Been following and reading as much as I can since we began this pool project in October of 2021. I have learned a lot but since we just got started I have a bunch of questions.
Here is a run down.
Plaster and water was completed on Saturday, May 28th, 2022. Pool company started the pool equipment and a start up / metal remover was applied by the pool company. I have been brushing the pool surface 2 to 3 times a day. I tested the water the day of, using my Taylor K-2006C test kit and here are the results … Temperature= 77 degrees, PH= 8.0, CH= 250ppm, and TA= 170 ppm. (First time using the test kit, I tried my best) Pool heater is not hooked up and will not be hooked up until after day 15.
Pool company said no chemicals until Tuesday, May 31st, 2022.
On May 31st, 2022, they came back and tested the water using a Taylor K-2006C test kit and these were the results. Temperature= 78 degrees, PH= 8.2, CH= 250 ppm, TA= 150ppm. They added 5, 3 inch chlorine tablets to the chlorine feeder and said no liquid chlorine for a certain amount of time (can’t recall the specific time frame, I’ll have to ask). They also used MA to adjust the TA and the PH. He said most important is to adjust the TA FIRST because it helps stabilize the PH and it prevents the PH from bouncing all over the place. He then adjusted the TA with MA by diluting the MA in a five gallon bucket of pool water and using the “Column method”, which I’ve read on here is a myth and doesn’t work. Then he adjusted the PH with MA by diluting the MA in a five gallon bucket of pool water and walking it around the pool. Out of curiosity, a few hours later I brought a sample of water to a local pool store (not Leslie’s) to have the water tested. Here are the results. Temperature= 78 degrees, PH= 6.7, Total Alkalinity= 100ppm, Calcium Hardness= 270, Free Chlorine and CYA= 0. They said everything looks good considering we are just starting it, not to do anything as the PH will rise from the new plaster, and within a day or so their should be chlorine available in the pool.
Today, June 1st, 2022, I tested the water myself and also brought it back to the same pool store for test results.
My results… Temperature= 80 degrees, FC= 3.2ppm, CC= 0ppm, PH= 7.0, TA= 120ppm, CH= 210ppm, and CYA= 0ppm (for the CYA test, I filled to the top of the test tube and could still be the black dot, so the CYA was below 30ppm)
Pool Store results… Temperature= 80 degrees, FC and Total Chlorine = 1.8, PH= 7.0, TA= 118ppm, CH= 153ppm, CYA= 8ppm. (I also retested the FC and the CH when I returned home since my results and their results were way off from each other and I was getting the same results as my original home test).
Right now the chlorine feeder is set to 5.5, should I turn it down a little and to what since my readings have the Chlorine at 3.2ppm?
In case it didn’t populate in my signature … plaster pool, 17,000 gallons (pool and spa), chlorine tablets (for now until I can use liquid chlorine), variable pump, have a cartridge filter, and the UV/Ozone Hayward sanitizing system.
A few questions. I’m guessing to trust my results over their test results? What is everyone’s thoughts? At this stage, what’s more important to focus on TA or PH? The Taylor test kit book suggests lowering TA with MA (like the pool guy did) but Pool Math app just recommends lowering the PH with MA , which will lower the TA and then I just aerate to increase the PH.
Why is the CH all over the place?
Thanks in advance for the help!
Here is a run down.
Plaster and water was completed on Saturday, May 28th, 2022. Pool company started the pool equipment and a start up / metal remover was applied by the pool company. I have been brushing the pool surface 2 to 3 times a day. I tested the water the day of, using my Taylor K-2006C test kit and here are the results … Temperature= 77 degrees, PH= 8.0, CH= 250ppm, and TA= 170 ppm. (First time using the test kit, I tried my best) Pool heater is not hooked up and will not be hooked up until after day 15.
Pool company said no chemicals until Tuesday, May 31st, 2022.
On May 31st, 2022, they came back and tested the water using a Taylor K-2006C test kit and these were the results. Temperature= 78 degrees, PH= 8.2, CH= 250 ppm, TA= 150ppm. They added 5, 3 inch chlorine tablets to the chlorine feeder and said no liquid chlorine for a certain amount of time (can’t recall the specific time frame, I’ll have to ask). They also used MA to adjust the TA and the PH. He said most important is to adjust the TA FIRST because it helps stabilize the PH and it prevents the PH from bouncing all over the place. He then adjusted the TA with MA by diluting the MA in a five gallon bucket of pool water and using the “Column method”, which I’ve read on here is a myth and doesn’t work. Then he adjusted the PH with MA by diluting the MA in a five gallon bucket of pool water and walking it around the pool. Out of curiosity, a few hours later I brought a sample of water to a local pool store (not Leslie’s) to have the water tested. Here are the results. Temperature= 78 degrees, PH= 6.7, Total Alkalinity= 100ppm, Calcium Hardness= 270, Free Chlorine and CYA= 0. They said everything looks good considering we are just starting it, not to do anything as the PH will rise from the new plaster, and within a day or so their should be chlorine available in the pool.
Today, June 1st, 2022, I tested the water myself and also brought it back to the same pool store for test results.
My results… Temperature= 80 degrees, FC= 3.2ppm, CC= 0ppm, PH= 7.0, TA= 120ppm, CH= 210ppm, and CYA= 0ppm (for the CYA test, I filled to the top of the test tube and could still be the black dot, so the CYA was below 30ppm)
Pool Store results… Temperature= 80 degrees, FC and Total Chlorine = 1.8, PH= 7.0, TA= 118ppm, CH= 153ppm, CYA= 8ppm. (I also retested the FC and the CH when I returned home since my results and their results were way off from each other and I was getting the same results as my original home test).
Right now the chlorine feeder is set to 5.5, should I turn it down a little and to what since my readings have the Chlorine at 3.2ppm?
In case it didn’t populate in my signature … plaster pool, 17,000 gallons (pool and spa), chlorine tablets (for now until I can use liquid chlorine), variable pump, have a cartridge filter, and the UV/Ozone Hayward sanitizing system.
A few questions. I’m guessing to trust my results over their test results? What is everyone’s thoughts? At this stage, what’s more important to focus on TA or PH? The Taylor test kit book suggests lowering TA with MA (like the pool guy did) but Pool Math app just recommends lowering the PH with MA , which will lower the TA and then I just aerate to increase the PH.
Why is the CH all over the place?
Thanks in advance for the help!
But maybe with some gentle persuasion you can find a middle ground. You want to comply with their guidance for warranty purposes, but also be knowledgeable enough to have these discussions. Hope that helps.
