To add calcium or not to?

[tmnt25]

My calcium is currently really low at 150. I suspect its there because 1) the plaster was redone in 2011 2) the pool was topped off with softened water.

I just recently connected to city water, (i still have my well, but no longer have the water softener hooked up). The well water is hard and the city water is also hard (so i think they're both high in calcium).

The question is, do i continue with really low calcium levels and wait to see if the city & well water raise the levels as I top off? Or is it low enough that i should add calcium now to protect the surface?

really happy to have found this forum

 

[linen]

Welcome to tfp, tmnt25

The question is, do i continue with really low calcium levels and wait to see if the city & well water raise the levels as I top off? Or is it low enough that i should add calcium now to protect the surface?

We need a full set of test results including pH, TA, CH, CYA, Temp, Borates (if any purposefully put in), Salt (if any purposefully put in) in order for us to really know. The recommended levels are 250-350 ppm, but in your high CH makeup water case, that range may not apply directly. Do you know your fill (makeup) water CH level?

 

[Butterfly]

I suggest you test the city water for calcium now.

Welcome to the forum

 

[tmnt25]

Welcome to tfp, tmnt25

The question is, do i continue with really low calcium levels and wait to see if the city & well water raise the levels as I top off? Or is it low enough that i should add calcium now to protect the surface?

We need a full set of test results including pH, TA, CH, CYA, Temp, Borates (if any purposefully put in), Salt (if any purposefully put in) in order for us to really know. The recommended levels are 250-350 ppm, but in your high CH makeup water case, that range may not apply directly. Do you know your fill (makeup) water CH level?

based on pinch a penny:
FC 5
pH 7.6
TA 100
CYA 60

Don't know about borates, salt. i currently have a pool service, but am not confident they are doing a great job. He only tests with strips and given what i've learned in pool school, this is not sufficient. Also, some metal stains he's ignored has caused me to go on a learning spree.

will pinch a penny test my water source?

looking into buying the k2006 or the tf100

I'm in miami, fl.

 

[Richard320]

Pinch a penny will test whatever you bring in ina bottle. They don't know if it's from your pool, your neighbor's pool, or the tap. But they need to test CH for you.

 

[Butterfly]

looking into buying the k2006 or the tf100

The TF100 is the fav around here. More bang for the buck, great customer service, same taylor chems, and hands-on help from the owner

 

[Vette]

Honestly, getting a test kit like the TF-100 or K2006 is the best investment you can ever make in your pool. Even more than any equipment upgrades.

 

[tmnt25]

Honestly, getting a test kit like the TF-100 or K2006 is the best investment you can ever make in your pool. Even more than any equipment upgrades.

ordered the tf-100 2 minutes ago

you all are great salesmen....

I do have an over the counter test kit that gave me similar results on FC, PH and TA that pinch a penny gave me.

 

[tmnt25]

Just got my TF text kit and got the following results.... Really different than pinch a penny

FC 11
Cc .5
Ph 8
TA 80-90
CH 140
Cya 30

The cya test is real difficult, am I not supposed to see the dot at all?

 

[jblizzle]

No sign of the dot.

Check out the extended testing instructions sticky in the testing forum.

Looks like you should lower the pH and raise the CH a bit.