First test results with K2006 kits - and right after pool service

[Red Barron]

So I got my new test kit in the mail today, and it just so happens that the PB did the service today as well. I know that my pH has been high, so I wondered where I would end up.

FC 2.2
CC 0.2
pH Low - seemed to be 6.8 (maybe)? I had to add 16 drops of R-0008 to get it to 7.2 and I am not quite sure what that means.
TA 30
CYA 90 - 100 My eyesight isn't the best, but it is somewhere in that range.

I am somewhat worried about the pH - it seems likely that they dumped a bunch of acid in the pool today, but I have no idea how much. I am also concerned about the CYA. Seems it might be a bit high.

Thoughts on how to proceed?

 

[jblizzle]

Please add your pool details to your signature as described HERE as it will help us help you in the future.

What is the pool surface?
How old is the pool?
What is the CH?

Your CYA is already too high, the FC is too low, the TA is too low, and the pH is WAY too low (unless they are doing an acid wash or something).

I have come to put very little faith in PB chemical service

 

[Red Barron]

Sorry - I will update my sig.

12k gallon IG plaster pool. Pool finished build a couple weeks ago. I did not check the CH - yet.

 

[jblizzle]

I would want to adjust everything, but you need to talk to the builder and find out if that would affect your warranty.

 

[Red Barron]

CH is between 380 and 400. My measuring is still not perfect, but it was going from purple to blue in that range.

 

[Red Barron]

OK, I decided to bite the bullet and TFP the heck out of my pool.

I added 8.25% Bleach and Borax, per recommendation from the Chlorine/CYA chart and the Pool Calc.

FC is now 10.5
CC does not appear to have changed - still right around 0.2.
pH is now at 7.2, but it should be rising as the Borax finishes working.

 

[duraleigh]

pH is now at 7.2, but it should be rising as the Borax finishes working.

Any change in pH when you add borax should be complete within about 30 minutes of the addition.

 

[Red Barron]

Any change in pH when you add borax should be complete within about 30 minutes of the addition.

Right - it had not been quite that long, and the Borax was a little clumpy and had not completely dissolved, so I figured I might get a further small boost from it.

 

[Red Barron]

I retested this morning.

FC 9
CC 0.2
PH 7.4
TA 60
CH 350 - 375 (man my eyes are bad....blue is a rough color for me.)
CYA 90

I just added baking soda into the skimmer to try and bring up the TA. It will also - hopefully - bring the PH up a little as well.

 

[jblizzle]

So, what is the plan to deal with the CYA? You really need to replace almost half the water ....

 

[Red Barron]

So, what is the plan to deal with the CYA? You really need to replace almost half the water ....

Honestly, I am not sure. I turned the chlorine feeder off entirely in order to keep it from growing any further. Does rain help dilute it (he asks hopefully)?

 

[jblizzle]

Only if you get enough to have to pump some water out of the pool. You have to physically remove it from the pool.

 

[Red Barron]

Only if you get enough to have to pump some water out of the pool. You have to physically remove it from the pool.

The water goes out of the overflow by one of the skimmers out of the side yard, but there is no way it is going to be enough. Unfortunately, we are under watering restrictions, so I don't know when I could actually do something like that.

Other than needing higher amounts of Chlorine, what will high levels of CYA do to the pool (or us)?

 

[jblizzle]

You will just need to keep the FC above 7ppm at all times, likely having to target 10-11 ppm every day ... and remember if the FC > 10ppm, the pH test will not work correctly (reads artificially high).

 

[Red Barron]

Thanks! I think that is what I am going to do for the time being.

After adding the baking soda, my TA is now 130 and my PH is 7.6. Major improvement in almost all numbers from 24 hours ago.

I am extremely glad I found TFP....

 

[jblizzle]

whoa ... that is much higher TA than I would have suggested, especially with a new pool.

 

[Red Barron]

whoa ... that is much higher TA than I would have suggested, especially with a new pool.

The calculator said it should have gone to 100 (maybe as much as 110), so I may have misread it. I grabbed the water during a break in the storm. I will check it again tomorrow.