Fill Water Testing & Start Up

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uvavi8r

uvavi8r

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Aug 8, 2020
181
Falls Church, VA
Well, I am supposed to start digging on Monday, so based on that, I thought I would give it a go at using my new test kit...I tested PH, TA & CH as recommended by some other threads, here are my numbers:

PH - 7.4
TA - 70
CH - 80

I will be using an IC40 SWG and look forward to managing the chemistry via this forum and the pool math app.

I have the Taylor K2006 & K-1766 pH Chlorine Water Swimming Pool Test Kit with a Speed Stir.
 
I’m so jealous!!!!! My fill water pH is over 8.2 and TA is 300!!! 😳 Yes, you read that correctly lol. Keeping my TA and pH in check during droughts when I have to add fill water often is SUPER fun, let me tell you lol. Consider yourself lucky because those numbers are amazing for fill water!
 
We are closing in on installation day, and in preparation I wanted to manage my chemicals (and expectations) for my fill and start up. My fill water is still testing as follows:
PH - 7.4
TA - 70
CH - 80

I am using the pool math app and I have one question, I am trying to calculate the volume, and I am having some challenges...I am using the pool volume calculator and comparing it to the dig sheet (see attachment). I have a bump out and have calculated three different volumes (conservative, average, and maximum). Even the conservative estimate is coming out about 2,000 gallons more than the dig sheet. That is a VERY long way to ask the question...when entering my pool volume into the pool math app, what should I use?

Dig sheet = 10,012 gallons
Conservative (26.25 x 12.5, shallow 4.25, deep 5.75) = 12,305 gallons
Average (26.25 x 13.5, shallow 4.25, deep 5.75) = 13,289 gallons
Maximum (26.25 x 14.5, shallow 4.25, deep 5.75) = 14,273 gallons (this is the most unrealistic)

My gut is telling me to use the average as a starting point. We might be filling the pool off the house, so I might be able to use the water meter to give me a more accurate reading, but I think the PB is bringing in trucks.

Any advice is greatly appreciated, will post start up plans soon.
 
I'd start with 12k.... your chemistry additions will help you hone in on the size then. When you add liquid chlorine and retest an hour later and see if you met your goal or exceeded it?
PB'ers are notorious for over estimating the volume when customers ask. Mine told me 17k, and its just under 12k.

Maddie :flower:
 

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Not unless it appears cloudy or for some reason you think its needed? Will this be well water or something or are you filling with city water? If it is city water it should be fine and ready to go! Do test the fill water (everything except CYA) to determine your baseline chemistry.

Maddie :flower:
 
So...I have the equipment running, and I tested and added some chemicals (no salt yet, that is today). The water is clear and it appears (no pun intended) that I am coming into balance.

First round before chemicals
PH = 8.5 (or more)
TA = 90
CH = 100
FC = 0


I added acid, liquid chlorine, and got these numbers
PH = 7.6
TA = 80
CH = 120
FC = 1.0

I have a few more things to add (based on pool math app) and will get that done today. I have been running the pump 24/7 for the last 3 days to clear up the water, now I just need to get in and pick up the larger stuff that doesn't cycle through the filtration system. Any words of advice are greatly appreciated.
 
Have you added any stabilizer? Keep that chlorine up. 1ppm is very low and it will disappear fast with no stabilizer. You should get stabilizer to 30-40ppm to start and then increase later when your SWG is up and running.
 
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I did add stabilizer, today's numbers are as follows:

PH - 7.6
TA - 100
CH - 310
FC - 4.6
CYA - 70
Salt - 3780

I overshot the salt a bit, I think I might have overestimated the pool size. I will watch the next few days and adjust as needed.
 
Is that salt test number from the SWG? I believe the K-1766 will give results in 100ppm increments. If it's from the SWG, then it is probably not accurate. My SWG read higher than the drop test and also a pool store result as a second opinion. I was able to calibrate the SWG to match my test numbers. What is your K-1766 result?
 
I asked because I suspected you used liquid based on your CYA result. I use liquid now and then myself, even though it costs more.

Did you rinse out the jugs good to get all the sludge of CYA out of the bottom?

Don't let a skimmer sock full of CYA sit on your pool floor... its acidic and might mar your pool color.
 
YippeeSkippy said:
I asked because I suspected you used liquid based on your CYA result. I use liquid now and then myself, even though it costs more.

Did you rinse out the jugs good to get all the sludge of CYA out of the bottom?

Don't let a skimmer sock full of CYA sit on your pool floor... its acidic and might mar your pool color.
Click to expand...
That is great advice...I did rinse the jug out...didn't know about the issues with the sock sitting on the floor...I won't do that again.
 
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