Balancing Advice

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krisiak11

krisiak11

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Jul 31, 2017
57
Archbald, PA
This is my first season as a Pool owner. I am working hard at learning the art of the balance and while I feel like I am making headway, I still am sometimes baffled the way some of my levels are changing. For example, TA; I had it tested twice at the pool store and tested it twice myself. Pool store came back at 20 once and 50 the next time. My tests came back at 110 and 150 today. I am currently raising my CYA levels from zero to the recommended range by adding about 3 lbs per day, a slurry into the skimmer. My PH has been fairly stable which is nice, but my CH has been all over the board from looking like its non existent to over 10. Here are my results from this morning's lab experiment:
PH 7.2
FC 10.5
CC .5
TC 11
CH 225
TA 150
CYA 32

I did not add anything to change my TA level. Only thing I have really done is shocked the pool, added a little to my CH (based on heater warranty specifications), and am in process of raising CYA levels. Thanks in advance for any advice.
 
My first suggestion is to stop going to the pool store. Their only response it to sell you something and it appears they sold you CH. You don't need to add CH in a liner pool.

The numbers you just posted are they the pool store, yours or a combination? I ask because we don't track TC (pool stores generally do) and teh TF-100 can't come up with a CYA of 32.

We don't "shock" our pools. We maintain the proper ratio of chlorine to CYA according to this chart: [FC/CYA][/FC/CYA]

For now, ignore TA - we don't need to chase a "perfect number until we see that there is a problem.

So, what did you use to "shock" your pool?

How does the water look?

Have you conducted an Overnight Chlorine Loss Test?

Hold off on any more CYA additions until we know that you are ready to go to your goal for a SWCG pool. When it's time to add more we would recommend adding it by the sock method, not pouring a slurry into the skimmer. Get an old sock (no holes in the toes) and put the measured amount of CYA you need to get to your first target. Tie the sock closed and either suspend it in front of a return (hang it from your brush pole works with something weighted on the deck) OR if it still allows flow thru the skimmer, place the sock in the skimmer. Every 15/20 minutes give the sock a squeeze to speed up the process or just leave it alone, your choice. Please DO NOT follow the directions on the container of CYA to just pour it into the skimmer and don't just toss the sock in the pool as the CYA is acidic and can bleach/stain pool finishes.
 
Thanks for taking the time Tim. I was foolish to wait to order my own test kit until after the pool was open so I initially relied on Pool Store advice. I made a concious decision to add the CH to protect my heater, pool store suggested higher than I went which was the minimum recomended for the heater (200). I also researched the proper way to add CYA including on this forum, seems there is quite a divide on how pool owners feel about that. I will try the sock method though moving forward. The test results are 100% mine from 2 hours ago. The CYA test showed just above the 30 so I estimated at 32. I checked that twice. I tested and recorded everything the instructions read to do so. In terms of the shock, 10 days ago I added 4 lbs of granular shock- again pool store advice I am no longer taking. The water is crystal clear, I did not conduct an overnight chlorine loss test but I will certainly look into it.
 
krisiak11 said:
Thanks for taking the time Tim. I was foolish to wait to order my own test kit until after the pool was open so I initially relied on Pool Store advice. I made a concious decision to add the CH to protect my heater, pool store suggested higher than I went which was the minimum recomended for the heater (200). I also researched the proper way to add CYA including on this forum, seems there is quite a divide on how pool owners feel about that. I will try the sock method though moving forward. The test results are 100% mine from 2 hours ago. The CYA test showed just above the 30 so I estimated at 32. I checked that twice. I tested and recorded everything the instructions read to do so. In terms of the shock, 10 days ago I added 4 lbs of granular shock- again pool store advice I am no longer taking. The water is crystal clear, I did not conduct an overnight chlorine loss test but I will certainly look into it.
Click to expand...
Wonderful!!

Understand that there are different types of granular "shock", DiChlor and CalHypo. Cal-Hypo add more calcium, Di-Chlor adds CYA/stabilizer. But, as long as you maintain the proper level of FC all the time, there is never a need to "shock" the pool.

As to the CYA test, the tube uses a logarithmic scale, not a liner scale (meaning half way between 30 and 40 is not 35), so it is really not designed to "guess" what a number is between the marked numbers. We say to round up to the next number, in your case 40. If you look at all of our pages we only give recommendations using CYA in numbers rounded to the nearest 10.

So, have you added salt to the pool and is it at the correct level? What is the water temperature?

For your pool moving forward I would recommend the following:

You are well over the minimum FC for a CYA of 40, so no issues there

Conduct the Overnight Chlorine Loss Test tonight and that will prove or disprove that the .5 CC you are registering is something growing in the water.

If you pass the Overnight Chlorine Loss Test then it is time to make sure the salt is at the right level and work on getting the SWCG running if the water is warm enough.

Ignore the TA. We only work to bring down TA if teh pH becomes unstable and you have already said it's fine. That may change when you start the SWCG, but that is a bridge to cross later.
 
tim5055 said:
Wonderful!!

Understand that there are different types of granular "shock", DiChlor and CalHypo. Cal-Hypo add more calcium, Di-Chlor adds CYA/stabilizer. But, as long as you maintain the proper level of FC all the time, there is never a need to "shock" the pool.

As to the CYA test, the tube uses a logarithmic scale, not a liner scale (meaning half way between 30 and 40 is not 35), so it is really not designed to "guess" what a number is between the marked numbers. We say to round up to the next number, in your case 40. If you look at all of our pages we only give recommendations using CYA in numbers rounded to the nearest 10.

So, have you added salt to the pool and is it at the correct level? What is the water temperature?

For your pool moving forward I would recommend the following:

You are well over the minimum FC for a CYA of 40, so no issues there

Conduct the Overnight Chlorine Loss Test tonight and that will prove or disprove that the .5 CC you are registering is something growing in the water.

If you pass the Overnight Chlorine Loss Test then it is time to make sure the salt is at the right level and work on getting the SWCG running if the water is warm enough.

Ignore the TA. We only work to bring down TA if teh pH becomes unstable and you have already said it's fine. That may change when you start the SWCG, but that is a bridge to cross later.
Click to expand...

Water temperature is 71 degrees, I eventually plan to keep it at 80 when the weather starts getting more consistent. The Salt levels are at 3200 ppm. I am already running the SWCG, maybe I should turn that down or off? Thanks for the advice on the CYA testing and I do not plan on shocking the pool anymore. Also I will do the recomended test tonight.
 
krisiak11 said:
Water temperature is 71 degrees, I eventually plan to keep it at 80 when the weather starts getting more consistent. The Salt levels are at 3200 ppm. I am already running the SWCG, maybe I should turn that down or off? Thanks for the advice on the CYA testing and I do not plan on shocking the pool anymore. Also I will do the recomended test tonight.
Click to expand...
You have to turn it off to do the Overnight Chlorine Loss Test.

Once we get past that then yes, you will start dialing it back to get to the proper FC/CYA ratio. [FC/CYA][/FC/CYA]
 
krisiak11 said:
OCLT is complete, 10 last night and 10.5 this morning. Tested exactly as described in the thread you linked.
Click to expand...
That is a pass!! :party:

So, to verify -

We have passed Overnight Chlorine Loss Test
CC is .5 or less
Water is clear

Now it's time to start adjusting things.

We want to dial back that SWCG just a little

It's time to start raising the CYA to operational levels. Use PoolMath to calculate how much CYA you need to go from 30 to 40. We are going to add the CYA in steps so that we don't overshoot the target.

Add the CYA by using what we call the sock method. Get an old sock (no holes in the toes) and put the measured amount of CYA you need to get to your first target. Tie the sock closed and either suspend it in front of a return (hang it from your brush pole works with something weighted on the deck) OR if it still allows flow thru the skimmer, place the sock in the skimmer. Every 15/20 minutes give the sock a squeeze to speed up the process or just leave it alone, your choice. Please DO NOT follow the directions on the container of CYA to just pour it into the skimmer and don't just toss the sock in the pool as the CYA is acidic and can bleach/stain pool finishes.

In a few days test teh CYA again. if it's right around 40, then lets do the same thing to go from 40 - 50.

For now we are not gong to worry about anything but pH & FC. Each day you are going to test these two items. Because your FC is still coming down, I doubt there will be any issues with FC, but you may need to adjust pH, probably down. Pick up a gallon of Muratic Acid and have it on hand, but we are not going to use it until your pH gets up to 7.8 - 8.0

The pool is open for swimming!!:paddle::paddle::paddle::paddle:
 

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Hi Tim, Happy Hump day! Got my first 2 lbs of stabilizer through. Did some tests last night:

FC: 13
CC: .5
PH 7.2
CYA: between the 40 and the 50 (had been just above the 30)
TA: 90

I am going to add another 2 lbs of stabilizer tonight to keep those CYA levels heading toward goal. I was surprised that my TA level dropped from 150 to 90. I had noticed the green drops in the test kit seemed to flow super fast until last night when the drops were a bit more "gelatinous" like the other reagents. Wondering if maybe it needed to be shook or something? Also, is it common to have some left over stabilizer in the sock, seems like there is about 2-3 ounces that won't seem to dissolve. As for the rising Chlorine levels, I already have the SWCG set low, has not been very sunny and no swimming. Would you suggest I turn it off for a couple days to try to drop the Chlorine levels? Thanks!
 
krisiak11 said:
Hi Tim, Happy Hump day! Got my first 2 lbs of stabilizer through. Did some tests last night:

FC: 13
CC: .5
PH 7.2
CYA: between the 40 and the 50 (had been just above the 30)
TA: 90

I am going to add another 2 lbs of stabilizer tonight to keep those CYA levels heading toward goal. I was surprised that my TA level dropped from 150 to 90. I had noticed the green drops in the test kit seemed to flow super fast until last night when the drops were a bit more "gelatinous" like the other reagents. Wondering if maybe it needed to be shook or something? Also, is it common to have some left over stabilizer in the sock, seems like there is about 2-3 ounces that won't seem to dissolve. As for the rising Chlorine levels, I already have the SWCG set low, has not been very sunny and no swimming. Would you suggest I turn it off for a couple days to try to drop the Chlorine levels? Thanks!
Click to expand...
You could turn int off, or start adjusting your pump run time which will limit your SWCG run time.

We find that most pool owners run the pump way longer than necessary. Read this if you haven't seen it: Pool School - Determine Pump Run Time
 
tim5055 said:
You could turn int off, or start adjusting your pump run time which will limit your SWCG run time.

We find that most pool owners run the pump way longer than necessary. Read this if you haven't seen it: Pool School - Determine Pump Run Time
Click to expand...

That was a good read. I have been running the pump quite a bit with trying to get the pool balanced. Sounds like I will need to find the sweet spot once I get water under control and full blown swim season is here.
 
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