First Test

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Brauch

Brauch

Member
Mar 4, 2024
19
Tulsa, Oklahoma
Pool Size
12500
Surface
Plaster
Chlorine
Liquid Chlorine
IMG_2528.jpegHey everybody. I received my TF-Pro kit today and ran through my first test with it. This is my first pool and I have no idea what I’m doing except for what I learn from you all. I appreciate finding this forum before making a ton of mistakes.

Results 3/12/24:
FC = 51.5 ppm
CC = 0
CH = 825 ppm
TA = 150
CYA = ?? Not even halfway to a mark.

I’ve attached some pictures for reference.

Thanks ahead for any tips/suggestions.
 

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Your FC is super high. Just wandering if you used the 10ml pool water sample. Then each drop is a .5 FC. To get 51.5 that would have been 103 drops of R-0871. Is that what it was?

Also the CH test is with a 25ml pool water sample.

It does appear you have excessive CYA. Have you tried the dilution test for CYA?
Put equal amounts of pool water and tap water in a vial. Shake it up. Then use that as your "pool sample" Follow instructions adding equal parts of that sample and the R-0013 to make the CYA solution. Then read where that is in the CYA tube.
Multiple the result by 2 and that is your estimated CYA.
So if you now read CYA of 80 then 2x is a real CYA of 160.
 
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HermanTX said:
Your FC is super high. Just wandering if you used the 10ml pool water sample. Then each drop is a .5 FC. To get 51.5 that would have been 103 drops of R-0871. Is that what it was?

Also the CH test is with a 25ml pool water sample.

It does appear you have excessive CYA. Have you tried the dilution test for CYA?
Put equal amounts of pool water and tap water in a vial. Shake it up. Then use that as your "pool sample" Follow instructions adding equal parts of that sample and the R-0013 to make the CYA solution. Then read where that is in the CYA tube.
Multiple the result by 2 and that is your estimated CYA.
So if you now read CYA of 80 then 2x is a real CYA of 160.
Click to expand...
Thanks for the reply! I followed the instructions fully. Yes, I had to take a few breaks on my way to 103 drops. Haha

We closed on this house on the 28th of feb. When we arrived there were 4 chlorine tablets in the skimmer basket. I’m wondering if that could be the reason for my excessive chlorine and cya?

Hoping I don’t have to drain :(
 
Nice test kit. The pucks are certainly contributing to the FC and high CYA. I do see a drain or partial drain in your future, unfortunately. Before you plan that, you should get an accurate reading of your CYA.

To do so, you need to mix your pool water sample with an equal part of tap water since tap water doesnt contain CYA. Then multiply your results by 2 to get your true CYA reading. If that diluted sample is still reading 90 or higher, you can dilute the pool water further and multiply your results accordingly.
 
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Brauch said:
Thanks for the reply! I followed the instructions fully. Yes, I had to take a few breaks on my way to 103 drops. Haha

We closed on this house on the 28th of feb. When we arrived there were 4 chlorine tablets in the skimmer basket. I’m wondering if that could be the reason for my excessive chlorine and cya?

Hoping I don’t have to drain :(
Click to expand...
4 pucks does not increase the FC to 50ppm - it appears the pool was shocked with a lot of granular chlorine - maybe cal-hypo because you CH is super high as well and cal-hypo would increase both CH and FC.

You will need to decide to follow TFP protocol then it is best to use liquid chlorine (LC) available at Walmart, Home Depot, etc

With high CYA the only recourse is to drain. Draining also will lower CH.
Please read Draining - Further Reading
 
@Brauch sorry to side convo, but what's your impressions of the kit for other newbs finding this thread ?

I mean. None of us wants to spend $150 on anything, but it's literally jam PACKED with value, right ?
 
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Newdude said:
@Brauch sorry to side convo, but what's your impressions of the kit for other newbs finding this thread ?

I mean. None of us wants to spend $150 on anything, but it's literally jam PACKED with value, right ?
Click to expand...
Kit is awesome and user friendly. Instructions are clear and it’s organized logically.

I’m a buy once, cry once guy so that was my ultimate reasoning for going with it.
 
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Brauch said:
View attachment 558010Hey everybody. I received my TF-Pro kit today and ran through my first test with it. This is my first pool and I have no idea what I’m doing except for what I learn from you all. I appreciate finding this forum before making a ton of mistakes.

Results 3/12/24:
FC = 51.5 ppm
CC = 0
CH = 825 ppm
TA = 150
CYA = ?? Not even halfway to a mark.

I’ve attached some pictures for reference.

Thanks ahead for any tips/suggestions.
Click to expand...
I performed the diluted CYA test and got 90.

Looks like CYA is around 180.
 
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Brauch said:
I performed the diluted CYA test and got 90.

Looks like CYA is around 180.
Click to expand...
If draining is in your future (which is the case of a CYA of 180) it is important to also test your tap (fill) water for CH and TA so you know a starting point of your new fill as requested by @mknauss in post 7 above.
Fill water will have no CYA and very little if any FC.
 
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Good luck with the water exchange. Once you refill and let the water mix, take a new water sample and post the results. As you can see, there are lots of folks here eager to help coach your water back to health. Have a good weekend. :swim:
 
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Water exchange is complete. I did a 2/3 drain and refill. Filter has been working for appx 2 hours.

New measurements from tonight 3/25/24:
FC = 18
CC = 0.5
TC = 18.5
CH = 450
TA = 120
CYA (diluted test) = 180

Original test 3/12/24 (to save the scrolling):
FC = 51.5 ppm
CC = 0
CH = 825 ppm
TA = 150
CYA = ?? Not even halfway to a mark

Is this possible? Do I just suck at the CYA test? Should I let it rest tonight and try a different bottle of CYA Reagent from my kit tomorrow?
 

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With a super high CYA to begin with, a 110% drain would have been more prudent.

Let the system circulate and redo the CYA test tomorrow.

You did follow all the parameters of the No drain exchange, right?
 
Brauch said:
Water exchange is complete. I did a 2/3 drain and refill. Filter has been working for appx 2 hours.

New measurements from tonight 3/25/24:
FC = 18
CC = 0.5
TC = 18.5
CH = 450
TA = 120
CYA (diluted test) = 180

Original test 3/12/24 (to save the scrolling):
FC = 51.5 ppm
CC = 0
CH = 825 ppm
TA = 150
CYA = ?? Not even halfway to a mark

Is this possible? Do I just suck at the CYA test? Should I let it rest tonight and try a different bottle of CYA Reagent from my kit tomorrow?
Click to expand...
Your CH was nearly cut by 50% so I would have expected your CYA at same ratio even though you drained 2/3rds of volume. Apparently your CYA was much higher than expected . Let it circulate and retest after 24 hrs.
 

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