I have the dubious honor of having been both pool serviced and pool stored.
I terminated my chemicals-only service a month ago, on the occasion of my third mustard algae bloom of 2014 (I keep the pool running year 'round). From what I've learned in the past month, I'm convinced that they basically just kept the TC between 1 and 3 ppm, and I'm further convinced that I have had chronic mustard algae issues for the past 3 years without knowing it (what I thought was sand on the steps, yellow/brown Polaris wheels and skimmer corners). But luckily the last thing they did was shock with lots of chlorine, so all I had to do was keep a closer eye on things and run the filter more.
Before I found TFP, or course, I dropped three bills on tri-clor, shock, test strips, and phos-free snake oil. I did use the phosphate remover one time, and it did result in the clearest water I've ever had. Otherwise, I only used about five 3" tabs, and now have a 10-year vacation supply.
I receive my test kit last week and did my first test Friday night.
pH 7.8
FC 6.0
CC 0.5
CH 500 first time, 375 second time
TA 90
CYA 100
I had a little trouble with the CH, the R-0010 wanted to come out in multiple drops or in a stream, I think it may be a little too fresh, like the R-0009 in the TA test?
I also measured the CH of my tap water because I recall hearing that it is typically high, and got 175.
Saturday I drained the pool to half, then refilled. Added a gallon of no-specs Arctic White bleach that I found on sale for 99 cents per gallon at Orchard Supply.
Did a basic K-1000 test this morning, pH looked darker than 7.8, so I added a pint of MA.
Tested again this afternoon:
pH 7.6
FC 3.0
CC 0
CH 275
TA 110
CYA 40
Added another gallon of bleach, and will follow up tomorrow.
I was particularly pleased to have had the CYA come down nicely, should I do anything about TA?
I followed the kit instructions for CH with 25 ppm per drop, would I be better off with the alternate instructions and 10 ppm per drop? Anything I should be doing about CH (other than getting more repeatable results)?
Thanks,
Randy
I terminated my chemicals-only service a month ago, on the occasion of my third mustard algae bloom of 2014 (I keep the pool running year 'round). From what I've learned in the past month, I'm convinced that they basically just kept the TC between 1 and 3 ppm, and I'm further convinced that I have had chronic mustard algae issues for the past 3 years without knowing it (what I thought was sand on the steps, yellow/brown Polaris wheels and skimmer corners). But luckily the last thing they did was shock with lots of chlorine, so all I had to do was keep a closer eye on things and run the filter more.
Before I found TFP, or course, I dropped three bills on tri-clor, shock, test strips, and phos-free snake oil. I did use the phosphate remover one time, and it did result in the clearest water I've ever had. Otherwise, I only used about five 3" tabs, and now have a 10-year vacation supply.
I receive my test kit last week and did my first test Friday night.
pH 7.8
FC 6.0
CC 0.5
CH 500 first time, 375 second time
TA 90
CYA 100
I had a little trouble with the CH, the R-0010 wanted to come out in multiple drops or in a stream, I think it may be a little too fresh, like the R-0009 in the TA test?
I also measured the CH of my tap water because I recall hearing that it is typically high, and got 175.
Saturday I drained the pool to half, then refilled. Added a gallon of no-specs Arctic White bleach that I found on sale for 99 cents per gallon at Orchard Supply.
Did a basic K-1000 test this morning, pH looked darker than 7.8, so I added a pint of MA.
Tested again this afternoon:
pH 7.6
FC 3.0
CC 0
CH 275
TA 110
CYA 40
Added another gallon of bleach, and will follow up tomorrow.
I was particularly pleased to have had the CYA come down nicely, should I do anything about TA?
I followed the kit instructions for CH with 25 ppm per drop, would I be better off with the alternate instructions and 10 ppm per drop? Anything I should be doing about CH (other than getting more repeatable results)?
Thanks,
Randy