First TF-100 readings. Need help

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M

Mucho

0
Feb 9, 2017
12
Wellington, FL (South Fl)
Howdy,

Finally got my TF-100 test kit/SpeedStir and ran the tests for my first time. First I'd like to say thank you all for your suggestions on getting this kit. It is a lot of fun so far.

Here's what I'm seeing from the tests:

15.5k gal. pool
FC: 8
CC: 0
pH: 7.5
TA: 80
CH: 550
CYA: 80

I plugged everything into the PoolMath (PM) calculator using TFP suggested levels, SWG, plaster for the goal.

Note: I have not added any chemicals in over a week due to being on vacation.

So from my understanding it looks like:
pH is fine
TA is slightly low (PM says to add 73oz baking soda)
CH appears high. It says the goal is 350-450 (PM says to replace 53% of water... no other suggestions provided)
CYA is fine but at the high end of the goal

For FC, it says to "see below", which says:

SWG Minimum: 4 non-SWG Minimum: 6 Daily Target: 9 to 11
Shock: 31 Mustard Algae Shock: 44

Before I start adding stuff to the pool, I wanted to be sure I do everything correctly.

1. I would assume I add alkalinity Up or baking soda to raise TA closer to 100?
2. As far as FC, I am not sure how to read the above. It appears that it is suggested to be between 9-11, which would suggest FC is low? However when I did the daily chlorine test, it showed high in chlorine. So I'm a bit confused here. My cell is set at 20% which I dropped last week from 40%. (Out of curiosity, I dipped a test strip in which showed high free chlorine and high total chlorine). My assumption would be since the season is just starting up, to not worry too much about high chlorine levels since pool use will increase. But obviously any input would be greatly appreciated.
3. Not sure about CH being high. Do I really need to replace half my pool water?
As I am entirely new, I would greatly appreciate any advice you all can provide.
I am happy to retest anything if needed.

Thanks
 
Temperature and salinity are the only things missing from you numbers. But:
Plaster with SWG
FC 3-5
pH 7.2-7.8
TA 60-80
CH 350-450
CYA 70-80

and

CYA (Stabilizer) at 80
Minimum FC is 4
Target FC is 6
Shock FC is 31

So... you can dial back your percentage on the SWG (or run the pump shorter). Do not raise TA, it is just right. CH is high. Your CSI is still within range, but with saltwater, we tend to aim for lower CH to avoid scaling on the cell. As long as you keep your pH in check, you should be okay. This is important to keep an eye on. Otherwise you should drain and replace some of the water to lower the CH. Of course, if your fill water is hard, then that will not help. You could raise your TA to compensate, but I don't recommend it. With SWG, you want it lower so you can keep the pH in check. It tends to rise faster with SWG pools. So other than adjusting your salt cell, I wouldn't do anything and keep an eye on your pH.
 
Mucho,

Welcome to TFP... A Great resource for all your pool questions... :super:

I wouldn't do anything after just one test.

Your FC is only slightly high and not an issue. You never want your FC to get below 4, so running a little high means you can go relax and not worry about being right at the border between good and bad.

You'll find that keeping TA low will keep your pH in check. A lot of people with SWCGs run their TA as low as 50 ppm.

Your CH is on the high end, but I'd wait until you have several days with the same reading before even thinking about doing anything about it. A lot of people have high CH.. What is the CH of your fresh fill water?

Have you read this.... https://www.troublefreepool.com/content/138-water-balance-for-swg-saltwater-chlorine-generator

Good job on getting the speedstir.. it sure makes testing easier.

Thanks for posting,

Jim R.
 
Mucho- Please add your state/region/province to your info on the left. Wellington doesn't tell us much since we're from all over the world, and knowing your regional location and climate helps us answer your questions better.

Thanks!

Yippee :flower:
 
Mucho, I am just as new to this as you, and my first CH test was high, my second a week later was much lower. Not sure why other than user error, there is a pretty good video on the TFT website about the various tests. CYA: Testing Cyanuric Acid with the TF-100 - YouTube, CH: Testing Cyanuric Acid with the TF-100 - YouTube

Candidly, I don't yet have confidence in my results, especially CH and pH. I really struggle with those two as they rely on knowing when a color doesn't change any more (CH), or matching a shade of pink to various levels (pH).

Good luck, this site is great!
 
Thanks for the replies all. I'm sorry for the late reply. Had a few business trips to handle but now l'm back.
Mavrk- Thanks for the advice. I just dialed back on percentage for SWG and shortened pump time like you suggested just now. (FC was high on my readings today...I should have done this last week)
Jimrahbe - Thanks. I have read through the link as well as many others now. I'll keep reading up.. hopefully in time I'll somewhat master my pool.
Yippee - Region is now added. Thanks.
Rams fan- Thanks for the links. I'll go watch them now...and yes I'm in the same boat... not confident in my readings yet. My readings today were crazy.

CL - very high (orange)
pH - 8.2
FC - 15 (this seems crazy high)
CC - 0
CH - 500 (Looks like it decreased from first reading)
TA - 110
CYA - 75
Salt - 2820
Temp. - 72

I assume I should start with muriatic acid to drop the pH, then I'll re-test the next few days.
Hopefully Chlorine levels will drop in time as I decreased output and pump run time.
Do you guys suggest I do anything else?

Thanks in advance
 
Mucho, thanks for adding your locale. It actually is important in your case because FL being so sunny and hot, your CYA (which is 80, no halfways) is appropriate for your clime. So based on this--> [FC/CYA][/FC/CYA] your FC should be 6, with 4ppm being your basement lowest level. So knowing that your pool will probably lose aprox 2ppm day anyway, if you aim for 8ppm that will keep you well covered from the daily loss.

All you need to do is turn the SWG down or off until it hits 8ppm, then turn it back on to a lower setting and monitor (with testing) to see how it maintains that 8ppm. If it doesn't maintain it then tweak it up, if it goes over, just turn it down a bit more.

Your CH will come down in time knowing how FL rains fill pools up so that they require a bit of a drain down now and then.

Definitely lower that pH to 7.2 and it will also bring down your TA. If you have fountains or water features (or just kids splashing) that will raise the pH up again.
I would retest by the next day, not a "few days" later.

Is your salt high enough for your SWG? What does the manual suggest for a salt level?

Yippee :flower:
 
New readings:
CL: 5
pH: 7.6
FC: 8.5
CC: 0.5
CH: 550
TA: 100
CYA: 70
Salt: 3060 (within recommended levels)
Temp: 78

PoolMath says to do the following:
Add 5.9oz muriatic acid
Add 10oz stabilizer for a target of 80

Unless you all suggest otherwise, I was planning on doing the following based on your previous posts:
Since FC has dropped to 8.5, which is close to where I want to be, I turned back on the SWG to lowest level of 20%.
I'll add the muriatic acid to get to 7.2, and hold off on stabilizer.

One thing I am not clear about is that PoolMath is spitting out a CSI of 0.11. From reading the forums, I see this value should be between -.06 and .06, and any higher means problems.
What would be causing this high reading?

Thanks in advance
 
Actually Mucho, at this point I would say you're fine where you are. The pH of 7.6 is within the normal range. When you needed to drop your pH from >8 before, I was suggesting the 7.2 as a starting point. I'd just leave it be and keep an eye on it. :)

Go ahead and play around with PoolMath putting your values in the left side column and getting your CSI, but then play with it by seeing how it changes if you go higher or lower on values on the right hand column. See where it goes when you drop the pH, or raise the TA or the temp is higher....

Yippee :flower:
 

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I'm back with more fun readings. Please bear with me..still learning.

2 days ago, I took readings of chlorine and pH... there was pretty much no chlorine and pH was high, so I added acid and upped the chlorine production in the SWG.
The readings below are from today:

Readings:
CL 1
PH 7.2
FC 1.5
CC .5
CH 565
TA 70
CYA 100
Salt 3320 (within recommended range)
TEMP 80

PoolMath says:
-FC- Add 81oz of bleach to Raise FC
-pH-Add 20oz washing soda
-TA-Add 109oz baking soda

From looking at my readings, I see that my chlorine level is still way low, but it is better than 2 days ago, so I raised the % on the SWG more just now (I should prob max it out and keep close eye on it).
But should I really be adding this stuff that PoolMath says to add? pH is only slightly low from me adding a little too much acid the other day, and chlorine is low. I feel like perhaps raising the chlorine levels is most important. Perhaps the other levels will balance out a bit more on their own? Or am I totally wrong?

Edit: I dropped a chlorine tablet in the skimmer and maxed out SWG for over night until I hear what you guys have to say.
 
You are wise not to take PoolMath at face value. It is NOT your pool manager....you are. Let it do the math and you do the thinking.

Since it sounds like your FC is rising, leave your SWG right where it is and supplement the FC with ehouch bleach to get it up to around 5-6......see what it does from there

Leave your pH alone....it'll come up on it's own

Leave your TA alone as well.....that's a good spot for it to be....a 10 ppm difference is inconsequential almost.
 
How did your CYA get to be 100?? Did you add stabilizer?

Why is your FC so low?? You're just inviting algae to the party at the level it is now. When it gets so low don't wait for the SWG to bring it up (it works too slowly) but instead use liquid chlorine (bleach) to get it up immediately. This is a PRIORITY!!

Your pH is fine... on the lower end but still in the desired range (7.2-7.8) Leave it alone.

Yippee :flower:
 
Duraleigh, thank you for the reply. This will be my first time adding bleach. It feels so odd.
And yippee...always love your responses...they are exactly what I need. Haha

Nope I did not add stabilizer. Perhaps user error on testing????

Bleach added and SWG put back to what I had it at. Will retest tomorrow.
Thanks again
 
Yes i have been doing this for 2 months now. The only real issue I have had is the chlorine level. The SWG was turned up way too high when I started doing this on my own, I had turned it down to lower the chlorine, and I simply turned it down too much and let it slip past where I wanted to be. I should have been monitoring it more than I was. I'm still trying to figure out the best setting and run time to keep it balanced. I appreciate those that have been helping me.
 
Second the thought that liquid bleach is ASAP priority...like right now...tonight.

Why? Right now you have a numbers problem. If wait a day, or wait for a tablet to desolve, your numbers problem may be secondary to your algea problem. At least, that is how my own pool is.

I think general advice here would be no more tablets, which add CYA, with your CYA already that high. Actually, that is another good reason for liquid chlorine ASAP...a SLAM would need a huge amount of chlorine at 100 CYA. You really want to short circuit algea growth now.

Sent from my MotoG3 using Tapatalk
 

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