New pool owner trying to understand test strip reading

[ajw22]

and all had this expiration. 062. Does that mean like March 1 ish…?

The chlorine was bottled around March 3, 2025. Fresh stuff.

 

[Pas_pool]

The chlorine was bottled around March 3, 2025. Fresh stuff.

Okay good. I do know how to read them haha

 

[Pas_pool]

Who can provide me with the correct gallons for my pool? Here is the diagram. PB says it’s 22,800. But pool math is not adding up when I added chemicals. Thanks.

 

[PoolStored]

As I said, use 25K.

I get 23K not including the shelf. Start with the 25K I suggested and use chemicals to adjust volume from there.

	Length		Width
	Feet	Inches	Feet	Inches	Length	Width	Depth	Cubic Inches	Gallons
Top Volume	37​	0​	18​	0​	444​	216​	39​	3,740,256.00	16,191.58
4 corners		48​		48​			36​	-165888​	(718.13)
Slope Sides		168​		48​			56​	327936​	1,419.64
Ramp	14​	0​	10​		168​	120​	56​	564480​	2,443.64
Deep Sides	4​		4​		48​	48​	56​	129024​	558.55
Center Mass	10​		6​		120​	72​	56​	483840​	2,094.55
End Ramp	10​		4​		120​	48​	56​	239211.5​	1,035.55
Corners									-80​
									22,945.37

 

[Pas_pool]

As I said, use 25K.

I get 23K not including the shelf. Start with the 25K I suggested and use chemicals to adjust volume from there.

	Length		Width
	Feet	Inches	Feet	Inches	Length	Width	Depth	Cubic Inches	Gallons
Top Volume	37​	0​	18​	0​	444​	216​	39​	3,740,256.00	16,191.58
4 corners		48​		48​			36​	-165888​	(718.13)
Slope Sides		168​		48​			56​	327936​	1,419.64
Ramp	14​	0​	10​		168​	120​	56​	564480​	2,443.64
Deep Sides	4​		4​		48​	48​	56​	129024​	558.55
Center Mass	10​		6​		120​	72​	56​	483840​	2,094.55
End Ramp	10​		4​		120​	48​	56​	239211.5​	1,035.55
Corners									-80​
									22,945.37

Oh okay. So the PB wasn’t too far off. He probably didn’t take into account the shelf when providing me with the gallons for the pool. I thought maybe with the actually diagram we could figure out the exact amount. Thanks again

 

[Newdude]

I get 23K not including the shelf

The plans are wall height so the PB is probably right and when we subtract 6 inches for water height (about 2500 gallons) its a hair over 20K.

Pas, how is it behaving when you add stuff ? Have you seen said discrepancy with everything or only bleach ? I trust salt / cya / ch / baking soda (etc) alot more because they don't go in weaker than claimed like bleach might.

 

[PoolStored]

Good catch. Updated. Still without the shelf..

	Length		Width
	Feet	Inches	Feet	Inches	Length	Width	Depth	Cubic Inches	Gallons
Top Volume	37​	0​	18​	0​	444​	216​	34​	3,260,736.00	14,115.74
4 corners		48​		48​			34​	-156672​	(678.23)
Slope Sides		168​		48​			56​	327936​	1,419.64
Ramp	14​	0​	10​		168​	120​	56​	564480​	2,443.64
Deep Sides	4​		4​		48​	48​	56​	129024​	558.55
Center Mass	10​		6​		120​	72​	56​	483840​	2,094.55
End Ramp	10​		4​		120​	48​	56​	239211.5​	1,035.55
Corners									-80​
									20,909.42

 

[Pas_pool]

The plans are wall height so the PB is probably right and when we subtract 6 inches for water height (about 2500 gallons) its a hair over 20K.

Pas, how is it behaving when you add stuff ? Have you seen said discrepancy with everything or only bleach ? I trust salt / cya / ch / baking soda (etc) alot more because they don't go in weaker than claimed like bleach might.

I’m spot on 3600 on salt. And I was going off the 22800 number.

As for the one time that tried muriatic acid the amount was supposed to lower pH .4 but only lowered it .2. But it’s back up to 8 last time I checked (but that test is an eye test so not really sure of exact number.

So you are saying put pool math back to 22800?

 

[PoolStored]

Sure, then adjust from there in 250 or 500 gallons after test. Once you are close, move on and forget about it...it doesn't have to be that precise.

 

[Newdude]

+1. Even when you have the pool volume theoritically nailed, it'll bounce. When 2 inches evaporates its down 950 gallons, when you add 2 inches more than dead on to buy more time next time, you gained 1900 gallons from low.

 

[Pas_pool]

Added LC, muriatic acid and stabilizer last night.

I will test a little later today to see what effects the acid and LC had. I know stabilizer will not really show for a couple days.

Appreciate all the help from you guys and this forum making me feel more comfortable taking care of this pool on my own.