More stabilizer?

[TactfulTurtle]

Pool has been open since 4/7/25 and I am currently trying to learn how to maintain it, as a new pool owner. I used my Taylor 2006 kit today and measured the following:
FC: 3.5ppm
CC: .5ppm or less
pH: 8
Alkalinity: 90
CH: 250
CYA: <30 (Taylor test kit only goes as low as 30)

A few days ago I added 2lb of stabilizer to bring up the CYA, but it didn't change it in an amount that is noticeable. I am thinking I should add the other 2lb. TODAY I added about 1qt of muriatic acid.

Meanwhile my husband took a water sample to the pool store today, mainly to see if copper levels have come down since opening the pool (down to .6 from .8 if THATS accurate at least). I was shocked to see the difference in the readings from the pool store. THEY claim that FC is 2ppm and CC is 2ppm. Told us we are in "chlorine lock" and to shock the pool. Umm...what?

I AM CHOOSING TO TRUST MY TAYLOR KIT! Therefore, I think things are looking good! The pool is clear and sparkly. Should I add more CYA? Any other thoughts? Thank you gurus!

Also, my SWG recently was having problems with digital display. The control board was replaced today and it is currently working again!

 

[PoolStored]

Yep, you are good.
Yes, keep adding CYA, you can do it in doses, just give it 24-48 hours with pump running before re-testing. You were likely at 0.

Nice Pool!

 

[Newdude]

I AM CHOOSING TO TRUST MY TAYLOR KIT!

Good. The pool store doesn't even know what it doesn't know.

The testing is worse.

The +/- 25% variance on most of its tests make it useless for any #s in range. If the machine reads low, you'll want to add XYZ and if it's high, you'll want to lower XYZ, meanwhile you were dead center all along.

 

[pjt]

I used my Taylor 2006 kit

Great kit. Do you have a SpeedStir?

A few days ago I added 2lb of stabilizer to bring up the CYA

Every 2 lbs will increase your CYA ~10. You probably began with close to zero. What's your CYA endstate target?

took a water sample to the pool store

Don't. It just adds confusion and misinformation.

copper levels

Did you add any copper products to your water?

I AM CHOOSING TO TRUST MY TAYLOR KIT!

Good choice. You have an excellent test kit.

 

[TactfulTurtle]

Great kit. Do you have a SpeedStir?


Every 2 lbs will increase your CYA ~10. You probably began with close to zero. What's your CYA endstate target?


Don't. It just adds confusion and misinformation.


Did you add any copper products to your water?


Good choice. You have an excellent test kit.

I do not have a SpeedStir.

I am not entirely sure what I want my CYA to be, but I am thinking 60. I mean... I at least want the lowest recommended level for a saltwater pool, correct?

I did not add any copper products. The previous owner had one of those algecide copper balls in the pump filter, which I threw away.

 

[PoolStored]

I am not entirely sure what I want my CYA to be, but I am thinking 60. I mean... I at least want the lowest recommended level for a saltwater pool, correct?

Great place to start while you are learning...anywhere between 40-60 is fine in spring. By June, you will want to be 60.

 

[pjt]

I do not have a SpeedStir.

I would highly recommend getting one. It makes testing faster, easier, more accurate, and enjoyable. I would consider it almost mandatory.

I am not entirely sure what I want my CYA to be, but I am thinking 60.

Pass an OCLT before increasing your CYA to that level. 60-70 would work for your climate.

I did not add any copper products. The previous owner had one of those algecide copper balls in the pump filter, which I threw away.

Great.

 

[Newdude]

I am not entirely sure what I want my CYA to be, but I am thinking 60. I mean..

Pause at 30 and complete an Overnight Chlorine Loss Test. With low CYA the sun will deplete your current FC quickly and you very well could dip too low before the added CYA helps out.

Each 10 CYA raises the slam target by 4FC, so you want to know *for sure* that you won't be slamming before raising it above 30.

 

[TactfulTurtle]

Pause at 30 and complete an Overnight Chlorine Loss Test. With low CYA the sun will deplete your current FC quickly and you very well could dip too low before the added CYA helps out.

Each 10 CYA raises the slam target by 4FC, so you want to know *for sure* that you won't be slamming before raising it above 30.

Thank you for this advice!

 

[TactfulTurtle]

Great place to start while you are learning...anywhere between 40-60 is fine in spring. By June, you will want to be 60.

Can you explain to me why I would want 40-60 in spring but 60 in June? Is it because of the heat/sun of the summer?

 

[PoolStored]

More UV.

 

[Newdude]

If you need more sunblock, so does the pool. In October in the northeast it's not much of a concern.

 

[TactfulTurtle]

If you need more sunblock, so does the pool. In October in the northeast it's not much of a concern.

Haha thanks!

 

[TactfulTurtle]

Pause at 30 and complete an Overnight Chlorine Loss Test. With low CYA the sun will deplete your current FC quickly and you very well could dip too low before the added CYA helps out.

Each 10 CYA raises the slam target by 4FC, so you want to know *for sure* that you won't be slamming before raising it above 30.

So my CYA is now between 40-50ppm. I have not yet mastered reading the black dot of the CYA test in the Taylor kit.
Regardless, I am having trouble conducting a OCLT. I CANNOT figure out a way to turn off the SWG and keep the pool pump on. I think they are tied together. Its a pool pilot digital 220. SO... if the pump and SWG turn off in the evening together and turn on together in the morning.. is that still reasonable timing to conduct a OCLT? Will it make a difference if the SWG is also on for 30 min with the pump?

My apologies if this is a stupid question. I am a bit stressed trying to figure this out....even though the pool LOOKS great... and suddenly my 9month old baby seems easier than the pool. HA!

I did manage to test the FC levels trying to do the OCLT though. So with the pump (and the SWG?) running 24/7... I had 4ppm of FC (and .5 or less combined chlorine) last night at 8pm. This morning at 6:15am I had 5ppm FC. Then tonight at 8pm I had 6ppm of FC, which I was a little surprised to see. It was 77degrees outside today at peak. I turned down my SWG to 20% (at least in the way which I think it works) in hopes of not continuing to grow my FC too high.

 

[PoolStored]

Set the SWG output to 0% for OCLT.

 

[TactfulTurtle]

Set the SWG output to 0% for OCLT.

I did that last night, thinking it would be the solution. But it did not work. My understanding is that it adjusts accordingly. I went out early AM and it was at something like 43% after me setting it to 0% last night. I wasn’t very happy about losing sleep for nothing.

 

[PoolStored]

Can you unplug cell from controller?

 

[TactfulTurtle]

Can you unplug cell from controller?

I suppose so? I get nervous to mess with the system too much since I have only just started learning.

 

[Newdude]

Will it make a difference if the SWG is also on for 30 min with the pump?

Any addition of FC will skew the test. Could we probably prove you only produced 0.2 (?) at best ? Yes. But what if that was the 0.2 that pushed you back into pass territory when you were a borderline fail ?

My apologies if this is a stupid question

You asked the question so it's a GREAT question. Sitting on it would be stupid.

in hopes of not continuing to grow my FC too high.

Too high is above slam. And even then it's 'temporarily elevated'. 5 or 6 FC is borderline low IMO for a 50/60 CYA, especially when dialing the system in.




You can drive yourself nuts micromanaging it as no two days are the same. Most of us target the high UV loss day and accept we will make more than we need on the cloudy days. I turn mine down when it hits a teen. I've lost count how many times i found a high teen on day 6.

But it did not work. My understanding is that it adjusts accordingly.

It probably resumed it's usual schedule at midnight for the next day.

I get nervous to mess with the system too much since I have only just started learning

Its just a plug. Mine has a twist nut on it, but still just a plug.

 

[TactfulTurtle]

Any addition of FC will skew the test. Could we probably prove you only produced 0.2 (?) at best ? Yes. But what if that was the 0.2 that pushed you back into pass territory when you were a borderline fail ?


You asked the question so it's a GREAT question. Sitting on it would be stupid.

Too high is above slam. And even then it's 'temporarily elevated'. 5 or 6 FC is borderline low IMO for a 50/60 CYA, especially when dialing the system in.

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You can drive yourself nuts micromanaging it as no two days are the same. Most of us target the high UV loss day and accept we will make more than we need on the cloudy days. I turn mine down when it hits a teen. I've lost count how many times i found a high teen on day 6.


It probably resumed it's usual schedule at midnight for the next day.

Its just a plug. Mine has a twist nut on it, but still just a plug.

Okay, thanks again for the information and instilling some confidence. My main goal here is to have a safe pool to enjoy with my little baby for many years. Just trying to make sure we are ready to go for the season. Perhaps a little bump on the heater!