First TF 100 results

[suttonjacob]

Just finished my first test with the TF100 kit.

FC 5.5ppm
CC <0.5ppm (turned a very very faint pink tint, but cleared up immediately with 1 drop of R-0871)
pH 7.6
TA 220-230 (not sure what qualifies as "red", but it is way high regardless)
CH 225
CYA 30
Temp 74° F

Nothing has been added to the pool in over 36hrs. Have been loading it up with some generic walmart 8.25% liquid bleach for about a week. What should I do about the alkalinity? Muriatic acid? Don't want pH to move much though.

 

[duraleigh]

Tell us what your water looks like. Clear? Swamp? Cloudy?

 

[suttonjacob]

Clear.

 

[suttonjacob]

Black Algae

That is a post in the algae forum that I had previousy started because I'm new to pools and a pool guy told my I had black algae from just looking at pictures. Gives a little more background about the pool.

 

[Jlsergent]

Your results look a lot like mine. First test today. It took me 24 drops to get my TA turned from green to slightly pink and stay there. pH is 7.5. What could make the TA so high?

 

[duraleigh]

From this point, keep ALL your posts under this thread and abandon the old one. It is very confusing to responders to post in two locations.

RE: Alkalinity Did you read in the instructions on how to wipe the dropper tip when the kit is new. The reagents in the TF-100 are VERY fresh and I think you should read that about static electricity and redo the test.

Regardless, Leave TA adjustment to last.......It won't cause you much problem.

The next thing I would do is to understand the importance of maintaining your FC around 3-5 ppm. Look at the FC/CYA relationship Chart in Pool School to help understand why.

Then, I would raise CYA to 50 ppm. That's a good number for Arkansas and you should be done with that for the season. Check it monthly hereafter.

Are your black spots still there? I do think they may be from the deck and your are simply going to ignore them or scrape them off. I don't think it has anything to do with your pool water chemistry and it's certainly not black algae

 

[suttonjacob]

I did wipe the tip off after each drop, but I will retest again.
Spots are still there, not changing at all. I'm just going to leave them as they don't bother me much now that I know it's not algae. Will get rid of them when it's time for a new liner.

Thanks for your help. Sorry about the double post.

 

[duraleigh]

I wouldn't be surprised if those spots slowly disappear. Keep your chlorine up all the time....not only for sanitation but it will likely work on those spots, too.

If your next TA test yields the same results....Pool School - Lower Total Alkalinity

 

[suttonjacob]

Should I add stabilizer to raise CYA or use trichlor tabs/pucks in the floater to slowly increase it?

We are about to be gone for a week and I was planning on floating a couple pucks to try to keep the FC as high as possible while we are gone.

 

[duraleigh]

In a 24k pool, you will need more than a couple of pucks. For a week's absence. I would bring up FC to around SLAM level and then float 4-6 pucks.

It's fine to raise CYA with pucks but use PoolMath to see the effect they will have on your CYA.

 

[suttonjacob]

Ok, thanks.