New Person / Chemistry Number Questions

[bart3]

Trying to figure out where I really need to be numbers wise. I'm starting to do this on my own but still go to Leslies every 2-3 weeks to see how accurate my at home testing really is. Some of the target numbers between TFP and Leslies are a bit different, does it matter that much, can I use either?


TFP Recommendations / VS Leslies

Free Chlorine TFP 3-10 / Leslies 1-4
TFP PH 7.6 / Leslies 7.2-7.8
TFP Total Alkalinity 60-80 / Leslies 80-120
TFP Stabilizer, CYA 70-80 / Leslies 50-100
TFP Calcium Hardness 350-550 / Leslies 200-400 (I'm at 322 and TFP app would have me add 29lbs increaser to get to 450?)

Leslies gives results for these test as well. Should I care about them?
Iron 0-0.2
Copper 0-0.2 (I'm a little over at .03)
Phosphates 0-100


Pool Info
18500 Gallons
Salt Water Generator, Jandy Trueclear set to 80% for 9 hrs per day
DFW area

Thanks for any feedback!!

 

[PoolStored]

but still go to Leslies every 2-3 weeks to see how accurate my at home testing really is.

You testing is more accurate than leslies.

Testing_Accuracy.jpeg

• PoolStored
• Jul 26, 2024

pH, Any pH in the 7s is fine.
TA, 80-120 is because Leslie's sell pucks which are acidic. 60-80 is great with liquid chlorine and SWCG, both we recommend.

FC and CYA. Here's your link...Link-->FC/CYA Levels
CYA of 30-60 for liquid chlorine and 60-90 for SWCG. Above 60 makes a SLAM hard if you don't maintain enough FC with daily dosing of FC. Higher CYA for SWCG because it is continually adding FC.
FC should be targeted based on CYA level. This maintains enough FC to sanitize the pool.

 

[dfwnoob]

Welcome back(?) to TFP. You have to decide which way you want to go. Either you can adopt the TFP methodology or you can follow pool store advice. The TFP methodology is minimalist and based off of years of research and empirical evidence backed up by the success of thousands of pool owners who have adopted it. Nobody makes any money here evangelizing the TFP way.

Pool store or pool industry methodology is based off of a combination of lackluster research and data from the 1970s which is then further monetized in order to create a need to continually sell you magic potions. Leslie's alone had nearly $200,000,000 in revenue last year using this model.

The iron and copper testing can be useful if you suspect that you have an issue with one of them. If you don't, it's useless. Phosphates testing is nearly always beyond useless in the TFP pool care model.

As far as testing goes, the Taylor testing products are more accurate, more reliable, and less error prone than what Leslie's does. My personal advice is to stay as far away from the pool store as you can and go DIY, but I'll admit I'm biased

 

[TinFoilHat]

You only need to heed to the tests included in the recommended test kits. Stay away from Leslies unless you need something from them that is recommended here. Unless you have staining that isn't from algae you don't have to worry about copper or iron. Phosphates don't matter either.

 

[bart3]

Thank you all for the great information!!

 

[bart3]

You testing is more accurate than leslies.

Testing_Accuracy.jpeg

• PoolStored
• Jul 26, 2024

pH, Any pH in the 7s is fine.
TA, 80-120 is because Leslie's sell pucks which are acidic. 60-80 is great with liquid chlorine and SWCG, both we recommend.

FC and CYA. Here's your link...Link-->FC/CYA Levels
CYA of 30-60 for liquid chlorine and 60-90 for SWCG. Above 60 makes a SLAM hard if you don't maintain enough FC with daily dosing of FC. Higher CYA for SWCG because it is continually adding FC.
FC should be targeted based on CYA level. This maintains enough FC to sanitize the pool.

View attachment 601574

Thank you for the helpful information! It makes more sense to me now, I didn't realize my Taylor kit recommend here was actually more accurate (I had figured otherwise).

 

[bart3]

Welcome back(?) to TFP. You have to decide which way you want to go. Either you can adopt the TFP methodology or you can follow pool store advice. The TFP methodology is minimalist and based off of years of research and empirical evidence backed up by the success of thousands of pool owners who have adopted it. Nobody makes any money here evangelizing the TFP way.

Pool store or pool industry methodology is based off of a combination of lackluster research and data from the 1970s which is then further monetized in order to create a need to continually sell you magic potions. Leslie's alone had nearly $200,000,000 in revenue last year using this model.

The iron and copper testing can be useful if you suspect that you have an issue with one of them. If you don't, it's useless. Phosphates testing is nearly always beyond useless in the TFP pool care model.

As far as testing goes, the Taylor testing products are more accurate, more reliable, and less error prone than what Leslie's does. My personal advice is to stay as far away from the pool store as you can and go DIY, but I'll admit I'm biased

Thank you. I have gone the TFP way, but wasn't sure of some of the target discrepancies. I appreciate the advice and helpful information!

 

[bart3]

You only need to heed to the tests included in the recommended test kits. Stay away from Leslies unless you need something from them that is recommended here. Unless you have staining that isn't from algae you don't have to worry about copper or iron. Phosphates don't matter either.

Thank you. Good to know, I have no staining ...except for all the dang acorns the squirrels knock in the pool, but I scrub them with a chlorine tab when swimming

 

[sande005]

And...if you download to your phone the PoolMath app (written/maintained by TFP members), you can log your ongoing test results. If you then save the current entries, and in the app link it to your account here, we too can see the history of the pool, if there are questions. It also has an "Effect of Adding" section, where if you want to add something to the pool, it will tell you the effects it will have.
Note while PoolMath gives you the appropriate range for each test item (adjusted for other tested items, if applicable) in the end you have to decide. So if it says the Cl range should be 4-9, it may default to some number - but you should adjust that as needed. Mine? I always have the top of the target range for Cl as my target. For the rest, I use the midpoint of the suggested.

 

[bart3]

And...if you download to your phone the PoolMath app (written/maintained by TFP members), you can log your ongoing test results. If you then save the current entries, and in the app link it to your account here, we too can see the history of the pool, if there are questions. It also has an "Effect of Adding" section, where if you want to add something to the pool, it will tell you the effects it will have.
Note while PoolMath gives you the appropriate range for each test item (adjusted for other tested items, if applicable) in the end you have to decide. So if it says the Cl range should be 4-9, it may default to some number - but you should adjust that as needed. Mine? I always have the top of the target range for Cl as my target. For the rest, I use the midpoint of the suggested.

Thank you for the feedback. I do have the app, but online account is in a different login - they are helping put it in under same login for me. I didn’t know it would share my levels, very cool.

 

[bart3]

Welcome back(?) to TFP. You have to decide which way you want to go. Either you can adopt the TFP methodology or you can follow pool store advice. The TFP methodology is minimalist and based off of years of research and empirical evidence backed up by the success of thousands of pool owners who have adopted it. Nobody makes any money here evangelizing the TFP way.

Pool store or pool industry methodology is based off of a combination of lackluster research and data from the 1970s which is then further monetized in order to create a need to continually sell you magic potions. Leslie's alone had nearly $200,000,000 in revenue last year using this model.

The iron and copper testing can be useful if you suspect that you have an issue with one of them. If you don't, it's useless. Phosphates testing is nearly always beyond useless in the TFP pool care model.

As far as testing goes, the Taylor testing products are more accurate, more reliable, and less error prone than what Leslie's does. My personal advice is to stay as far away from the pool store as you can and go DIY, but I'll admit I'm biased

Thank you! I’m going the TFP way for sure, just wondered about my testing and recs vs what I have seen in the store. But seems I’m better on my own with the Taylor kit.

 

[dereksanders]

You’re in good hands here.

 

[PoolStored]

Thank you for the helpful information! It makes more sense to me now, I didn't realize my Taylor kit recommend here was actually more accurate (I had figured otherwise).

Yep! Don't confuse the "precision" of the store being x.xx...might be precise, but not accurate..