First Test Results

[RHeller]

Just got the Taylor 2006C Salt kit in and did my first round of testing. Brand New pool, construction finished late May, 7500 gallons plaster Wet Edge, no screen, direct sunlight all day. The pool builder has been balancing chems up until about 5 days ago... Pool looks beautiful, crystal clear. Looking for some confirmation on what I should and shouldn't be doing via results/ pool math suggestions. Thanks in advance for any insight!

Results were

FC - 3.0 - The Recommended target is 6.0 at 90 CYA - The recommendation is to run the SWG at 40% 7.75 hours a day.... It is already running at 40% 10 hours a day from 8am to 6pm. Should I up the Percentage or pump run time?
CC - 1.0
CYA -90 (Pool builder was using a lot of Dichlor I think)
PH - was high, Per 2 drops needed on Acid Demand Test to hit 7.6, Taylor book suggests 13.8 oz of 31.45%
TA - 70
CH - 220 - This is recommending to add 15 Lbs. of Calcium chloride? thoughts?
Salt - 3400

I'm pretty sure that adding the acid is a no brainer, but want to verify the other items before proceeding!

 

[mknauss]

Great job on a quality test kit.
I would add enough liquid chlorine to raise your FC to 10 ppm.
Leave the SWCG as is with 10 hours run time (3.9 ppm FC generated)
Lower the pH to 7.6. Use PoolMath

The CH should come up some. I assume you do not use much fill water. If so, get some calcium chloride to raise the CH to 250 ppm minimum.

 

[RHeller]

I probably shouldve mentioned.... it has rained an insane amount over the last week here in Central FL.
Prior to that I was adding an inch or 2 a week out of the hose from my kids splashing water out.


Raising FC to 10, is that a Target to stay at or just need to raise it there one time to get footing?

Also... Thank you for your help!!

 

[mknauss]

I picked 10 to get you into your upper target range. Try to maintain between 6 and 10. Gives you time to dial in the SWCG.

When adding water due to evaporation, your CH will rise naturally. But rain overflow will remove CH.

Be sure to test CYA monthly as it will change in your climate with high water temperatures and overflow due to rain.

 

[RHeller]

Added the recommended amount of MA and PH was right at 7.6 half an hour later... Added the recommended 64oz of liquid chlorine @ 10.5% another 30 minutes later.... 2 hours later FC testing at like 18 ... Is this something that should drop off with time or Should I have turned the salt cell off while running the pump for this evenings chemistry addition?

 

[mknauss]

That amount of bleach should have raised your FC by about 6 ppm.

No problem having the SWCG on. Just run things as normal for a few days and test at same time each day and see which way the FC trends.

 

[RHeller]

Reporting back....
Sunday FC was testing at 12 with CYA still at 90 so everybody swam all day and into the night.....
This morning test results are as follows. CH is back down to 220, I added 2 Lbs of Calcium Chloride on Saturday to up to 250-260 range, but FL rain has pushed me back there I guess. FC fell significantly from the 12 it was at yesterday.. from the swimming? Everything else is holding steady.... Should I test FC tomorrow before looking to adjust Salt Cell to put out more Chlorine to try and stay up near 10?

6/26/23	FC	8
	CC	0.5
	CYA	90
	PH	8	Added 13.8 oz of MA 31.45% - Target 7.4
	TA	70
	CH	220
	Salt	3400

 

[mknauss]

Test FC daily for awhile to get your FC generation set. Just do not want your FC to drop below 5 ppm.

 

[RHeller]

Posting Cumulative Test results Below... Looking for insight on how the FC climbed from 9 where it had been holding steady to 11.5 in the last 24 hours.... No Chlorine added or changes the SWCG.... Just a less sunny day maybe? What kind of fluctuations are acceptable there? Anything as long as it stays within the 6-12 ppm recommended for my CYA of 90?

Date	Chemical	Reading	Action Taken
6/24/23	FC	3	Added 1 Gallon liquid bleah @ 10%
	CC	1
	CYA	90
	PH	8	Added 13.8 oz of MA 31.45% - Target 7.4
	TA	70
	CH	220	Added 2 lbs Calcium chloride
	Salt	3400
6/25/23	FC	12
6/26/23	FC	8
	CC	0.5
	CYA	90
	PH	8	Added 13.8 oz of MA 31.45% - Target 7.4
	TA	70
	CH	220
	Salt	3400
6/27/23	FC	9
	CC	0.5
	PH	7.8	Added 6.8 oz MA 31.45% - Target 7.4
6/28/23	FC	9
	CC	0
	PH	7.8	Added 18 oz MA 31.45% target target 7.2
6/29/23	FC	11.5
	CC	0
	PH	7.6
	TA	70
	CH	240
	Salt	3400
	CYA	90

 

[mknauss]

Anything as long as it stays within the 6-12 ppm recommended for my CYA of 90?

Pretty much. FC is fine to swim in to SLAM level (35 ppm for your CYA). But pH cannot be tested at FC above 10.

 

[RHeller]

Pretty much. FC is fine to swim in to SLAM level (35 ppm for your CYA). But pH cannot be tested at FC above 10.

Great Point... Last time my FC was up at 12 the PH test was coming back looking high... today it looks like its right at 7.4.... Is it just a loss of accuracy vs. an always looks high situation?

 

[mknauss]

The Taylor pH test reagents are adjusted to handle a FC up to 10 ppm. Once you go above that level of FC, they tend to show higher pH color. The color will change as the sample sits. Rapidly if FC is high.

 

[RHeller]

Jumping in the pool today it is noticeably too hot.... 91 degrees per the panel... Looking at ways to cool the pool down, the most viable suggestion seems to be running the pump at night.... How will this affect chemistry? Should I turn down the SWG Generation from 40% and leave it to run whenever the pump is on? Set a Schedule for the SWG to only run with the daytime cycle of the pump? IS there another cooling solution I'm overlooking? I'm looking into a heat/cool pump at around 5k but am not quite ready to pull the trigger on that just yet....

 

[mknauss]

Running the pump day or night has no effect on water temperature. You can set up a fountain of sorts. Lots of examples - Cooling A Pool - Further Reading

Your SWCG creates chlorine based on hours run and % generation. Use PoolMath.