Graduated to the Water Balancing section - FCL is high

[meestahmarc]

Hi there...

small steps, deep breaths. I am a newbie to pool maintenance.

I feel like I have now graduated from the Plumbing, Pipe, section of the forum over to here... I understand the mechanical components of my pool (made repairs myself, rebuilts valves, cleaned the DE filter, figured out the water flow, cleaned, vacuumed, etc) and now am into my 2nd week of trying to maintain safe water chemistry.

Pool details:
Inground Plaster Pool, 35 - 40k gallons, DE Filter, Small built-in spa, 2 skimmers.

Test kit: LaMotte ColorQ Pro 7 (digital)

Last night (Wednesday), here were my readings and my lead-up:
We swam in the pool all weekend, FCL was pretty low <1, pool store told me to add in more Chlorine pucks. Other stats checked out well.

Shocked the pool Sunday night (for no apparent reason - rethinking if I need to shock weekly, i think that is a misconception). Then put two pucks into each of the skimmers (will get a better Chlorinator solution this week).

Last night, there was a little left of 1 puck in each of the skimmers... despite the high Chlorine reading, I added 1 new puck to just 1 skimmer. Unfortunately, I am only there on weekends, so wont be back until Saturday (hence the need for a better Chlorinator solution)

Reading last night were:
FCL 5.7
TCL 5.98
PH 7.3
ALK 73
CH 211
CYA 45

I am wondering if the Chlorine level will go down before the weekend??? Any other thoughts helpful. THANK YOU

 

[Flying Tivo]

Either a stenner pump or SWG are your only options!

 

[MrBfromNC]

Get a stenner pump to add liquid chlorine throughout the week while you're not there. I don't think they are terribly expensive.

 

[Oly]

I have no experience with your test kit and it is not one of the two recommended at TFP. Assuming your numbers are good......

Your free chlorine is not high and in fact is on the low side due to your current CYA levels at 50 (always round up).
Use the FC/CYA ratio......Pool School - Chlorine / CYA Chart

Heads up.....Using the trichlor pucks will require you to drain and refill your pool eventually as your CYA will accumulate in your water forcing you to raise your FC.

Use pool math to check your water balance. PoolMath

I think your CH is too low also.

 

[meestahmarc]

thanks. I think the test kit is pretty accurate.

I am quite shocked since everywhere I read it says that FCL should be between 1-3ppm, but this chart starts at 3+.

I do think it makes perfect sense though.

Regarding the CH, yes, I agree it is low. I am using Trichlor pucks, I think those don't add the calcium. I have very hard well water, so thought Trichlor was the way to, but now think I should switch to the Cal Hypo pucks.

Thanks again for the replies. Very helpful and appreciated.