Hi - Just went to pinch a penny to get my water tested. I try to do it at home but mild colorblindness is getting the best of me. Last week, I tried to lower my Ph and did a lot of stain remover stuff so my chemistry might be all messed up.Looks a bit like staining to me? What do you use to sanitize your pool? Any other chemicals added? I doubt your calcium is overly high being in Florida....?
Got some good test results:
FC
CC
pH
TA
CH
CYA
Salt if Appicable
Maddie![]()
I’ll wait to hear before bringing Chlorine level back up
Hi - Just went to pinch a penny to get my water tested. I try to do it at home but mild colorblindness is getting the best of me. Last week, I tried to lower my Ph and did a lot of stain remover stuff so my chemistry might be all messed up.
FC - 0 (just dumped a jug of liquid chlorine this past Saturday but seems like might not have been enough. Will be dumping another jug)
CC - 0
pH -7.2
TA - 50ppm (pinch a penny suggests 7lbs of alkalinity increased)
CH - 500ppm
CYA - was not provided.
Any suggestions is appreciated. I’ll wait to hear before bringing Chlorine level back up
I have a chlorine tablet floating in the pool. I’ll keep 2 in there going forward since 1 might not have been enough.Never wait to add chlorine when your FC is 0. You never want no chlorine in your pool.
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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
Since you don't know your CYA add 5 ppm of liquid chlorine into the pool daily.
How many gallons are in your pool.
Download PoolMath
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Pool Care Basics Archives
Your one-stop shop for all things TFP to include: ABCs of Water Chemistry, Recommended Chemicals/Levels, Test Kits, Troubleshooting, and much more!www.troublefreepool.com
Hi - it sounds like you need a good set of reading materials. It's likely you have both algae and metal stains from previous pool chemical additions. There's a better way!I have a chlorine tablet floating in the pool. I’ll keep 2 in there going forward since 1 might not have been enough.
The pool is about 10000 gallon
Have you used any Clorox Blue Tablets like sold at Costco?I have a chlorine tablet floating in the pool. I’ll keep 2 in there going forward since 1 might not have been enough.
The pool is about 10000 gallon
Exactly what I’m using.Have you used any Clorox Blue Tablets like sold at Costco?
Thank you. I’ll read through the material. I’ve been relying on the pool stores since as mentioned colorblindness and the test kits don’t go together well. I’ll have to enlist the wife’s help going forwardHi - it sounds like you need a good set of reading materials. It's likely you have both algae and metal stains from previous pool chemical additions. There's a better way!
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Pool Care Basics Archives
Your one-stop shop for all things TFP to include: ABCs of Water Chemistry, Recommended Chemicals/Levels, Test Kits, Troubleshooting, and much more!www.troublefreepool.com
Tabs are not recommended because they contribute small amounts of chlorine while pushing your CYA higher. CYA does not break down at the rate of chlorine and you'll very quickly end up with a pool that's not properly sanitized.
The trouble free method relies on self-testing and respect for the FC/CYA relationship.
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The Free Chlorine and Cyanuric Acid Relationship
Managing your cyanuric acid and Free Chlorine levels is key to stabilizing your pool. Learn how these two items affect each other.www.troublefreepool.com
Exactly what I’m using.
Thank you! I’m curious to why I the metal stain removal stuff I have used didn’t work. I might have to go and get myself the Jack’s magic copper solution. I did use the stain id kit from them but it didn’t remove the stain.Those contain copper. The "Blue" is a code word for copper addition.
You have copper staining.
Copper in Pool Water - Further Reading
www.troublefreepool.com
Thank you! I’m curious to why I the metal stain removal stuff I have used didn’t work. I might have to go and get myself the Jack’s magic copper solution. I did use the stain id kit from them but it didn’t remove the stain.
Thanks Maddie. I read the guide and will get a different kit than I have right now-You are depending on Pinch-a-Penny for testing.... no bueno.
-Which test kit do you have at home? The ones we recommend use *changing colors* not matching colors. And are drop based so accurate.
-Copper is not a sanitizer, it can help avoid algae but at a high price (cost, stains, green hair)....and going without Free Chlorine (FC) is an invitation for problems. Consider upping your system to a salt water system to make things easier.
Time to take charge of your pool and we can help.
FC/CYA Levels
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Non-Recommended Pool Chemicals
These pool chemicals should not be added to your pool. Save your money and frustration and avoid these chemicals!www.troublefreepool.com
Maddie![]()
I can't answer that not knowing exactly what you did.
After you lift the copper stains into solution with sulfamic acid you should drain your pool and get clean water into it. Otherwise the sulfamic acid will mess us your FC and CC testing for months.
Acid - Further Reading
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https://www.troublefreepool.com/wik...ki/index.php?title=Acid#Sulfamic_Acid[/QUOTE]will do. Thank you, and thanks everyone for your help!Draining - Further Reading
www.troublefreepool.com
Only for PH where you have to choose the right shade of the same color. All other tests look for a drastic color change and it doesn't matter which shade you process it as, you'll see the difference between Barbie pink and clear.colorblindness and the test kits don’t go together well.