First test results with TF-PRO

[mmcg06]

Here are the results from my first testing:

FC 5.0
PH 7.8
TA 70
CYA 20
CH 350
CSI 0.27
water temp 90F

Normally the pool always looks good and just needs some acid and shock

I was going to Leslies for the last 2 years so finally decided to take things into my own hands. Couple of questions:

1) I was primarily using the 73% Powder Plus Calcium Hypochlorite from Leslies. After some time on this site, I notice everyone suggests using liquid chlorine. It seems to be bc of the calcium that CH can cause to rise, but mine seems to always be in the correct level. Are there other reasons to use liquid chlorine?

2) What is the best way to raise CYA? Mine has always been around the 30 level, and my chlorine does seem to get eaten up pretty quick. Pool is also in direct Texas sunlight all day, so that doesn't help. I have been keeping about 2-3 pucks in the auto in-line chlorine feeder. Hasn't raised CYA much at all. I keep at about a 2 disperse level

3) This one may need to be posted in another sub forum, but I've been battling black algae for 2 years. I keep it at bay with scrubbing as they appear with a ss brush, and heavy shocking every now and then. But I'm tired of spending half the time in the pool doing that. I do have pebble-tec, so it gets down in there. It'll disappear for a week or 2, but if I slip and let chlorine fall for a second, it slowly comes back. Almost to the point of plastering pool with something that isn't pebble-tec....

Thanks for any help/suggestions. Looking forward to not having to make time to get the water tested at the pool store and doing this all myself!

 

[reggiehammond]

Pucks add CYA, usually to unmanageable levels.
CalHypo adds CH, usually to unmanageable levels.

I'm surprised by your results from testing as your pool looks very unusual for a pool that uses cal hypo and tabs. I'm guessing you have seen a ton of rain, potentially diluting out the excess of CYA and CalHypo...

CalHypo is much more expensive than liquid. Liquid is more expensive than using a salt water chlorine generator. Many, many, many of us in Texas are using SWCG. You should consider it; you buy the FC upfront with the cost of unit, but it makes life very easy.

CYA is raised using granular CYA (avail on Amazon, etc) using the "sock method." Higher CYA protects the chlorine from UV damage.

Algae is killed using the SLAM Process. Algae is avoided by keeping FC at the correct levels per FC/CYA Levels.