Got my TF-100 Kit - How are these results?

[JMPool99]

Very excited! I got my TF-100 kit and ran all the test today -- what an improvement over the junk my pool start-up guy left me! I'm curious to know what y'all think of my results and if any action to be taken. I'm in So Cal climate, so pretty moderate.

FC 3.0
PH 7.8
TA 120
CH 450
CYA 90

I still have a pool guy since pool is only a few months old. He uses liquid chlorine. We have a floater in there now with one tablet.

By comparison in November my numbers were:
FC 12.9
PH 7.4
TA 45
CH 260
CYA 104

So... overall I think my water has improved? But any recommendations or should I let my current water ride?

Thanks!!

 

[kul]

Your CYA is high, you might need a partial drain to address that. I recommend you not do the floater tab because it will make both your CYA and CH edge up and the only way to get those down are to replace water.
Your other numbers look ok but your FC will need to be higher. Take a look at this:
FC/CYA Levels

 

[Mdragger88]

Hey JM
You wanna follow the FC/CYA Levels
So that means you need some liquid chlorine asap to get above the minimum of 7ppm for your cya. You should target 10-12ppm. & remove that floater - it’s only increasing your cya.
Since your cya reads 90 you should do the diluted test to confirm its not higher
Step 8

CYA - Cyanuric Acid Test

Cyanuric acid (CYA) is the chemical name for the product commonly called “pool water stabilizer” … Read more…

www.troublefreepool.com

After it’s confirmed you will need to exchange some water to lower cya to 60 or below so you can run a lower fc level as well as reliably test ph (ph test can be inaccurate @ fc levels above 10ppm)
This will also have the added benefit of diluting your ch.
There are a couple ways to go about this

Draining - Further Reading

www.troublefreepool.com

 

[Mdragger88]

Your CYA is high, you might need a partial drain to address that. I recommend you not do the floater tab because it will make both your CYA and CH edge up and the only way to get those down are to replace water.
Your other numbers look ok but your FC will need to be higher. Take a look at this:
FC/CYA Levels

Unless the floater is cal hypo it isn’t contributing to ch. Most tablets are trichlor so they just add fc,cya, & lower ph. @JMPool99 - do u know what kind of tablet it is?

 

[kul]

Unless the floater is cal hypo it isn’t contributing to ch

For sure! Thanks for clarifying

 

[JMPool99]

Unless the floater is cal hypo it isn’t contributing to ch. Most tablets are trichlor so they just add fc,cya, & lower ph. @JMPool99 - do u know what kind of tablet it is?

Glad you mentioned -- let me ask pool guy. Good point.

 

[JMPool99]

Also... this may be a stupid question, but I'm still getting educated -- is my FC at 3.0 and CYA as high as it is rendering my chlorine less effective? These pools guys really are clueless -- wow.

 

[Newdude]

Hey JM !!!

By comparison in November my numbers were:
FC 12.9
PH 7.4
TA 45
CH 260
CYA 104

No they weren't. But you didn't know any better so you are hereby granted clemency for past trangressions. Its a one time shot tho, so don't go reverting now that you already know more than the 'professionals'.

is my FC at 3.0 and CYA as high as it is rendering my chlorine less effective?

Your FC with a CYA of 90 is basically non existant. Raise FC into target per the FC/CYA Levels pronto.

These pools guys really are clueless -- wow.

Preach !!!

 

[JMPool99]

Thank goodness for this forum. Pool Math app is great too. My buddy is getting a pool and I've already told him about this site and TFP. Fortunately my pool is new enough that I can get on track early on and not years later. That TF-100 kit was a game changer. I was flying blind before with all the crummy kits I had tried.

So... take away is... for now... pull the floater and add liquid. I've gotta keep the pool guy per originaly agreement another month or two so I'll just have to TELL him what to do I suppose. Kinda ridiculous!

 

[JMPool99]

Alright, so I mentioned all this to my pool guy. His response was that my CYA is fine and that I'm being too particular. Based on the results and guidance of TFP, I think he's underreacting -right?!

 

[Mdragger88]

 

[stinsontx]

Ask him if he knows what TFP stands for......."Too Freaking Particular"!

In my mind its an admirable character trait. Look forward to seeing the results.

 

[markayash]

Ask him if 110 is too high and high much longer will it take you to get to 110. His inside voice may say 2 weeks

 

[Newdude]

Ask him if he knows what TFP stands for......."Too Freaking Particular"!

Trouble Finding (his next) Paycheck?

 

[mknauss]

His response was that my CYA is fine and that I'm being too particular.

I bet. Ask what he charges when your pool develops algae or is so uncomfortable to swim in you can’t use it.

 

[Newdude]

Ask what he charges when your pool develops algae or is so uncomfortable to swim in you can’t use it.

$350 to fix the chlorine lock, duh.

 

[kul]

This is all sounding too familiar! My CYA was at 140 and my pool guy said “oh that’s perfect for residential pools “ and then when I got algae he said it was because of my kids water gun left floating in the pool.
You can bet he will always have a “fix” every time he messes things up too! And it won’t be good.
Time to move on!

 

[JMPool99]

Thanks everyone for validating I'm not crazy!

One last question... Should I just stay all liquid during the summer too and is that going to be a pain to add chlorine (all the time)?

 

[kul]

The recommendation is to stick with liquid chlorine throughout the year, including summer. Some people eventually seem to turn to salt water generators because they don’t want to have to deal with adding chlorine regularly (and probably other reasons too). However these seem not to work if it gets super cold so you’ll have to supplement with liquid chlorine during that time.

 

[JMPool99]

Thanks! I actually have a SWG plumbed but I didn't want to deal with the corrosion issues (yes, yes -- I know they're very minor) -- but even our pavers without being sealed will slowly be eaten away over time. Chlorine hasn't bothered us a bit and that's what I grew up with. IF it's only adding once or twice a week I'd prob be ok with !

Thanks again!