New saltwater pool start up

[Tattooed Nurse]

No. No need to add any chemicals to raise the pH. That is counterproductive as it also raises TA.
Aeration is not really necessary. You situation is not urgent with lower CH.

Thank you. I will wait patiently.

 

[Tattooed Nurse]

I am very new to this. Pool running for 2 weeks now. Here is my current test. I actually think my pH is higher but my Taylor only goes to 8.0

 

[mknauss]

Lower the pH. Add enough acid to lower the pH by 0.4 points. Test again after running the pump for about an hour. Add more until you get to 7.4 pH.

 

[Tattooed Nurse]

Lower the pH. Add enough acid to lower the pH by 0.4 points. Test again after running the pump for about an hour. Add more until you get to 7.4 pH.

Will do!!

 

[Tattooed Nurse]

Will do!!

So I added 2 pints of acid over 5 hours and pH is still high. Will add more tomorrow and test.

 

[mknauss]

Use Poolmath. Assume your pH is 8. Target 7.6. Add that amount of acid. Circulate 1 hour and repeat. Once you test pH under 7.6, you are done. Until you see pH back up near 8.

 

[sande005]

FYI - if you go to the section in Pool Math for "The Effects of Adding", you can see how much a given amount of acid will drop pH and at the same time drop TA. They are estimates, and not gospel, so add a little less and then sneak up on it. You'll note that acid drops pH a lot faster than it drops TA. So over time, by lowering pH to 7.4, the high TA raises it back up over a day or so. But the TA itself has been used up a little. So you lower again, and use up a little more. As it gets used up, you'll need less acid to correct things. Around a TA of 60-70 the pH will get pretty stable in the high 7's, and you'll hardly have to add any acid ,and much less frequently (I can go a couple of weeks!)

If you go into the settings of Pool Math, you can link it to your login here. Then we can see your readings by clicking on your username. The paid version allows you to save the logs of each round of testing - and we too can see your saved history. Helpful if there is an issue going forward.

 

[Flying Tivo]

We live in a very small unincorporated town in West Texas. We have a Family Dollar, Dollar General, local hardware store and a small grocery store. Nearest town is 80 miles away so it is hard to run to the store and grab what I need

Triple C hardware has some CYA and SALT. Probably some MA. Ask if they have liquid chlorine.

 

[proavia]

And if Triple C doesn't have liquid chlorine, ask if they can order it and how much per gallon.
Another source is one of the local dairy/cattle farms or maybe a janitorial supply.
You can also ask around at the local restaurants, hotels and medical offices.

 

[Tattooed Nurse]

Use Poolmath. Assume your pH is 8. Target 7.6. Add that amount of acid. Circulate 1 hour and repeat. Once you test pH under 7.6, you are done. Until you see pH back up near 8.

Will shoot for that target level. Thanks!

 

[Tattooed Nurse]

Triple C hardware has some CYA and SALT. Probably some MA. Ask if they have liquid chlorine.

They do carry MA but do not carry CYA. I do not want to use their salt because it is Mortons in the yellow bag. We use it all the time for our water softener and it has a lot of dirt in it.

 

[Tattooed Nurse]

FYI - if you go to the section in Pool Math for "The Effects of Adding", you can see how much a given amount of acid will drop pH and at the same time drop TA. They are estimates, and not gospel, so add a little less and then sneak up on it. You'll note that acid drops pH a lot faster than it drops TA. So over time, by lowering pH to 7.4, the high TA raises it back up over a day or so. But the TA itself has been used up a little. So you lower again, and use up a little more. As it gets used up, you'll need less acid to correct things. Around a TA of 60-70 the pH will get pretty stable in the high 7's, and you'll hardly have to add any acid ,and much less frequently (I can go a couple of weeks!)

If you go into the settings of Pool Math, you can link it to your login here. Then we can see your readings by clicking on your username. The paid version allows you to save the logs of each round of testing - and we too can see your saved history. Helpful if there is an issue going forward.

Thank you very much for this information as I am still trying to figure out how to maneuver around the app. Is there a place in the app where I can upgrade to the paid version?

 

[sande005]

I think...from the three "hamburger" lines at the top left, go to "About TFP". Scroll down to the Account section and there should be a section for Subscription. Mine is already filled in with an Account ID and Expiration date, so can't verify, but it should allow you to "Subscribe" there. Cost is a huge $8 per year, billed through your App Store.

 

[sande005]

I see you got it working! But ummm...you might have overshot your CYA by adding the 8 lbs a few days ago. At 60 you were in good shape, now at 90-100 you are very high.
Not the end of the world. CYA at high levels can be hard to read, and the test is hard enough already.
Next time you test, dilute the pool water ahead of time with the same amount of tap water. (50/50 mix), then use that for the CYA test. Multiply your result by 2. If your prior readings were actually 90-100, you would see the diluted test come in at around 50. If the two ways of doing it are wildly different, then we may have to coach you on how to better do the test. It can be frustrating.
Per the chart below, even if high CYA, make sure you keep the Cl level well up in the target range. You may have to periodically add liquid until you get your SWCG sorted out and producing enough to keep it at the levels in the chart.

 

[Tattooed Nurse]

I see you got it working! But ummm...you might have overshot your CYA by adding the 8 lbs a few days ago. At 60 you were in good shape, now at 90-100 you are very high.
Not the end of the world. CYA at high levels can be hard to read, and the test is hard enough already.
Next time you test, dilute the pool water ahead of time with the same amount of tap water. (50/50 mix), then use that for the CYA test. Multiply your result by 2. If your prior readings were actually 90-100, you would see the diluted test come in at around 50. If the two ways of doing it are wildly different, then we may have to coach you on how to better do the test. It can be frustrating.
Per the chart below, even if high CYA, make sure you keep the Cl level well up in the target range. You may have to periodically add liquid until you get your SWCG sorted out and producing enough to keep it at the levels in the chart.

View attachment 612355

Thank you so very much for your help!! It is very much appreciated! I will do a 50/50 mix and see what I get there. I actually have a leak in my brand new liner so I am losing water Currently waiting on my patch kits to come in so I can find where it is coming from and get it patched.

 

[Tattooed Nurse]

For the life of me I can not figure out why our SWG is producing so much calcium. There are millons of calcium flakes all in the bottom of my pool. Our robot vacuum picked up 1lb of it yesterday. Why would this be happening? My last CH was 280 2 days ago

 

[TinFoilHat]

What is the CH of your fill water? Did you ever add any CH?

 

[Tattooed Nurse]

What is the CH of your fill water? Did you ever add any CH?

Never added any CH. We have pretty hard water here. Our town gets it's water supply from a well so I'm assuming that would be why. CH of full water was 250. However, we are having to top off every day because I have several leaks in my liner. Patches should be here Monday.

 

[TinFoilHat]

Why do you have several leaks in a new pool? Did I miss that?

 

[Tattooed Nurse]

Why do you have several leaks in a new pool? Did I miss that?

I have no idea but I'm focused on getting it fixed ASAP!