So I opened up my TF-100 test kit this weekend, and ran a complete set of tests on our tap water to get an idea of what we will be facing in a few weeks when it’s time to fill, and also because it's fun.
Results are below, along with what I think our suggested actions and things to watch will be. I’ve read through Pool School and all the water chemistry portions of the site, I’m now just trying to apply it to what we have. Please help explain where my thinking or priorities are wrong.
The pool builder is estimating 25K gallons for our pool. I don’t know yet if we can actually read our water meter for a better idea of true volume, as it is under a driveway access panel.
I’m using the recommended levels from Pool School, with the understanding that we shouldn’t turn the SWG on for the first 30 days to prevent plaster dust from mucking it all up. So I believe I use the “with Bleach” column for the initial opening, then switch to the “with SWG” values once it’s up and running. Please correct me if I’m wrong, or there’s a different approach to take.
FC – 0 / Acceptable Range 3 – 5 (3 - 7 without SWG on), will target 5 for initial opening.
Free chlorine is zero, which is what I expected and makes sense. Seems like I can just use 5 as a target both pre and post SWG.
Based on this, it sounds like the initial pour of liquid chlorine assuming 6% bleach is ~260 ounces, or a little over two jugs, but that seems like very little. I got the number from Pool Math.
pH – 7.8 / Acceptable Range 7.2 – 7.8, not sure what to target for initial opening, maybe 7.5 to leave a cushion for it to drift up?
Seems high. And I believe as the Pebblefina cures, it will continue to drive this up. So, looks like we’ll need to invest in some muriatic acid for sure.
Since it is still within the acceptable range, should I try to adjust this down to begin with, or wait for it to really climb? If lowering, sounds like I should need 43 ounces of 31.45% muriatic acid.
TA – 190 / Acceptable Range 60 – 80 (70 – 90+ before SWG is turned on), not sure what to target for initial opening.
Also seems high! I believe combined with my high pH it is a greater problem. Pool school says only to do this do lower pH and/or CH, so I’m a little confused about when I need to worry about this since one is high and the other is low. I’m also not sure about which range of numbers I should target for the initial opening vs when we turn the SWG on. Aerating to lower TA will raise my pH even more, so this one just seems like a trap. I definitely need some feedback on when/if to address this.
CH – 175 / Acceptable Range 350 – 450 (250 – 350 before SWG is on), not sure what to target for initial opening.
Lower than I expected. We typically have hard water in the area, but being part of a private water district ours is much lower than surrounding areas, but I still expected this to be higher. Looks like I might actually need to increase this.
I believe that as the plaster cures and is brushed this will continue to increase. Do I need to raise it initially, or wait for a while for things to settle in before adjusting this?
CYA – 0 / Acceptable Range 70 – 80 (30 – 50 before SWG is turned on) will target 40 for initial opening, then raise when SWG is turned on.
As expected. I believe this will need to go in with the first batch of chlorine. Looks like Pool Math says I’ll need 250 ounces.
Any feedback is appreciated!
Results are below, along with what I think our suggested actions and things to watch will be. I’ve read through Pool School and all the water chemistry portions of the site, I’m now just trying to apply it to what we have. Please help explain where my thinking or priorities are wrong.
The pool builder is estimating 25K gallons for our pool. I don’t know yet if we can actually read our water meter for a better idea of true volume, as it is under a driveway access panel.
I’m using the recommended levels from Pool School, with the understanding that we shouldn’t turn the SWG on for the first 30 days to prevent plaster dust from mucking it all up. So I believe I use the “with Bleach” column for the initial opening, then switch to the “with SWG” values once it’s up and running. Please correct me if I’m wrong, or there’s a different approach to take.
| with Bleach FC 3-7 (See chart) pH 7.2-7.8 TA 70-90+ CH 250-350 CYA 30-50 | with SWG FC 3-5 (See chart) pH 7.2-7.8 TA 60-80 CH 350-450 CYA 70-80 |
FC – 0 / Acceptable Range 3 – 5 (3 - 7 without SWG on), will target 5 for initial opening.
Free chlorine is zero, which is what I expected and makes sense. Seems like I can just use 5 as a target both pre and post SWG.
Based on this, it sounds like the initial pour of liquid chlorine assuming 6% bleach is ~260 ounces, or a little over two jugs, but that seems like very little. I got the number from Pool Math.
pH – 7.8 / Acceptable Range 7.2 – 7.8, not sure what to target for initial opening, maybe 7.5 to leave a cushion for it to drift up?
Seems high. And I believe as the Pebblefina cures, it will continue to drive this up. So, looks like we’ll need to invest in some muriatic acid for sure.
Since it is still within the acceptable range, should I try to adjust this down to begin with, or wait for it to really climb? If lowering, sounds like I should need 43 ounces of 31.45% muriatic acid.
TA – 190 / Acceptable Range 60 – 80 (70 – 90+ before SWG is turned on), not sure what to target for initial opening.
Also seems high! I believe combined with my high pH it is a greater problem. Pool school says only to do this do lower pH and/or CH, so I’m a little confused about when I need to worry about this since one is high and the other is low. I’m also not sure about which range of numbers I should target for the initial opening vs when we turn the SWG on. Aerating to lower TA will raise my pH even more, so this one just seems like a trap. I definitely need some feedback on when/if to address this.
CH – 175 / Acceptable Range 350 – 450 (250 – 350 before SWG is on), not sure what to target for initial opening.
Lower than I expected. We typically have hard water in the area, but being part of a private water district ours is much lower than surrounding areas, but I still expected this to be higher. Looks like I might actually need to increase this.
I believe that as the plaster cures and is brushed this will continue to increase. Do I need to raise it initially, or wait for a while for things to settle in before adjusting this?
CYA – 0 / Acceptable Range 70 – 80 (30 – 50 before SWG is turned on) will target 40 for initial opening, then raise when SWG is turned on.
As expected. I believe this will need to go in with the first batch of chlorine. Looks like Pool Math says I’ll need 250 ounces.
Any feedback is appreciated!
