New pool, couple questions

[427vette]

Hello - just had a new pool completed about 3 months ago. I had a pool several years ago, so not new to maintaining a pool but have some questions on this one.

1) I can’t seem to get the ph down below 8, I have added a ton of muriatic acid over the last couple months, probably 8gal but it just never dips below 8.
2) I have been running the SWG at around 90% but the chlorine doesn’t get above 1-1.2, SWG should be able to keep up with the size of the pool - it’s a Jandy TruClear and the pool is roughly 26K gal.
3) The builder installed the Jandy Watercolor nitchless led lights, but I really wanted the Infinite Watercolors lights, is it the same mount? Can I just swap them out and add the Jandy transformer?

Thanks in advance.

Ben

 

[Texas Splash]

Good morning! So about the pH, let's first confirm how you are testing. Your signature shows TF-100, but your Poolmath test logs indicate otherwise with numbers that don't match what a TF-100 provides. Could you confirm please?

As for the FC, I suspect algae. Your FC numbers have been way too low for too long in this TX heat and SWGs are not designed to compete against such a heavy organic level. Along with the question above about your testing method/kit, I would encourage you to increase the FC to around 5-7 ppm today with liquid chlorine and perform an Overnight Chlorine Loss Test.

We'll have to come back to the light question. I might need to tag some others on that one.

 

[427vette]

I am not seeing any algae in the pool, and test kit should be TF-Pro Salt.

 

[Texas Splash]

I am not seeing any algae in the pool

Many times you won't. It's the transparent organics that overwhelm the water and especially the SWG. That's a big reason why the Overnight Chlorine Loss Test is such a valuable tool.

 

[mknauss]

The Truclear would need to be run at 90-100% for 24 hours per day to keep up with FC loss on that volume pool.

How many hours per day are you running the SWCG?

 

[427vette]

I am running the SWG for 12hrs/day, also I noticed in the SLAM instructions it says to get ph to 7.2-7.5, I haven’t been able to get it below 8.

 

[427vette]

The Truclear would need to be run at 90-100% for 24 hours per day to keep up with FC loss on that volume pool.

How many hours per day are you running the SWCG?

So are you saying the Truclear isn’t enough for the pool or just under the current conditions? I thought it was supposed to handle up to 35k gal?

 

[TinFoilHat]

You want a salt cell that is at least double the gallonage of your pool so that it doesn't have to work so hard to keep the FC level up. The salt cell will be the maintainer of the level while you need to get it there with liquid chlorine first. And new gunite pools will take tons of acid in the first year or two as the shell continues to cure.

 

[mknauss]

So are you saying the Truclear isn’t enough for the pool or just under the current conditions? I thought it was supposed to handle up to 35k gal?

It will not generate enough chlorine for your volume pool in just 12 hours during swim season. Run it 24 hours per day at 80% and see if it can maintain. Once you are clear of algae.

 

[427vette]

Doesn’t look like there is algae - did the overnight test and FC was at 4.5 and did not change.