Calcium Hardness Level keeps slowly rising

[rfra0525]

My pool was installed about 8 months ago and it seems like every month or two I need to drain the pool because the calcium hardness level keeps slowly climbing.

What are the possible reasons that the hardness keeps slowly rising? It's sortof annoying to have to drain out 1/3 of the water every few months. Is this just because my plaster might still be curing?

Is there something in my grass or lawn (like fertilizer or lime) that could be contributing to this. Could it be the shock that I am using possibly? Just sortof grasping at straws trying to figure out what the reason is behind this.

Does anybody have any insight?

 

[YippeeSkippy]

How high are you speaking of? Are you using Cal-Hypo products to chlorinate the water??

Can you supply us a full set of test results?

Maddie

 

[rfra0525]

Hi Maddie,

Thank you for responding. I tested the water with my TFT-100 earlier today. To answer your other question, the shock bags that I use do have Calcium Hypochlorite in it. I usually do 1 bag per week and it is 68% calcium hypochlorite. If I should change how I'm shocking the pool, do you have any alternate recommendations?

Test results below

CH - 400
TA - 50-60
CYA - 100? I'm not sure if i did this right but i followed directions closely and i think I did it right
FC 3.5
TC 3.5
PH 7.2

 

[mknauss]

Does anybody know what this is and how to fix it?

You have two threads discussing the same issue.

We do not shock pools. We SLAM them when they have algae and we maintain an appropriate chlorine for the CYA in the water when the pool is clean.

 

[rfra0525]

Okay sounds great! So I can basically do away with the shock bags and just start maintaining chlorine a little bit better?

Apologize for multi threads - I guess I thought the topics were sortof different. The other thread is more about what the spots are and how to get rid of them and this one is more about why my calcium levels continue to rise but I'm beginning to be convinced that the shock that I am using is at fault.

 

[mknauss]

So I can basically do away with the shock bags and just start maintaining chlorine a little bit better?

Yes -- read through Pool School. Lots of great information. It takes DAILY management of a pool using liquid chlorine.
Now -- if you get a SWCG, it reduces the work load quite a bit.

Take care.

 

[rfra0525]

perfect thanks!

 

[Teald024]

the shock bags that I use do have Calcium Hypochlorite in it. I usually do 1 bag per week and it is 68% calcium hypochlorite. If I should change how I'm shocking the pool, do you have any ....

Hello and Welcome to TFP!

To answer your specific question, YES, the "shock" you have been using is causing your calcium to go up that high. The "shock" product you were using is calcium hypochlorite and this obviously adds calcium.

Since you have multiple threads going that are all intertwined, you should use those others to get additional assistance. Please continue to to ask the questions you do have though.