Need Help using Testing to Balance Pool Chemistry

[Newdude]

Sorry!! I’m starting with zero knowledge

SAME way we all did.

What does minimum mean? Minimum what?

Minimum FC is the least amount of chlorine left in your pool to be able to remain sanitary. Anything below minimum is where algae can grow and the bacteria/viruses etc flourish.

Each CYA level has its own min to sanitize at the same level. As CYA goes up, so does min.

Target Range of what?

Target range is where it's ok for your FC to land at the end of the day. It will burn off, daily, due to UV from the sun and bather load. In there early/late season, you can have a lower target because you aren't losing as much to the sun/swimmers. In the peak season, your daily target needs to be higher accordingly.

So the water is sanitary from minimum to SLAM level. Look how much wiggle room there is between target level and SLAM. Now look how little wiggle room there is between target level and minimum. If you're going to goof, goof over target and not below target. Going over is harmless and most of the FC will still be there tomorrow. Going under target flirts with min and might gift you a swamp.

 

[mmrambo]

The chart is for your FC (Free Chlorine) and based on your CYA.

Look at the chart for the row of 30 CYA. You want to be at FC of 4 to 6, 12 is the level if you need to kill algae via a SLAM.

Thank you. What does minimum mean?

 

[mmrambo]

Thank you. What does minimum mean?

Sorry! I saw where this was answered!

 

[mmrambo]

SAME way we all did.

Minimum FC is the least amount of chlorine left in your pool to be able to remain sanitary. Anything below minimum is where algae can grow and the bacteria/viruses etc flourish.

Each CYA level has its own min to sanitize at the same level. As CYA goes up, so does min.

Target range is where it's ok for your FC to land at the end of the day. It will burn off, daily, due to UV from the sun and bather load. In there early/late season, you can have a lower target because you aren't losing as much to the sun/swimmers. In the peak season, your daily target needs to be higher accordingly.

So the water is sanitary from minimum to SLAM level. Look how much wiggle room there is between target level and SLAM. Now look how little wiggle room there is between target level and minimum. If you're going to goof, goof over target and not below target. Going over is harmless and most of the FC will still be there tomorrow. Going under target flirts with min and might gift you a swamp.

View attachment 504724

Thank you!!

 

[mgtfp]

You've got this. Deep breath, and one step after the other.

 

[JJ_Tex]

Sorry! I saw where this was answered!

Treat the minimum like a cliff. Don’t even get near it ever and make sure when you add chlorine you dose enough to keep you well above the minimum until the next time you test and add.

 

[mmrambo]

Ok, next question:

I have algae. My OFCL test came back with no loss. Does that mean the algae is dead?

Y’all have been so helpful! I feel like I’ve graduated from Kindergarten to 1st grade pool knowledge this week!

 

[Newdude]

I have algae. My OFCL test came back with no loss. Does that mean the algae is dead?

Maybe, maybe not. It grows a biofilm to protect itself from harsh environments. The water may be clean and it's still stuck to the floors/walls.

Or it's all dead in the water but still needs to be filtered out.

What kind of algae are you seeing now?

 

[mmrambo]

I don’t know.

 

[ajw22]

Brush, brush, BRUSH! You have to brush those areas once a twice a day during the SLAM Process to breakup the biofilm protecting the algae and let the chlorine attack it.

 

[mmrambo]

Brush, brush, BRUSH! You have to brush those areas once a twice a day during the SLAM Process to breakup the biofilm protecting the algae and let the chlorine attack it.

I know. My predicament is the pool people are finally getting to us (after many weeks of waiting) to find where our leak is and the water has to stay clear for them to do that. When I brush, it gets cloudy.

 

[ajw22]

I think you have to fix your leak before you can fix your water chemistry issues.

Just keep adding liquid chlorine so the water stays clear even with algae.

 

[mmrambo]

Y’all were so helpful in getting me started. I feel like I’ve learned a lot in the last few weeks. The algae is almost gone!!! Hoping to only have to slam for a few more days. We shall see.

Question, though. We are about to be out of town and I won’t have someone who can add liquid chlorine every day. I don’t have a salt water generator.

Is it ok to use chlorine tablets for a week, and switch back to liquid when I get home?

 

[V___25]

If you're still in SLAM when you leave, that will set you back and you may have to start again when you return. What's your current CYA? How long will you be gone for? Do you have a cover? If it's around 30 for the SLAM, you should be ok to use tablets in a floater but they raise your CYA so just be mindful of that if you have to restart SLAM. Raise your FC to SLAM level before you leave and put the cover on if you have one.

 

[mmrambo]

If you're still in SLAM when you leave, that will set you back and you may have to start again when you return. What's your current CYA? How long will you be gone for? Do you have a cover? If it's around 30 for the SLAM, you should be ok to use tablets in a floater but they raise your CYA so just be mindful of that if you have to restart SLAM. Raise your FC to SLAM level before you leave and put the cover on if you have one.

CYA is 30 right now. The kind of cover we have is the huge heavy one that takes our whole family to put it on. We’ll be gone for 5 days.
Thanks for your help!

 

[Newdude]

The kind of cover we have is the huge heavy one that takes our whole family to put it on. We’ll be gone for 5 days.

That would be the best kind of cover for what you need. It will let less light through than a solar cover, helping the FC remain longer.

It's totally worth the hassle IMO.