Just did my first TF Pro Test! Suggestions?

[MillerCourtResort]

My test kit came today, and I have my first results! What advice do you have for me going forward? I planned to add a gallon of muriatic acid to lower the alkalinity and aerate a lot to keep the pH stable, then continue to add liquid chlorine at night and monitor chlorine daily. One question: If I'm just using the basic chlorine/pH test daily to check my chlorine, how do I know the actual chlorine level since the test only goes to 5?

FC 5
CC 0.5
CYA 42
pH 7.2
TA 150
CH 550

 

[DrewLG]

Use the FAS-DPD test for chlorine instead. It's much more accurate and useful.

Do not add muriatic acid to lower TA. it's for lowering pH, and your pH is already at the low end of the correct range.

Over time, as you keep pH in range with muriatic acid, you'll find that TA will gradually drift down by itself.

 

[MillerCourtResort]

Use the FAS-DPD test for chlorine instead. It's much more accurate and useful.

Won't I run out of the powder quickly if I use it every day?

 

[dfwnoob]

I never use the comparator block for FC. It's annoying to me. I know some people use to make sure there's some chlorine in there, but in the time it takes to do that, I could just run the FAS-DPD drop test. The powder will last longer than you think, especially since up north most people have shorter swim seasons than down here. Even so, I don't mind buying new reagents if I run out. I will very likely need to buy more this season as I've been testing way more than usual getting the new SWCG dialed in.

Last year when I was new to this and jug lugging, I eventually learned how much the pool usually needed and I'd test FC every other day or so.

 

[MillerCourtResort]

Use the FAS-DPD test for chlorine instead. It's much more accurate and useful.

Do not add muriatic acid to lower TA. it's for lowering pH, and your pH is already at the low end of the correct range.

My alkalinity is supposed to be 60-80. How do I lower it without muriatic acid?

 

[wireform]

Don't trust the comparator block for a "5" Use it for the PH only and use the powder method via the 10ml line and count each drop as .5ppm....
MA is to drop the PH which in your case is bare bottom now. When the PH hits 8.0 you can bring it down per pool math and it'll also slowly bring the TA down.

 

[wireform]

My alkalinity is supposed to be 60-80. How do I lower it without muriatic acid?

Use the CSI number as your guide and don't worry now about the TA.

 

[MillerCourtResort]

Pool math app tells me to lower alkalinity with acid then aerate to raise pH. I got feedback here yesterday that I should keep pH in range and alkalinity will come down on its own. Should I add acid or leave alkalinity alone?

Fc 3 (I will add chlorine tonight.)
Cc 1.5
Cya 30
Ph 7.5
Alkalinity 140
Calcium 425

 

[MillerCourtResort]

How do I get a csi number?

 

[mknauss]

You have a vinyl liner pool. CSI does not need to be a concern for you.

Your TA is higher. OK. But that really does not harm anything. It may make your pH rise faster. See if that is an issue. For now, do not worry about the level of TA. Test it weekly. Input it into Poolmath so if you need to add acid, the app can calculate how much to use to lower the pH.

 

[FlappyLipps]

How does one get a CYA of 42, the lines on mine are 40 or 50

 

[MillerCourtResort]

I estimated based on where the water level fell between 40 and 50.

 

[wireform]

Call it 50 and slam for 50.

 

[FlappyLipps]

We dont guess, 41-49 =50