First time testing

[laxx080]

I added a salt water pool last summer in central Florida. Due to work/travel schedules, I had a company handling pool maintenance. I am looking to take it over myself at this point. I took my first reading using the Taylor K-2006C kit and input to the Pool Math app (pic attached).

Doing some reading, I would guess the first step would be to add salt (currently at 2800) and turn down the SWG to get the high FC down, then retest everything to see where I’m at. Is this a correct assumption?

 

[SJPoe]

Salt level should be in line with your specific SWG recommendation - I know mine likes it between 2800 and 3600 or so, so that might be on the low side, but not 'critical'.

Your FC is definitely elevated - I would adjust my SWG to compensate and allow it to drift down - if it's on say 8 out of 10, maybe turn it down to 4, measure each day to see how much it drops, and then adjust as needed so that you end up at say 8PPM.

Your PH is also fairly high, as is your TA - but depending on your pool type, this may need more careful management (I have a vinyl pool, so I just add acid occasionally, and PH/TA/CH doesn't affect me that much)

Measuring at (roughly) the same time each day, and from the same spot in the pool makes for much more consistent results - in most cases 7ppm vs 8ppm isn't the big deal...its the trend up or the trend down that you are looking for...if it was 7 two days ago, 8 yesterday, and 9 today, then you're consistently making more FC that you need, and need to dial things down. Consistent measurement practices help this trending.

Other than that, put some details of your pool in your signature - Vinyl, Fibreglass, plaster etc, size, equipment and so on - it helps the brain trust give you some more specifics for your pool, especially around PH, Calcium and Alkalinity.

 

[laxx080]

Thanks for the input. Pool details added in the signature that changes any of your recommendations.

 

[dereksanders]

Regarding pH, any FC reading over 10 renders the pH test useless. Wait until FC below 10 to measure your pH.