New to all this

[yazzu]

Hi Everyone,

I currently have a company taking care of the chemicals for me but their prices just went up again so its time I do it myself.
I've done a ton of reading and ordered the K-2006 test kit and did my first tests today.

Here are my results:

• FC: 1.6
• CC: 0.6
• Alk: 90
• CH: 250
• CYA: 85

What struck me as odd is the high CYA. I would've thought that a company that I pay to take care of the chemicals would have caught that.

Pool Info:

• 30'x14' gunite
• depth: 3'->8'

If I've read correctly the first thing I need to do is get the CYA down to a normal level between 30 - 40, is this correct? and if so, how do I determine how much water to replace?

Thanks in advance for any insight.
Yazzu

 

[Texas Splash]

If I've read correctly the first thing I need to do is get the CYA down to a normal level between 30 - 40, is this correct?

That depends. Do you chlorinate manually with liquid or is this a salt pool? DO you currently have algae or cloudy water? If you're not sure, do an Overnight Chlorine Loss Test to be sure. Once you are 100% confident there is not algae, it's not uncommon for us in TX to have a slightly higher CYA level of 50, 60, maybe even 70 for a non-salt pool. Salt pools will need a CYA of 70-80. The link below should also help. Welcome to TFP!

Pool Care Basics Archives

Your one-stop shop for all things TFP to include: ABCs of Water Chemistry, Recommended Chemicals/Levels, Test Kits, Troubleshooting, and much more!

www.troublefreepool.com

 

[yazzu]

That depends. Do you chlorinate manually with liquid or is this a salt pool? DO you currently have algae or cloudy water? If you're not sure, do an Overnight Chlorine Loss Test to be sure. Once you are 100% confident there is not algae, it's not uncommon for us in TX to have a slightly higher CYA level of 50, 60, maybe even 70 for a non-salt pool. Salt pools will need a CYA of 70-80. The link below should also help. Welcome to TFP!

Pool Care Basics Archives

Your one-stop shop for all things TFP to include: ABCs of Water Chemistry, Recommended Chemicals/Levels, Test Kits, Troubleshooting, and much more!

www.troublefreepool.com

Thanks for the quick reply.
It is a chlorine pool (not salt). There is minor algae in the old grout above the water line, nothing below though.
I haven't fired the pool guy yet. I wanted to make sure I was doing chemical testing correctly first.

Water is crystal clear. Pool guy uses liquid and a couple of pucks in a floaty thing.

 

[Texas Splash]

You have choices. You can exchange about 30% of your water to lower the CYA down to the neighborhood about 50, or just leave it high and manage it accordingly as noted on the FC/CYA Levels.

For now, I would bump the FC to about 8 ppm with liquid. It's much too low. Maintain a strong FC level all day and do an Overnight Chlorine Loss Test just to be safe. If you pass, then you have the option of exchanging some water to lower the CYA to about 50, or just maintaining an elevated FC level per the FC/CYA Levels.

 

[yazzu]

So it sounds like the pool guy is using the bare minimum as far as chemicals goes.

Thank you for the advice, Ill pick up some chlorine and do the suggested test this week.