Now I am confused and doubting myself. I finally saw the sun in MN this week and did my first potentially reliable CYA test of the season. Before this I took two sample in to just check my levels before my kit came and they said I had a CYA of 75 then 70. I should have known there that something was amiss because I didn't change any water therefor CYA shouldn't change right? Anyhow yesterday and today I did my own CYA tests and could see the dot the whole way up the tube. It never disappeared even for an instant. My reagents say they expire in 2019 so I wouldn't think they would be bad would they? I was almost ready to do a drain to try and get my CYA in the preferred range but now I am doubting if I need to at all. I am going to test tomorrow with a different bottle from my Taylor kit just to make sure. Is there anything else I can do? If I am right then that will make things a bit easier. I can just work on lowering my TA. Thanks!
I wish I never took a sample in to the pool store...
- Thread starter lmisko
- Start date
Just to clarify...the CYA test was cloudy so there is some in there. The dot just never disappeared. Especially near the 70 mark the store identified.
Your CYA is critical....far more than TA. Review your procedures and then trust your own testing.
I,
The key for me is to just glance at the tube then turn away and then glance again, etc... If I stare at it, I swear I can see the dot through a sheet of lead.
I would try a few more tests, just to make sure.
Another thing that worked well for me was I bought a bottle of CYA 50% standard. The bottle contains 50% CYA so when you use it in place of your pool water, the reading should be 50%. It can help you get comfortable with the test.
Sold by http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&cad=rja&uact=8&sqi=2&ved=0ahUKEwi2xeKc8o7UAhVD9IMKHaiDAq0QFggzMAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Ftftestkits.net%2FTF-100-Test-Kit-p4.html&usg=AFQjCNFHHDB37tMMf14cxxZBJCqAksUBeQ
Thanks,
Jim R.
The key for me is to just glance at the tube then turn away and then glance again, etc... If I stare at it, I swear I can see the dot through a sheet of lead.
I would try a few more tests, just to make sure.
Another thing that worked well for me was I bought a bottle of CYA 50% standard. The bottle contains 50% CYA so when you use it in place of your pool water, the reading should be 50%. It can help you get comfortable with the test.
Sold by http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&cad=rja&uact=8&sqi=2&ved=0ahUKEwi2xeKc8o7UAhVD9IMKHaiDAq0QFggzMAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Ftftestkits.net%2FTF-100-Test-Kit-p4.html&usg=AFQjCNFHHDB37tMMf14cxxZBJCqAksUBeQ
Thanks,
Jim R.
Thanks guys. I will try again tomorrow. I have been continuously dropping it into the tube to test it. I read somewhere about filling it to a certain mark then glancing. Then filling it to the next mark and glancing. Then I will try the standard. I like that idea too.
The pool store probably did the test indoors under weak artificial light. You did it in the sun. If it's real low, like 20, that could be enough. Or their viewtube could be all dirty and cloudy.
The good news is, you're trusting your own results.
The good news is, you're trusting your own results.
The did it in some machine. The guy just took a small sample in a syringe, shot it into a machine then it printed out a description of the sample. It was super fast. No one actually looked at anything. Plus the printout was plastered with Bioguard all over which just happens to be the chemicals they sell.
Ah, yes, Bioguard....
Balance Pak 100 is Baking Soda. 12 lbs for $27.50 plus free shipping on Amazon.... $7.57 for 12 lbs at Walmart.
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You should see all the things they "suggest" on my sheet!
You should see all the things they "suggest" on my sheet!
So I did another CYA test this morning. Bright sun at my back, test at waist level, etc...I filled the tube right to the 70 mark where the store test said I was at and glanced at the tube looking straight down. Saw the dot clear as day. Filled to the 50 mark, same result. Filled to 30 and got the same as well. The solution did start to get cloudy but I am fairly certain that I have less than 30 CYA. This actually makes more sense than not as I only had the pool open officially for maybe a month. The company used the Bioguard sticks in my skimmers so I am sure that some CYA was introduced but based on my readings I don't believe in that short of a time that 70-75 ppm was dissolved. We'll get a better look today as it's bright and sunny and the pool will be uncovered all day. FC this morning is 10 CC is 0.5. If there is very little CYA my FC should drop a lot right? Especially combined with two active boys romping around in it! I will report back late how it goes. Meanwhile I need to go find a good sock I think!
That makes more sense. I'm just guessing the sticks weigh the same as the pucks, but if so, each one will have only added 1.1 CYA to your pool. If you know they dropped 3 or 4 per week you can make a reasonable guess as to where you are and dose accordingly.
Yeah, I have no idea what they added last year lol. It couldn't have been more that ten sticks the whole time. So maybe I should assume twenty CYA just to be safe and plan to raise to 30 with some stabilizer. I will test again after that.
Sounds like a plan. Can I just get any old stabilizer? Is one brand any better than another
As long as the label says 99% or better Cyanuric Acid, it's all the same stuff. Whatever is cheapest. Don't be fooled by fancy labels that say "For Salt pools" or whatever. It's the ingredients that matter, not the packaging. I'd hit the pool aisle at Walmart or Lowes or Home Depot or whatever big box/hardware stores are in your area.
Thank you so much for your help. I really appreciate it. I feel so much better about my situation now...
I suppose my FC can be a bit lower now too!
I suppose my FC can be a bit lower now too!
Glad you are finding this site to be helpful...Loads of knowledge here!
I too am from the Twin Cities, opened a few weeks ago while the water temp was still low enough to prevent any issues.
Don't hesitate to shout out of you need anything. This is my third season with TFP and I wouldn't do it any other way!
I too am from the Twin Cities, opened a few weeks ago while the water temp was still low enough to prevent any issues.
Don't hesitate to shout out of you need anything. This is my third season with TFP and I wouldn't do it any other way!
So I tested my FC last night after a full day of being opened with my boys basically playing all day in it. FC started at 10 when I opened the cover and was down to 6 before I closed it for the night. CC was 1.0 at close. I guess I was thinking the FC would lower after a whole day but perhaps not. It did get fairly cloudy for a better part of the afternoon. I didn't add and more chlorine as 6 is a good level for my assumed CYA level. This morning FC was actually
6.5 and CC was less than 0.5. I suppose the is a bit of a margin of error for that FC test since it shouldn't have gone up. Didn't get to the store yesterday for the CYA so hopefully that will get done today.
6.5 and CC was less than 0.5. I suppose the is a bit of a margin of error for that FC test since it shouldn't have gone up. Didn't get to the store yesterday for the CYA so hopefully that will get done today.