High pH help
- Thread starter CoachTom
- Start date
- Jun 1, 2018
- 16,065
- Pool Size
- 26000
- Surface
- Vinyl
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Hayward Aqua Rite (T-15)
What Are My Ideal Pool Levels?
Use our tool to find ideal chemical levels for any swimming pool. Check TFP recommended levels on pH, free chlorine, cyanuric acid, and more.
www.troublefreepool.com
as you replace water lost to evaporation with your 200 ch fill water your ch will rise.
Slightly negative csi will prevent scaling.
Some have noted that large additions of calcium increaser can not only cause cloudiness but can also cause fc to decrease so be watchful.
You can do it in stages to get where you want. (Sneak up on your target
)If ch gets too high you’ll be replacing water again.
Would definitely like to avoid replacing water again. At least for awhile and if avoidable. I have 8 pounds of calcium chloride I was going to start adding in tomorrow and check CH afterwards to see how it’s going. I like the casual approach so I don’t a redo it!
OCLT went from 10 to 8.5. Could be a 9 but it I think it was very clear at 8.5. My pH looks to be around 7.8 so I would need to drop that before I could do a SLAM. Or do I need to do a SLAM? I’m closer to the ideal range for FC now (targeting 6-7) and at 10 I was think I was just a little high. CYA is still at 50. I turned my heater on the morning so temp will be going from 65 to 85 over the next several days. I’m also going to add 8lbs of calcium chloride today to bring up the CH a little.
Thoughts on next steps? Should I SLAM? Or just keep managing the levels as is?
Thanks!
Thoughts on next steps? Should I SLAM? Or just keep managing the levels as is?
Thanks!
I wouldn't add CH. A test result of 250 is OK as there will be a natural tendency to rise over time.
How does your water look?
How does your water look?
- Jun 1, 2018
- 16,065
- Pool Size
- 26000
- Surface
- Vinyl
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Hayward Aqua Rite (T-15)
You mentioned your cya was high before- were you maintaining adequate fc levels for that cya level at that time?
Were you seeing visible algae (dead or alive) before the exchange?
Were you seeing visible algae (dead or alive) before the exchange?
I did have some algae about two weeks ago. At the time I was going to Leslie’s for my pool tests and was not getting the information or results I expected and that’s about the time I found this site and ordered my own test kit. I cannot say that I was accurately managing anything but the algae has been gone for at least two weeks.
- Jun 1, 2018
- 16,065
- Pool Size
- 26000
- Surface
- Vinyl
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Hayward Aqua Rite (T-15)
You have a choice,
Slam now (probably be quick)& know you’re good going forward
Or
move on at maintenance fc levels (high target) & take a watch & see approach.
If you notice any algae (dead or alive), cloudy water, or unusually high fc demand then take action quickly.
Liquid chlorine is expensive but the earlier a problem is nipped in the bud the less you will use in the long run.
I am a slam first ask questions later kinda gal
- ymmv.
You can do the oclt again tonight if you’re on the fence about the result as it was technically a fail but you’re new to testing. You can always do the oclt anytime you think something is off. That’s the great thing about testing yourself!
Slam now (probably be quick)& know you’re good going forward
Or
move on at maintenance fc levels (high target
) & take a watch & see approach.If you notice any algae (dead or alive), cloudy water, or unusually high fc demand then take action quickly.
Liquid chlorine is expensive but the earlier a problem is nipped in the bud the less you will use in the long run.
I am a slam first ask questions later kinda gal
- ymmv. You can do the oclt again tonight if you’re on the fence about the result as it was technically a fail but you’re new to testing. You can always do the oclt anytime you think something is off. That’s the great thing about testing yourself!
I think I'll wait until tomorrow and do the OCLT again just to be sure. I'd like to err on the safe side and just get it done. I have my daughters visiting next week so I want the pool to be in tip top shape before the get here. Which means tomorrow might be the last chance to do a SLAM and know I have time to run it through. I know it's close now and technically, I could just manage it and know it will be fine. But would like it to be more than just "ok".
There shouldn’t be any “maybe 8.5 or 9” on the FC test. If you aren’t sure whether the sample is really clear or not, you can add another drop of reagent. If the extra drop makes it more clear than count the extra drop but if it doesn’t change then don’t count that drop.
Sounds good! I will remember that. Sometimes my eyes don’t see as clear as I’d like so I’m always second guessing what I’m looking at. CYA test is also something I’m debating. Exactly when it’s no longer visible or is there still a glimpse at the bottom or not. I’m sure I will get more comfortable with the proper identification as I practice more.
The CYA test is just that way. It’s one reason we only measure decade numbers for results as the chlorine requirement for 51ppm is the same as 60ppm. So if you’re off by 10ppm either high or low it’s not a big deal. You just want to know for sure it’s more than 30ppm and less than 90ppm
Latest Update:
OCLT test last night resulted in only .5 FC drop (8.5 to 8) so I was thinking I'd skip the SLAM idea. I added acid to lower the pH so I could get TA into ideal ranges and then added calcium chloride to bring my CH into ideal ranges.
Latest test results: FC 6 (down from 8), pH 7.5 (down from 7.8), TA 90 (down from 100), CH 325 (up from 275), CYA 50 (same), water temp 71 (up from 66 this morning)
Was surprised to see the FC drop so much in just 8 hours. No significant sunshine on the pool today so not sure if the other additions impacted it or not. Or if the water temp is something I need to work with. Overall, everything seems to be moving in the right direction and the pool does look good. If my FC is at my target (even though it dropped -2 during the day) should I just keep working to get TA and CH closer to ideal? Or should I be concerned that the FC dropped as much as it did today and do something about that?
Thanks in advance!
OCLT test last night resulted in only .5 FC drop (8.5 to 8) so I was thinking I'd skip the SLAM idea. I added acid to lower the pH so I could get TA into ideal ranges and then added calcium chloride to bring my CH into ideal ranges.
Latest test results: FC 6 (down from 8), pH 7.5 (down from 7.8), TA 90 (down from 100), CH 325 (up from 275), CYA 50 (same), water temp 71 (up from 66 this morning)
Was surprised to see the FC drop so much in just 8 hours. No significant sunshine on the pool today so not sure if the other additions impacted it or not. Or if the water temp is something I need to work with. Overall, everything seems to be moving in the right direction and the pool does look good. If my FC is at my target (even though it dropped -2 during the day) should I just keep working to get TA and CH closer to ideal? Or should I be concerned that the FC dropped as much as it did today and do something about that?
Thanks in advance!
Some people report FC decrease after adding calcium so just keep an eye on it. You don’t need to actively mess with the TA. It’ll slowly come down on its own as you manage the pH.
I just read that about the CH as well. Maybe that's what I'm experiencing. I just did another FC test so I can do another comparison in the morning. I'm at 5.5 now. I feel pretty good overall and think everything is a good place so I plan to just manage it a little at a time. Will need to add in more CL but for now, I'm just going to hold and see what happens. Thanks for all the help and input!
Don’t let the FC get below 4.