New, Not Sure I'm Doing This Correctly

[dmorey01]

Hello all,
I'm not new to pools, but I am new to taking care of the pool myself. I'm not sure I am doing this right. I also don't feel confident that I have correctly calculated the gallons in my pool. I came up with 15,795 gallons. I have a 15x30 pool that is about 3 feet 9 inches at the shallow end to 5 feet 1 inch at the deeper end, which is at about the 3/4 mark, with the remainder sloping back up to about 4 feet if that makes sense. Then a 5x7 spa that I measured at three feet 1 inch deep. Does that sound right?
I first tested with the TFP Pro test kit on Tuesday. The results I got:

8.5 FC
1.0 CC
8.2 PH
170 TA
650 CH
90 CYA

I added what the Pool Math app suggested, which was 36 oz of 7.5 percent bleach and 19 oz of dry acid. Pool looked nice and blue. Yesterday I did all the measurements again to double check myself and make sure everything was going in the right direction. Not really sure. I got:

6.5 FC
2.5 CC
7.8 PH
170 TA
600 CH
130 CYA Not confident about doing this test at all
93 water temp
.79 CSI

So the app suggested adding 194 oz of bleach (over a gallon!) and 20 oz of dry acid, which seems like a lot. I have not added that yet. Is that right? This seems like the pool will need tons of bleach each week if so? Also, the app says the .79 CSI suggests likely scaling. What do I do about that? Also, do you not record the yellow side of the PH test? Confused about there being a test that you don't "need" or record. If I need to add chlorine daily, does that mean I should also do the chlorine test daily? My family does swim most days in the summer.

Also, is there a post about all the stuff you need to do to maintain the pool outside of chemicals? For example, do I still need to brush and vacuum weekly if we have a pool robot? How does backwashing work and how often should that be done? We did just clean the filter. Are there other pool care things I am missing? Thanks for any help!

 

[HermanTX]

Welcome to TFP. There are many contributors from the Houston area.
My pool is slightly smaller than yours and I am pouring 64 oz (1/2 gal) of 10% Liquid Chlorine (LC) per day just to keep up.

Your CH seems really high for this area. My pre-water softener CH is under 150ppm Do you know how your pool got so high? Have you tested just your tap water that fills the pool?

I got 14,900 gals for pool and 800 gals for spa - so 15,700 total - in line with your assumption

Just some confirmation on testing. Sometimes these get confused and can cause errant test results.
FC uses 10ml sample.
CH uses 10ml sample
TA uses 25ml sample
All levels are before you put the magnetic in the tube for the stirrer.

For CYA - this is what I do - i make the mixture per instructions. Then I pour it to a set level in the tube - lets say 90. I look in tube and if I can see the black dot, I then pour solution to the 80 mark - then peer in tube again. I continue to do this until I cannot see the dot, then use the previous mark (where I last saw the dot) as my CYA. Always use decade numbers for CYA - 20, 30, etc. This way, you are not constantly starring at the dot while you are pouring in the solution.

Have you recently switched from pucks to LC - is that why your CYA is 90 - maybe retest again using my method above.

Is your pool clear?
Have you looked at the YOUTUBE video for test procedures?

TF100TestKit

The TF-100 sets the standard for excellence in Pool Testing Kits. It contains 7 separate tests to give you accurate readings on each important pool water parameter.

www.youtube.com

Do another test after review and post back your results and comments.

 

[dmorey01]

Thanks for the advice! I will test the tap water here shortly and see what I come up with. We had a pool service previously. They last serviced the pool on June 29. They would usually dump in three chlorine tabs each week. I started testing and adding chemicals last Wednesday, July 6 after my test kit arrived. The pool currently looks great. Clear and blue, and better than when the pool company maintained it, which is part of the reason I'm surprised it called for over a gallon of chlorine.

I have not watched the videos, and instead just followed the direction card, but I'll watch the video to make sure I'm doing everything right, then post those results.

 

[dmorey01]

Okay, watched the videos and ran the tests again. I tested the CH of the tap water and it came back as 75. Still not confident about the CYA test though. I did it three times and 95 was the best of the bunch. Came back way over 100 the other times. Rest of the results:

FC 5
CC0
PH 7.8
TA 170
CH 600
CYA 95
Temp 91
CSI .82

The app still suggests the same two actions: 155 oz of 7.5 percent bleach and 20 oz of dry acid. So should I add both? Assuming the app recommendations update after every new test log entry? Just wondering since the suggestions are exactly the same even though the tests came out slightly differently. Also, I think we're about to have a thunderstorm roll through in case that changes the calculus.

 

[Bperry]

Okay, watched the videos and ran the tests again. I tested the CH of the tap water and it came back as 75. Still not confident about the CYA test though. I did it three times and 95 was the best of the bunch. Came back way over 100 the other times. Rest of the results:

FC 5
CC0
PH 7.8
TA 170
CH 600
CYA 95
Temp 91
CSI .82

The app still suggests the same two actions: 155 oz of 7.5 percent bleach and 20 oz of dry acid. So should I add both? Assuming the app recommendations update after every new test log entry? Just wondering since the suggestions are exactly the same even though the tests came out slightly differently. Also, I think we're about to have a thunderstorm roll through in case that changes the calculus.

For the CYA follow the above advice and ONLY fill it up to increments of “10” and check it that way. So the result will either be 90 or 100. If your CYA actually is that high, it will take a decent amount of chlorine to keep the water sanitized.

The pH is a little high and you would be better off using muriatic acid rather than dry acid.

I can provide some advice, but don’t feel like you have to follow it…For both the liquid chlorine and muriatic acid, don’t worry about measuring it out in perfect amounts. I usually estimate to the nearest quart and just pour it in the pool water without a measuring cup. A little more or less of either of those two items isn’t going to move the needle much either way so since your still figuring this all out, try making it a little easier on yourself. If you lower the jug into the water and tip it so it streams out gently, it’s easier to not splash it as well.

 

[RickRude]

Your CH seems really high for this area. My pre-water softener CH is under 150ppm Do you know how your pool got so high?

I'd wager my first born that the pool service was "shocking" with Cal Hypo when they came, then leaving some trichlor tabs behind. Why so confident? It's what my pool service did!

 

[atxjmy512]

I think your first order of business needs to be be getting the cya down, that’s just so high. You’ll need to drain some and replace with fresh non stabilized water. This will also help with the CH level. With a CSI of 0.79 and a CH of 600, you’re going to get scale.

 

[Flying Tivo]

With high chlorine prices i would suggest a 50% drian/refill so you can drop your cya and ch.

Draining - Further Reading

www.troublefreepool.com

 

[duraleigh]

Welcome to the forum

When you first start TFP, there is often a tendency to put too much emphasis on PoolMath fixing your pool for you. You have to be the "brains" of the team and learn why (and if) you want to make the changes PoolMath suggests. Following PoolMaths calculations without thought(it's only a calculator) will make it difficult to get your pool quickly in line.

Please read "Pool Care Basics" up in Pool School and apply what you learn to the dosages PoolMath calculates fr you.

 

[IceShadow]

Here’s the article on schedule for pool care that might help out your other question.

Basic Pool Care Schedule

This basic pool care schedule can guide you in creating your own pool care routine. Regular pool maintenance will keep your water sparkling!

www.troublefreepool.com

Try doing the CYA test starting with a 50/50 mix of tap water and pool water. Do the test as normal with that sample and then multiply the result by 2. That’ll give some backup on if the CYA is as high as you think.

 

[HermanTX]

Okay, watched the videos and ran the tests again. I tested the CH of the tap water and it came back as 75. Still not confident about the CYA test though. I did it three times and 95 was the best of the bunch. Came back way over 100 the other times. Rest of the results:

FC 5
CC0
PH 7.8
TA 170
CH 600
CYA 95
Temp 91
CSI .82

The app still suggests the same two actions: 155 oz of 7.5 percent bleach and 20 oz of dry acid. So should I add both? Assuming the app recommendations update after every new test log entry? Just wondering since the suggestions are exactly the same even though the tests came out slightly differently. Also, I think we're about to have a thunderstorm roll through in case that changes the calculus.

Thanks for the new test results.
As you can see, most everyone that lives by the TFP methodology has given the same advice.
You can test your CYA again using the dilution method as that helps define CYA values over 100.
It is clear that your pool service was adding calcium to your pool for a reading of CH 600. Most likely cal-hypo as suggested by others. Your local tap water of CH 75 sounds right
Therefore if you drain and refill with tap water you will reduce both your CH and CYA levels.
It would be best to test again the CYA using dilution method to get a good handle on the value as that may dictate the amount you drain. If you are at 100 and you want 50ppm CYA then you would drain half your pool. if you are at 150 and want 50 then you need to drain 2/3 of your pool.

Do not use dry acid. I should have noted that earlier. That is not good for plaster pools. Buy liquid Muriatic Acid to lower pH and TA.

Also, since you are using 7.5% LC, the volume to add will be more than if you were using 10% LC or 12.5% LC. The calculator is just doing the math.
Good Luck.

 

[Leeboy20]

With high chlorine prices i would suggest a 50% drian/refill so you can drop your cya and ch.

Draining - Further Reading

www.troublefreepool.com

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