FC Trending Upwards With CYA Remaining Stable

[MistahGreen]

Hey Everyone,

Still on this learning journey as a first time pool owner. I've enabled the setting in the Pool Math app to Link from TroubleFreePool.com user profile to see the most recent test results.

Question
Free Chlorine week over week (we test on Thursdays) is inching up by 1 ppm (yesterday: 13.2, last week: 12.4, week before: 9.0) with CYA staying relatively stable around 60/70. Should we turn off or reduce the SWG output, currently at 85%, to slow down the runaway of the FC ppm level?

Request For Education
The SWG, since turnover, has been running at 85%. The pool company that did the startup basically just said "yea just leave it like that and reduce the pump runtime in the winter". Makes sense, but what does this community think? Is 85% too high for late summer in GA? Is there like a suggested table that says for this volume at this time of year go with this SWG Chlorination %? Just wanting to learn when we need to tune the knobs if at all.

Thanks as usual!

If the results don't show up, I'll follow-up with a reply.

 

[MistahGreen]

I can't seem to find the link to the recent test results from my profile. Posting below for convenience:

------------------------------------------
Latest Test Result Summary:
FC: 13.2 (14 hours ago)
CC: 0.0 (14 hours ago)
pH: 7.8 (14 hours ago)
TA: 80 (14 hours ago)
CH: 270 (14 hours ago)
CYA: 70 (14 hours ago)
SALT: 3310 (14 hours ago)
TEMPERATURE: 82° (14 hours ago)
CSI: -0.16 (14 hours ago)
==========================================
------------------------------------------
Chemical Addition 08-29-2024 @ 07:11 PM
------------------------------------------
+ 41 FluidOunces of Baume31

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Test Results 08-29-2024 @ 06:45 PM
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Free Chlorine: 13.2
Combined Chlorine: 0.0
pH: 7.8
Total Alkalinity: 80
Calcium Hardness: 270
CYA: 70
Salt: 3310
Temperature: 82°F
CSI: -0.16

------------------------------------------
Test Results 08-25-2024 @ 04:44 PM
------------------------------------------
Free Chlorine: 12.4
Combined Chlorine: 0.0
pH: 7.3
Total Alkalinity: 70
Calcium Hardness: 260
CYA: 70
Salt: 3230
Temperature: 81°F
CSI: -0.67

------------------------------------------
Chemical Addition 08-24-2024 @ 09:32 AM
------------------------------------------
+ 60 FluidOunces of Baume31

------------------------------------------
Test Results 08-24-2024 @ 09:32 AM
------------------------------------------
pH: 7.9
Temperature: 75°F
CSI: 0.07

 

[Bperry]

Hey Everyone,

Still on this learning journey as a first time pool owner. I've enabled the setting in the Pool Math app to Link from TroubleFreePool.com user profile to see the most recent test results.

Question
Free Chlorine week over week (we test on Thursdays) is inching up by 1 ppm (yesterday: 13.2, last week: 12.4, week before: 9.0) with CYA staying relatively stable around 60/70. Should we turn off or reduce the SWG output, currently at 85%, to slow down the runaway of the FC ppm level?

Request For Education
The SWG, since turnover, has been running at 85%. The pool company that did the startup basically just said "yea just leave it like that and reduce the pump runtime in the winter". Makes sense, but what does this community think? Is 85% too high for late summer in GA? Is there like a suggested table that says for this volume at this time of year go with this SWG Chlorination %? Just wanting to learn when we need to tune the knobs if at all.

Thanks as usual!

If the results don't show up, I'll follow-up with a reply.

There’s really no perfect ability to judge what % the system needs to run at. Every pool is different. You just listen to what the pool is telling you and then feed it what it needs. Testing only once a week could get you in trouble eventually though. I’d recommend 2-3 times a week until you get to know your pool better. The chlorine it needs depends on how much CYA is in the water. Always follow the chart here:

The Free Chlorine and Cyanuric Acid Relationship

Managing your cyanuric acid and Free Chlorine levels is key to stabilizing your pool. Learn how these two items affect each other.

www.troublefreepool.com

Pro tip: switch your test to use the 10ml water sample and then each drop of r-0871 will be 0.5ppm FC. The math is easier and it saves you a lot of test reagent.

 

[Texas Splash]

Should we turn off or reduce the SWG output, currently at 85%, to slow down the runaway of the FC ppm level?

Yes.

what does this community think?

The goal is two-fold: Minimal cell run time to reduce wear and keeping the FC at the proper level. So whether you run a cell at 100% for 12 hours or 50% for 24 hrs, it's basically the same amount of wear on the cell. At this point, with a very healthy FC level, you can reduce the output or pump run time. Whichever works best for you.

 

[Texas Splash]

I can't seem to find the link to the recent test results from my profile.

We can see your Poolmath test results (logs) by hoovering the mouse cursor over (or clicking on) your avatar, then the link pops-up.

 

[MistahGreen]

Yes.


The goal is two-fold: Minimal cell run time to reduce wear and keeping the FC at the proper level. So whether you run a cell at 100% for 12 hours or 50% for 24 hrs, it's basically the same amount of wear on the cell. At this point, with a very healthy FC level, you can reduce the output or pump run time. Whichever works best for you.

Thank you. I really appreciate the reply and advice!

 

[MistahGreen]

There’s really no perfect ability to judge what % the system needs to run at. Every pool is different. You just listen to what the pool is telling you and then feed it what it needs. Testing only once a week could get you in trouble eventually though. I’d recommend 2-3 times a week until you get to know your pool better. The chlorine it needs depends on how much CYA is in the water. Always follow the chart here:

The Free Chlorine and Cyanuric Acid Relationship

Managing your cyanuric acid and Free Chlorine levels is key to stabilizing your pool. Learn how these two items affect each other.

www.troublefreepool.com

Pro tip: switch your test to use the 10ml water sample and then each drop of r-0871 will be 0.5ppm FC. The math is easier and it saves you a lot of test reagent.

Thank you! Good call on the 10ml sample. That makes a lot of sense and yes, we will increase the frequency henceforth!