Need help reading test

[KoolPoolDaDDy]

Okay.. 2 quarts of 31.45% MA should take you down form 8.2 to 7.2. If you add 2 quarts and check an hour later (with filter on so your water is mixing it in well), you should be down around 7.2 If you're not anywhere close, then something is really off: either the gallons of your pool water (assuming 18300 gallons) or your TA measurement.

I just added the 2 quarts. As far as the gallons of pool that's what my paperwork states. As far as the TA results once it turns green I drop mix wipe and repeat until it turns red. I count the drops and then multiply by 10.

 

[pb4uswim]

Try a calculator like this:

Pool Volume Calculator | Pool Maintenance

Enter your pool shape, length, width, shallow- and deep-end depths into our Pool Volume Calculator to find your pool's volume in gallons. Learn more about pool volume calculator, Visit SwimmingPool.com

www.swimmingpool.com

To see if your pool volume is in the ballpark.

I’m thinking you’ve been through enough of the possibilities that I’m thinking it’s just that your PH was just extremely high. I’m not sure what high PH does, but did you swim in the pool and did anyone complain about the water - skin rash or anything?

 

[KoolPoolDaDDy]

Try a calculator like this:

Pool Volume Calculator | Pool Maintenance

Enter your pool shape, length, width, shallow- and deep-end depths into our Pool Volume Calculator to find your pool's volume in gallons. Learn more about pool volume calculator, Visit SwimmingPool.com

www.swimmingpool.com

To see if your pool volume is in the ballpark.

I’m thinking you’ve been through enough of the possibilities that I’m thinking it’s just that your PH was just extremely high. I’m not sure what high PH does, but did you swim in the pool and did anyone complain about the water - skin rash or anything?

Yes we swim weekly and no complaints or issues so far. The water is kinda cloudy when you are under the water but not from the top. I'm going to check the PH and TA again Now

 

[KoolPoolDaDDy]

Try a calculator like this:

Pool Volume Calculator | Pool Maintenance

Enter your pool shape, length, width, shallow- and deep-end depths into our Pool Volume Calculator to find your pool's volume in gallons. Learn more about pool volume calculator, Visit SwimmingPool.com

www.swimmingpool.com

To see if your pool volume is in the ballpark.

I’m thinking you’ve been through enough of the possibilities that I’m thinking it’s just that your PH was just extremely high. I’m not sure what high PH does, but did you swim in the pool and did anyone complain about the water - skin rash or anything?

Still high... I'm going to bed...of note I took over from PB about 10 days ago. They had a company coming out weekly to maintenance pool and I never checked behind them....
TA Dropped down to 80...

 

[KoolPoolDaDDy]

Yes we swim weekly and no complaints or issues so far. The water is kinda cloudy when you are under the water but not from the top. I'm going to check the PH and TA again Now

Try a calculator like this:

Pool Volume Calculator | Pool Maintenance

Enter your pool shape, length, width, shallow- and deep-end depths into our Pool Volume Calculator to find your pool's volume in gallons. Learn more about pool volume calculator, Visit SwimmingPool.com

www.swimmingpool.com

To see if your pool volume is in the ballpark.

I’m thinking you’ve been through enough of the possibilities that I’m thinking it’s just that your PH was just extremely high. I’m not sure what high PH does, but did you swim in the pool and did anyone complain about the water - skin rash or anything?

According to my pb I have 18,317 according to the calculator I have 18,900 and that's not counting my sunshelf and steps.

 

[jesse-99]

Can you confirm again your FC? Please post that whenever you post your pH and TA.

I don't get why your TA would drop from 110 to 80, just from 2 quarts of MA, while pH didn't drop at all. That really doesn't make any sense.

You might need to make a video of showing us how you are measuring, FC, pH, and TA so we can see how you're doing it or what's happening. Is that something you can do by chance?

 

[jesse-99]

Has your pH reading in your pool -ever- read anything other than 8.2+ (since you started doing your own testing)? Was there ever MA being added before by whoever was managing pool chemicals before you started? Do you know what readings they were getting with their tests?

Test the pH and TA of the water from a faucet or tap in your house or the pool's auto-fill or outside spigot, etc... Just for comparison to what you're seeing in the pool. Let us know what you find with those? (Just for kicks and to see if the results might overly wild, which might mean the testing isn't being done right) . Also, for the TA with the x10 multiplier, are you filling the tube to 25ml and counting the drops x10? (Don't x10 if you are -only- filling to 10ml, because then you would need to use x25 multiplier (and different # of drops I believe too) ---- and PLEASE double check to make sure you are using the right reagents/drops and the right amounts too for your test). (just thinking out loud again here... still don't understand how you can go from 110 TA to 80 TA after only 2 quarts, and NOT have pH drop at all)

 

[pb4uswim]

Has your pH reading in your pool -ever- read anything other than 8.2+ (since you started doing your own testing)? Was there ever MA being added before by whoever was managing pool chemicals before you started? Do you know what readings they were getting with their tests?

Test the pH and TA of the water from a faucet or tap in your house or the pool's auto-fill or outside spigot, etc... Just for comparison to what you're seeing in the pool. Let us know what you find with those? (Just for kicks and to see if the results might overly wild, which might mean the testing isn't being done right) . Also, for the TA with the x10 multiplier, are you filling the tube to 25ml and counting the drops x10? (Don't x10 if you are -only- filling to 10ml, because then you would need to use x25 multiplier (and different # of drops I believe too) ---- and PLEASE double check to make sure you are using the right reagents/drops and the right amounts too for your test). (just thinking out loud again here... still don't understand how you can go from 110 TA to 80 TA after only 2 quarts, and NOT have pH drop at all)

Look at post 58. Either something is going on with his testing or his tap water is very alkaline. I’m out of ideas but something seems way off. Hopefully one of the guru‘s around here can figure it out. I’m just not sure how it could be the testing. You fill the little tube and put five drops in it. Pretty straight forward.

 

[jesse-99]

Look at post 58. Either something is going on with his testing or his tap water is very alkaline. I’m out of ideas but something seems way off. Hopefully one of the guru‘s around here can figure it out. I’m just not sure how it could be the testing. You fill the little tube and put five drops in it. Pretty straight forward.

Well , testing CAN go wrong, sometimes easily.. As an example. Just a few weeks ago, I quickly realized a testing mistake I was making with TA myself for two tests in a row.... I was only filling to 10ml instead of 25ml, but using the # of drops and the multiplier as if I was filling to 25ml, but I was actually only filling to 10ml. I have NO idea what I was thinking (except that I was recently doing CH tests with a x25 multiplier using the 10ml level, to save drops, and I think I accidentally carried that over to TA for those 2 tests--- incorrectly, until I caught it (and I caught it, only because I realized, there was NO way my TA was dropping that MUCH so quickly just from the amount of MA I was using). So errant testing CAN happen, and one needs to double/triple check their testing process IMHO when something seems off?

... and I'm not saying his testing process is off, just saying we can't ignore that possibility, that's why I'm curious to see a video of the testing process he's doing. (we all can make mistakes!)

 

[pb4uswim]

I agree that it can’t be ruled out, but on the PH test, it’s pretty straight forward. A bad or the wrong regent might be going on. Crazy.

 

[jesse-99]

I agree that it can’t be ruled out, but on the PH test, it’s pretty straight forward. A bad or the wrong regent might be going on. Crazy.

I don't disagree with you. It's one of the reasons I keep a set of test-strips handy (okay okay, everyone can stop yelling at me or throwing pies at me, lol) just incase I need another reference point in the event of suspected bad reagents or total weirdness with results. The strips aren't totally accurate, but (IMHO -ONLY- and for MY pool, -ONLY-, lol is that enough qualifiers?) they can at least quickly tell me if something might be errant with my tests or reagents, in cases where I don't see the results I expected to see. And, since I'm colorblind, sometimes I need those extra things as a crutch to help with my colorblindness. (and also the reason I keep a digital pH meter handy as well)

 

[pb4uswim]

I think I’d go get these test strips:

Test Strips

For $7, you’d get some idea how far above 8 you are. It would also confirm whether or not you are actually over 8. The test goes up to 14. Not being limited to “above 8”, you’d get some better information. Hopefully there’s a Walmart or store nearby that you can get something like this without spending too much money.

 

[KoolPoolDaDDy]

I think I’d go get these test strips:

Test Strips

For $7, you’d get some idea how far above 8 you are. It would also confirm whether or not you are actually over 8. The test goes up to 14. Not being limited to “above 8”, you’d get some better information. Hopefully there’s a Walmart or store nearby that you can get something like this without spending too much money.

I have plenty test strips. I used those before my kit arrived. I totally understand what @Jesse-as I am nowhere Near perfect and prone to err. Having a issue with video file being to large for server. So here is link to testing.
PH New video by Russell Kinney.
TA New video by Russell Kinney
FC

0 new items by Russell Kinney

photos.app.goo.gl

 

[KoolPoolDaDDy]

I have plenty test strips. I used those before my kit arrived. I totally understand what @Jesse-as I am nowhere Near perfect and prone to err. Having a issue with video file being to large for server. So here is link to testing.
PH New video by Russell Kinney.
TA New video by Russell Kinney
FC

0 new items by Russell Kinney

photos.app.goo.gl

Here is test strip

 

[duraleigh]

Your pH is too high. Please DON"T use the test strips.........that only adds confusion.

Add enough muriatic acid to your pool to bring it down from 8.0 to 7.5 or thereabouts (about 24 oz).....pump running. Test 30 minutes later and repeat as often as necessary until your pH gets down. It will.

Your starting point was simply way above 8.2 but keep adding the acid and you will have success.

 

[jesse-99]

Thanks for sharing those videos, very helpful!

Your TA test looks correct. (to speed things up, I just keep the spinning/mixing going the entire time I add in my drops, rather than stopping it each time. You can STILL see the color change if you leave the spinning/mixing on the entire time).

You pH test looks correct as well .

Note on BOTH tests. Try to hold your bottles completely up/down (vertical) when the drops are coming out, instead of partially sideways.

Thanks for sharing those, now we know your testing is good. Now that you've validated your tested with the video, you can ignore the strips as well. (again, I suggested only as a cross-check until testing was validated)

At this point I'd concur, you just have to keep adding in the MA until you see that pH come down. For now, I would recommend targeting NO LOWER than 7.4 or 7.6 on the pH, however, because you don't necessarily want your TA to drop too low either (you're at 80 now which is okay). Your pH *HAS* to come down eventually. If you were previously running your waterfalls constantly, it's possibly your pH rose up to levels that we normally don't ever see (and believe me, I know how much waterfalls aerate and raise pH because I have 6 water features in my pool that create massive aeration).

 

[jesse-99]

Also just a quick note. Hang in there, you're doing GREAT. Don't give up hope (I know this can be really stressful when you first start out and things aren't going right, I've been there myself and been SO very frustrated and doubting myself and hating my pool) --- you'll get this figured out. (and keep those waterfalls off for now until pH and TA is managed).

 

[KoolPoolDaDDy]

Also just a quick note. Hang in there, you're doing GREAT. Don't give up hope (I know this can be really stressful when you first start out and things aren't going right, I've been there myself and been SO very frustrated and doubting myself and hating my pool) --- you'll get this figured out. (and keep those waterfalls off for now until pH and TA is managed).

I truly, appreciate the sentiments and help from you and everyone else on this forum. Not gonna lie, I feel as though I am chasing my tail and many times I want to just say I'm done. But I know the weekly maintenance folks will just pump and dump. I know it will be something I will be able to look back on one day and laugh as I'm helping a newbie because thanks to you guys I will eventually become a pool guru . I will add more MA once I get home from work and continue to update you guys.
Side note: any chemicals I should keep readily available as a new pool owner? Also when picking up the MA from the box store I saw something called clorox pool clarifier "for insanely clear pools" to help the underwater cloudiness or is that the high PH?

 

[KoolPoolDaDDy]

Thanks for sharing those videos, very helpful!

Your TA test looks correct. (to speed things up, I just keep the spinning/mixing going the entire time I add in my drops, rather than stopping it each time. You can STILL see the color change if you leave the spinning/mixing on the entire time).

You pH test looks correct as well .

Note on BOTH tests. Try to hold your bottles completely up/down (vertical) when the drops are coming out, instead of partially sideways.

Thanks for sharing those, now we know your testing is good. Now that you've validated your tested with the video, you can ignore the strips as well. (again, I suggested only as a cross-check until testing was validated)

At this point I'd concur, you just have to keep adding in the MA until you see that pH come down. For now, I would recommend targeting NO LOWER than 7.4 or 7.6 on the pH, however, because you don't necessarily want your TA to drop too low either (you're at 80 now which is okay). Your pH *HAS* to come down eventually. If you were previously running your waterfalls constantly, it's possibly your pH rose up to levels that we normally don't ever see (and believe me, I know how much waterfalls aerate and raise pH because I have 6 water features in my pool that create massive aeration).

I will try the vertical method moving forward. I definitely don't run my water features like they were programed (12 hours daily) 2 36" waterfalls and two bubblers. I also have a heater(barely used) that I don't mention in my signature if that makes a difference.

 

[pb4uswim]

No need for clarifier. Your pool will be very clear once you get things balanced. Focus on the PH for now. I pretty much get by with just MA and Chlorine on hand. If I need anything else, I buy it as needed.