Refurb - Sachse Tx w/ Bi-Carb Startup

Re: Refurb - Sachse, Tx

Start on the chlorine tomorrow and set the feeder on a low setting. To be honest I have no idea how quickly the feeders can add chlorine but you want to do it very slowly. If you suspect the water in the plumbing turned nasty during the rehab you can add .5 ppm of liquid chlorine and let the feeder do the rest for the time being.
 
Re: Refurb - Sachse, Tx

Start on the chlorine tomorrow and set the feeder on a low setting. To be honest I have no idea how quickly the feeders can add chlorine but you want to do it very slowly. If you suspect the water in the plumbing turned nasty during the rehab you can add .5 ppm of liquid chlorine and let the feeder do the rest for the time being.

OK I'll start the feeder tomorrow on low and monitor FC levels. I should be targeting FC at 3-5 with CYA at 0, correct.

Some one please check my math but .5 ppm of liquid chlorine in a 12,000 Gallon pool, per my calculation, is less than 1 oz (.768oz)?

Edit: Using PoolMath (DOH!) yields 6 oz to raise 12,000G .5ppm
 
Re: Refurb - Sachse, Tx

Day 2
1:30 PM Readings

pH 8.0
TA 250 - The bags must be specified by volume and not weight as I keep overshooting
Temp 90 - Yes it is HOT here today
CSI .82

Lower pH to 7.6 - Add 29oz MA
Leave TA @ 250
Target CSI .42
 
Re: Refurb - Sachse, Tx

Everyone dislikes handling MA primarily due to its very dangerous fumes along with issues of spills on you or anything else. Trying to predict the wind direction and velocity may not always be possible to stay safe from the fumes. I am using a breathing mask, goggles, and nitrile gloves. However, I took the precaution a step further and wanted to share. I setup a MA dispensary under my patio cover and added a box fan to go with the overhead ceiling fans on the patio. The two fans should push the fumes down and out. Not shown in the picture is a 64" ceiling fan above where I am standing taking this picture.

IMG_0125.jpg

Note: The white rings on the table and cement are from the baking soda mixing activities with the 5 gallon bucket.
 
Re: Refurb - Sachse, Tx

You are very smart! Always better to be safe than sorry with MA. I wear a bandana. Like you said, just when I think it's calm out, a little swirl of a breeze will zap the fumes right towards me.

I'm following your bi-carb set up like a fly at a picnic. I'm really excited reading about the process. I wish I had known more and given it a try. At the time, I was just happy to keep my new pool and plaster algae free!!

You seem to really know what you're doing. I read your results, but it doesn't mean much to me.

Keep up the great work! I'm cheering you on!
Suz
 

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Re: Refurb - Sachse, Tx

You are very smart! Always better to be safe than sorry with MA. I wear a bandana. Like you said, just when I think it's calm out, a little swirl of a breeze will zap the fumes right towards me.

I'm following your bi-carb set up like a fly at a picnic. I'm really excited reading about the process. I wish I had known more and given it a try. At the time, I was just happy to keep my new pool and plaster algae free!!
Careful, I am known to have very fast hands and can swipe a fly out of mid air.

You seem to really know what you're doing. I read your results, but it doesn't mean much to me.
Ha - "Pay no attention to the man behind the computer screen....."
I rely on Pool Math (w
hat a great tool!) to help me work out the next move along with excellent guidance from Brian. Brian is the smart one, I am just following orders and learning.

Keep up the great work! I'm cheering you on!
Thanks Suz much appreciated. And I promise to throw in a picture or two now and again to feed the TFP group.

Suz

To level set, before finding TFP I would have paid someone to do the startup and then proceed to muck up the pool all over again. EVERYTHING I was doing (and mostly not doing) was wrong prior to finding TFP. Crystal clear water? What is that you speak of?

Some examples:
1) Have you laid your eyes on my double decker in-line chlorine feeder (picture a few pages back) that holds 22 tabs? When in doubt crank it up! The engineer in me was quite proud of that construction along with the added higher pressure line (directly off the pump) to ensure excellent flow through the feeder. This construction was done so I would not run out of tabs on a 2 week vacation!! I was going through 9-10 tabs a week! $$$$
2) Why would someone mess with liquid chlorine with such a limited shelf life and storage issues, etc? Tabs are so easy.
3) Salt pool - ugh. Who wants to swim in the ocean in your backyard. The salt is the sanitizer right?
4) My filter started leaking a month or so ago. Without TFP reading I would have attempted to just patch it and then risk it blowing up. I now have a new filter.
5) Test strips were so easy to use.
6) Algae? Pool store said shock it up good, so I did, over and over.
7) Pool store said my CYA was fine. My recently purchased TF-2006 test kit disagreed vehemently.
8) Pool store said jump, I asked how high and where. Oh and here is my Credit Card.

I simply did not take the time to read and learn initially. After the guy I had taking care of my pool
(at a ridiculously low price I might add) retired, it was downhill and fast.

Have I said this before?
:lovetfp:


 
Re: Refurb - Sachse, Tx

Notice: Going forward all posted pictures will be approved by the boss (my dear wife). I was just informed that the pictures I posted this morning were not acceptable showing the "mess" that was left over from our marathon fill yesterday.

My public apology is here-by provided. A fully approved picture is below. Please enjoy.

IMG_0128.jpg
 
Re: Refurb - Sachse, Tx

LOL on mom approved pics! That is a nice one she picked out!

You have come a long way! Let me ask you this.............did the water look THIS good before?

Your post sure put a smile on my face :sun: THANKS!

Kim:kim:
 
Re: Refurb - Sachse, Tx

That is a beautiful picture of a beautiful pool!

But I'm very sorry I missed the messy picture! I would have felt more at home. Lol!!

Here's to all the Felix's out there, and then to all the Oscar's like me...

Suz :slidehalo:
 
Re: Refurb - Sachse, Tx

Day 2
9:00 PM Readings

pH 8.2
TA 250
Temp 90
CSI 1.02

Lower pH to 7.4 - Add 57oz MA
Leave TA @ 250
Target CSI .22

The lower pH will rise over night as it did last night. TA will also drop due to MA add. Bouncy bouncy.
 
Re: Refurb - Sachse, Tx

You're lowering the pH too much. When it gets to 8 lower it to 7.8. My previous suggestion to lower it to 7.4 was when I thought the pool was still filling so you didn't have to wake up that night to check on it.
 
Re: Refurb - Sachse, Tx

You're lowering the pH too much. When it gets to 8 lower it to 7.8. My previous suggestion to lower it to 7.4 was when I thought the pool was still filling so you didn't have to wake up that night to check on it.

Hi Brian,

Understand, now...... Because the pH is jumping up so much overnight, I wanted to ensure it did not get too high. By bad for not seeing this before making adjustments this morning. So the net-net is adjust the pH to 7.8 and no lower. It appears with 90 degree water a pH of 7.8 and TA of 225 will yield a CSI of .58. As the pH rises (assume >8.0) over 6-8 hours just adjust it down to 7.8. Rinse and repeat. No cause for alarm with CSI almost 1? I was more focused on the CSI ~.5 (.3 - .6).


Day 3
6:15 AM Readings

pH 8.0+ call it 8.2?
TA 225
Temp 89
CSI .98

Lower pH to 7.6 (WRONG - SEE ABOVE) - Add 26oz MA
Raise TA to 250 - Add 3.5lbs Baking soda (by volume)
Target CSI .42

Started in-line chlorinator with tri-chlor tabs on very low setting


Day 3
8:15 AM Readings

pH between 7.6 & 7.8 (call it 7.7)
TA 250
Temp 89
CSI .51
FC .2 (Dropped from .6 to .2 with just a couple of hours of direct sunlight)

Brian,
Should I bump the FC up a little (.5ppm) with liquid chlorine while the tabs are getting started?

 
Re: Refurb - Sachse, Tx

The pH will rise a lot faster at 7.4 then it will at 7.8. Don't get me wrong, the pH will still rise but it's not nearly as far out of equilibrium with the TA.

pH 7.4 - TA 250 = 35X out of equilibrium

pH 7.8 - TA 250 = 12.5X out of equilibrium

pH 8.0 - TA 250 = 7.4X out of equilibrium

The pH/TA relationship isn't linear, it's logarithmic (similar to the plaster curing cycle) and becomes very far from norm the lower the pH levels get.

TA is a measure of dissolved carbon dioxide (carbonic acid) which is trying to outgas to be at equilibrium with the carbon dioxide content of the air. This outgassing is what causes the pH to rise and it's why it's important to limit aeration. In reality you would be much better off with a pH of 8.0-8.2 but you risk (slightly) the possibility of metals in the water (calcium included) coming out of solution and staining the surface. It's just not worth the risk and being attentive to your pool as you are doing makes it easy enough to keep the pH in check.
 

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