)
- few ounces of algaecide (to shallow end and steps)
Here is the issue:
As you can see, the steps are remaining discolored, since pool opening. The discoloring is even seen on the skimmer opening. I initially thought it was algae, but it does not scrub off. Another post on this forum suggested a trial with ascorbic acid (vitamin C). A little scrubbing with a single 500 mg tablet cleared this spot right up! What does that mean?!?
I purchased the XL test kit and performed my first this evening. Here are the results:
Weekly simple test:
- Cl and pH test = ~2 ppm and pH ~7.2
Complete test:
- FC: 2 drips cleared tube, but after a few seconds, became slightly pink again, so 3 gtts x 0.5 = 1.5 ppm
- CC: 2 gtts x 0.5 = 1 ppm
- TC: FC + CC = 1.5 + 1 = 2.5
- TA: 6 gtts x 10 = 60
- Ca: started witnessing a purple, continually suspended precipitate that remained even when the tube turned blue with approx 22 gtts x 10 = 220 (Is a precipitate normal or should it be clear?) ** I have a pic if needed **
- CYA: black dot seemed to disappear between 35 - 40
Sorry for the long post but I wanted to be as complete as possible. If there is any other information needed to help with my pool, please let me know. Please let me say in advance, I appreciate your time and concern.
Chadrick