Chlorine over 10 affects your pH reading. If you are at SLAM levels, your PH won't read correctly.
Pool Management: What Next?
- Thread starter csriram45
- Start date
red-beard
Gold Supporter
- May 27, 2019
- 1,624
- Pool Size
- 25000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Hayward Aqua Rite Pro (T-15)
On brands of salt, most of us use "Solar Salt" crystals at Home Depot. It runs about $5 per 40 pound bag. Even the salt nuggets work, they just take longer to dissolve.
I pour the salt into the shallow end of the pool and use a brush to move it from one side to the other. Takes a little while, but it dissolves pretty quickly.
On the "salt in the pool", some people with regular chlorine pools add salt. It will not hurt anything. All pools have salt from the chlorine products. I drained and refilled my pool and used chlorine. When I changed to a SWG, the salt level was around 1500 ppm.
The only device I suggest you get is a pH meter. I have a lot of trouble reading the difference between 7.8 and 8.0 with the Taylor test. TFTkits sells a pH meter, but you can also buy from Amazon. As is usual, the TFTkits meter is less expensive...
I pour the salt into the shallow end of the pool and use a brush to move it from one side to the other. Takes a little while, but it dissolves pretty quickly.
On the "salt in the pool", some people with regular chlorine pools add salt. It will not hurt anything. All pools have salt from the chlorine products. I drained and refilled my pool and used chlorine. When I changed to a SWG, the salt level was around 1500 ppm.
The only device I suggest you get is a pH meter. I have a lot of trouble reading the difference between 7.8 and 8.0 with the Taylor test. TFTkits sells a pH meter, but you can also buy from Amazon. As is usual, the TFTkits meter is less expensive...
Hope I can explain this well.
Many have a tendency differentiating colors on the PH comparator block because where the liquid is for the test is sort of dark ,sort of shaded by its thickness. Here's what works for me and it's like magic. Wherever you do the testing have a brightly lit white object close by for example I have brightly lit white trim by the cabana door or even have the laminated instruction card handy so after the the 5 drops go in and it's mixed, hold the white card in one hand in a way to get full bright sun on it. Then holding the comparator in the other hand several inches in front of the lit card look at the PH block as it's back-lit and you'll see those colors clearly popping. Do not cast a shadow with the comparator block by keeping it a few inches in front. Works for me every time.
Many have a tendency differentiating colors on the PH comparator block because where the liquid is for the test is sort of dark ,sort of shaded by its thickness. Here's what works for me and it's like magic. Wherever you do the testing have a brightly lit white object close by for example I have brightly lit white trim by the cabana door or even have the laminated instruction card handy so after the the 5 drops go in and it's mixed, hold the white card in one hand in a way to get full bright sun on it. Then holding the comparator in the other hand several inches in front of the lit card look at the PH block as it's back-lit and you'll see those colors clearly popping. Do not cast a shadow with the comparator block by keeping it a few inches in front. Works for me every time.
Thank you! If not effect, bit wondering if it's an effect of too much aeration since I turned my solar heat on... I will test again tomorrow and if still high try adding acid to bring it back....
Update: Got Jandy O ring kit from Amazon and replaced them and no more leak with the solar enabled... I assume it takes about 3-4 weeks for the water to get up to required temp to stay there?
Also seems like burning through chlorine really fast. Having to add a gallon every other day... I assume that's why my pool had a SWG.
Also seems like burning through chlorine really fast. Having to add a gallon every other day... I assume that's why my pool had a SWG.
- May 3, 2014
- 62,885
- Pool Size
- 6000
- Surface
- Fiberglass
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-40
That is 5 ppm FC every other day. A low consumption for most pools.
red-beard
Gold Supporter
- May 27, 2019
- 1,624
- Pool Size
- 25000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Hayward Aqua Rite Pro (T-15)
Ok. That's good to know. I may have to bump it a bit or make it every day since I saw a bit of algae try coming back.
Got it.
- May 3, 2014
- 62,885
- Pool Size
- 6000
- Surface
- Fiberglass
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-40
Yikes! So back to the process? I guess I need to increase in FC level to more then?
- May 3, 2014
- 62,885
- Pool Size
- 6000
- Surface
- Fiberglass
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-40
You must add chlorine every day, unless your FC is never falling below minimum.
You can try raising your FC to 20% of CYA and see if things clear up. Do an OCLT to check on organics.
You can try raising your FC to 20% of CYA and see if things clear up. Do an OCLT to check on organics.
Yeah I think, with the leaves constantly falling from my neighbors trees, it seems inevitable.
Will just add Chlorine every day. Also, convinced that will have a SWG. I don't think the effort to go weekly to buy chorine will work long term.
Hopefully the insurance will cover the replacement. Until then will continue liquid Chlorine.
Will just add Chlorine every day. Also, convinced that will have a SWG. I don't think the effort to go weekly to buy chorine will work long term.
Hopefully the insurance will cover the replacement. Until then will continue liquid Chlorine.
Also, today went for a swim and felt nice. I could feel the salt taste of water though. Is that normal? I assume so. Just confirming..
- May 3, 2014
- 62,885
- Pool Size
- 6000
- Surface
- Fiberglass
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-40
Not in my pool. Some people claim they can taste salt. I suspect most of it is psychosomatic. They know there is salt in the water, so they taste salt. Typically it takes close to 3500 ppm to taste the salt.
red-beard
Gold Supporter
- May 27, 2019
- 1,624
- Pool Size
- 25000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Hayward Aqua Rite Pro (T-15)
I definitely can taste it at 2900. But only the first mouthful. And that is what I do. Jump in, swirl water in mouth and then nothing.
Cwiggs
Gold Supporter
- Aug 31, 2019
- 298
- Pool Size
- 21000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- CircuPool RJ-60 Plus
Are you swimming while you are SLAMing the pool? I think that is recommended against, but maybe someone more knowledgeable can confirm?
You can swim while slam if
a) you can see the bottom in the deep well
b) the FC isn't higher then the slam level per the cya chart. It'll just loose some time.
a) you can see the bottom in the deep well
b) the FC isn't higher then the slam level per the cya chart. It'll just loose some time.
Thank you all! I could definitely feel the salt and no not because I know I added it. Didn't mind it but could tell.
And no I didn't swim while slamming. I will keep elevated FC for the long weekend and then SLAM after the holiday. I wanted the pool ready for this weekend which it did. I missed checking FC level one day and it appears that all it took...
If a pool takes this much monitoring on a daily basis, I wonder how would it run fine if I had a pool guy come weekly? I don't think he can do any magic..
Wife isn't too happy on the amount of time I am spending on the pool... She is right because I didn't read TFP before so my attempts to shock were failing since my CYA was off the roof due to using those tabs and solid pool shocks.
And no I didn't swim while slamming. I will keep elevated FC for the long weekend and then SLAM after the holiday. I wanted the pool ready for this weekend which it did. I missed checking FC level one day and it appears that all it took...
If a pool takes this much monitoring on a daily basis, I wonder how would it run fine if I had a pool guy come weekly? I don't think he can do any magic..
Wife isn't too happy on the amount of time I am spending on the pool... She is right because I didn't read TFP before so my attempts to shock were failing since my CYA was off the roof due to using those tabs and solid pool shocks.
Oh I was thinking, could my turning on the solar heater have been a factor. The pool is obviously raising in temp and getting warmer. Meaning more fav env for algae as they like heat?
- May 3, 2014
- 62,885
- Pool Size
- 6000
- Surface
- Fiberglass
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-40
Warmer water is a more favored environment if you have algae in the pool.
Time, you are learning. I spend about 15 minutes a week on our pool maintenance. SWCG, understanding your pool, etc makes it much easier. I spend 20++ hours a week on the forum.
A pool maintenance company does not keep your water as well as you and TFPC does. The water will have wide ranging FC and pH levels, many times well above SLAM level as they add loads of 'shock' when they visit, hoping to make it a week. Trichlor tablets are used extensively until they tell you that you have 'chlorine lock' or 'high TDS' and have to drain.
Time, you are learning. I spend about 15 minutes a week on our pool maintenance. SWCG, understanding your pool, etc makes it much easier. I spend 20++ hours a week on the forum.
A pool maintenance company does not keep your water as well as you and TFPC does. The water will have wide ranging FC and pH levels, many times well above SLAM level as they add loads of 'shock' when they visit, hoping to make it a week. Trichlor tablets are used extensively until they tell you that you have 'chlorine lock' or 'high TDS' and have to drain.