Long Time Reader, First time Writer

[poolmedic244]

Thanks. So I've been reading the forums, and I can't understand my chemistry. The last time I added any chlorine to the pool (end of SLAM) was Friday. We've turned off the SWG. I started doing my own testing (not the pool store) on Saturday night. Since then:

FC
8/21 37
8/23 26
8/24 15.5

pH has just started to come down:
8/21 8.4+
8/23 8.2
8/24 7.8

I don't understand why my total alkalinity numbers are getting screwy.

8/19 - 92
8/21 - 150
8/24 - 130

The only chemical that I've added outside of chlorine is the initial baking soda, and I've just recently started to add CYA/Stabilizer...some directly in the pool, and since I've been getting smarter, via the sock method.

Does the chlorine levels affect everything else?
Should I be waiting to balance the rest until after the chlorine is back down?

Want to get this balanced so that I can use the heater, as we're about to hit September here in the Northeast.

 

[mknauss]

If FC is above 10 ppm, pH test is invalid.
The TA of 92 is not a valid test result.
Once your FC is below 10 ppm, run a full set of tests.

 

[Texas Splash]

Sounds like you're simply encountering some learning curves is all. It will settle in time.

TA: 25 ML water sample size > 2 drops of #7 bottle, > 5 drops of green #8 bottle > then count drops of #9 bottle until it goes bright Barbie pink and multiply by 10. Example: 8 drops is a TA of 80.

Don't worry about pH until the FC falls below 10. In your case, maintain it more ideally about 7-8 post-SLAM. Then test/adjust pH and turn on the SWG again.

 

[poolmedic244]

New Numbers:
FC - 8.5
CC - 0.5
TC - 9
pH - 7.5
TA - 120 (may be 130...lost count with one drop)
CH - 30

Why do I have CC's now?

I didn't run the pump for most of the day and took this measure about a foot below the surface before turning on the pump.

Do I want the SWG back on?

 

[Texas Splash]

Those are very good numbers. Don't worry about that tiny bit of CC. We treat 0.5 as zero. Yes, you can turn the SWG on now at a low output depending on how long you plan on running the pump. Or just start at about 50% and the pump on 12 hrs or so. You'll have to experiment. Just watch the FC and don't let it fall below about 4 ppm or so. Nice work.