My pool was built in 2009. I've had an automatic cover on it from day 1.
I knew nothing about pool chemistry so for years I just kept throwing pucks in the skimmers & shocking once or twice per year. I never tested FC, pH, TA, CH or CYA except via sticks. Everything seemed ok until this year @ opening.
I could not get a chlorine reading. First I put 12 lbs of cal-hypo in. No chlorine reading. So I put in 6 more pounds. Nada. Then, I noticed an ever so, almost imperceptible slimey feeling on the hose to my pool cleaner. I knew my pool was going down a road I didn't want to travel.
So, I looked around & found this site. Somewhere I learned my strips *maybe* could not read FC because it was so high it bleached out the strip. Either that or FC was too low. I learned about the relationship between CYA & Chlorine (thanks!) I bought a Taylor K-2006 test kit. My CYA was off the charts! Maybe 500 ppm! It had to go.
I was going to drain my pool but someone advised me the liner could be damaged if I did. So I bought a utility pump & drained 2' out of it. Filled it back up. Two days later, repeat. Also left the cover off for a couple of heavy rains. The CYA went to 75.
After that, I put in 10 bottles of 8.25% bleach over the last couple of days & 6 lbs of Lithium Hypochlorite today. My pool is still clear but the FC depletes quickly (~24 hours). Today, after the Lithium Hypochlorite, I tested again.
FC 4.4
CC 0.5
pH 7.5
TA 160
CH 230
CYA 75
SI .13
Salt 400
Temp 84
Now I already hate lugging bleach around!! So I've decided to convert to SWG. I read up on it & decided my CYA is OK @ 75 but my TA needs to be cut in half. I then pour in 7 Pounds Kem-Tek pH Minus Pool & got pH down to 7.25 & began to aerate.
After a couple of hours, here are my numbers: pH is 7.3 and TA 140. I'll be aerating all night & as many days/nights as it takes...
My understanding is before converting to SWG, the pool must be balanced. That includes FC right? And I also read TA is recommended to be 70-80. Not sure why. Since salt is @ 400, I need 650 lbs of salt to get it to 2700 (minimum). I bought water softener salt @ Lowe's. As far as I can tell, it's the same as pool salt.
Has anybody gone through a conversion? I think I'm doing it right but would love some advice. Thank you
Cubgirl
I knew nothing about pool chemistry so for years I just kept throwing pucks in the skimmers & shocking once or twice per year. I never tested FC, pH, TA, CH or CYA except via sticks. Everything seemed ok until this year @ opening.
I could not get a chlorine reading. First I put 12 lbs of cal-hypo in. No chlorine reading. So I put in 6 more pounds. Nada. Then, I noticed an ever so, almost imperceptible slimey feeling on the hose to my pool cleaner. I knew my pool was going down a road I didn't want to travel.
So, I looked around & found this site. Somewhere I learned my strips *maybe* could not read FC because it was so high it bleached out the strip. Either that or FC was too low. I learned about the relationship between CYA & Chlorine (thanks!) I bought a Taylor K-2006 test kit. My CYA was off the charts! Maybe 500 ppm! It had to go.
I was going to drain my pool but someone advised me the liner could be damaged if I did. So I bought a utility pump & drained 2' out of it. Filled it back up. Two days later, repeat. Also left the cover off for a couple of heavy rains. The CYA went to 75.
After that, I put in 10 bottles of 8.25% bleach over the last couple of days & 6 lbs of Lithium Hypochlorite today. My pool is still clear but the FC depletes quickly (~24 hours). Today, after the Lithium Hypochlorite, I tested again.
FC 4.4
CC 0.5
pH 7.5
TA 160
CH 230
CYA 75
SI .13
Salt 400
Temp 84
Now I already hate lugging bleach around!! So I've decided to convert to SWG. I read up on it & decided my CYA is OK @ 75 but my TA needs to be cut in half. I then pour in 7 Pounds Kem-Tek pH Minus Pool & got pH down to 7.25 & began to aerate.
After a couple of hours, here are my numbers: pH is 7.3 and TA 140. I'll be aerating all night & as many days/nights as it takes...
My understanding is before converting to SWG, the pool must be balanced. That includes FC right? And I also read TA is recommended to be 70-80. Not sure why. Since salt is @ 400, I need 650 lbs of salt to get it to 2700 (minimum). I bought water softener salt @ Lowe's. As far as I can tell, it's the same as pool salt.
Has anybody gone through a conversion? I think I'm doing it right but would love some advice. Thank you
Cubgirl
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