Salt added 4 days ago, total chlorine at 5 ever since

[JenniferMarie90]

Hey folks. I’m at the end of start up and my pool company added the salt fell and the salt. Ever since then, my total chlorine is way too high at 5 ppm as per the results of my Taylor 3 way test. I have the Hayward salt system, I’ve lowered the output % and the amount of time the pump runs at night (plus it’s sunny as heck here) and even after two days of that my chlorine is still 5. I know this isn’t good for my pebblesheen so I’m starting to get nervous. Any ideas or input ?? Prior to this when we were manually chlorinating, I had to add 10% chlorine like every other day to keep the levels at 1-2ppm...

 

[Jimrahbe]

Jenn,

How did you determine that an FC of 5 is high??? Unless you know what your CYA is, it is impossible to know what high is.

I run my FC at about 7 ppm most of the time because my CYA is about 70 ppm..

Are you using the saltwater tab for this CYA to FC chart??? FC/CYA Levels

I think that you are worried over nothing.

With an FC of 1 or 2, you should just run out into your front yard and hang a sign saying "Algae part this weekend"...

Thanks,

Jim R.

 

[JenniferMarie90]

Last time I tested the CYA was on 5/16 and it was 30 (I have the TF-100 kit). I had not looked at that chart, I will though. I was going by what the pebbletec company and the Hayward salt cell recommend. Also I mistakenly said free chlorine but my Taylor test says TOTAL chlorine so I’m not sure how to test for free chlorine or if that 1-3 recommended amount from pebbletec is in free or total...

 

[Newdude]

Ok miss. Take a breath and start over. You’re not flipping out or needing calming or anything, but we need to reset and start from scratch.

The PB and the manufacturers all follow the outdated industry standards that gets us 260k+ members (and accelerating as we speak). Forget them and use your TF-100 and Recommended Levels

Now, The test kit as a whole looks like rocket science. But just grab the laminated card and take one test. Scan the steps and grab the couple bottles you need for that test. Then just go step by step and things like TC/FC/CC will make total sense based on the 5 easy steps for that test. Run a full set of tests and report back. We will walk you through the rest.

 

[Jimrahbe]

Jenn,

In Lost Wages, with a CYA of 30, your FC will only last about a microsecond...

One great thing about a Saltwater pool... It will allow you to run with a CYA of 70 or so and a lower FC level.. Please check out my link above.

None of what TFP recommends will harm you pool in any way..

Thanks,

Jim R.

 

[JenniferMarie90]

Ok miss. Take a breath and start over. You’re not flipping out or needing calming or anything, but we need to reset and start from scratch.

The PB and the manufacturers all follow the outdated industry standards that gets us 260k+ members (and accelerating as we speak). Forget them and use your TF-100 and Recommended Levels

Now, The test kit as a whole looks like rocket science. But just grab the laminated card and take one test. Scan the steps and grab the couple bottles you need for that test. Then just go step by step and things like TC/FC/CC will make total sense based on the 5 easy steps for that test. Run a full set of tests and report back. We will walk you through the rest.

Ok I’ll run those tests tonight or tomorrow. The test kit has actually been super easy to use, the instructions are really dummy proof (ask me how I know lol)

 

[JenniferMarie90]

Jenn,

In Lost Wages, with a CYA of 30, your FC will only last about a microsecond...

One great thing about a Saltwater pool... It will allow you to run with a CYA of 70 or so and a lower FC level.. Please check out my link above.

None of what TFP recommends will harm you pool in any way..

Thanks,

Jim R.

I think I’m a bit confused. So see attached for pics of my kit that came with the tf-100. It says total chlorine but I just realized I’ve been logging my results of my total chlorine in pool math which actually says “free chlorine” has that been incorrect?

 

[Newdude]

Only use that one for the PH. The yellow / chlorine side is not reliable per a Taylor themselves. It will tell you there is some FC, kinda like a guess strip. But how much it really is ??? Lol. Nobody knows. Use the Dpd powder FC test everytime.

 

[Jimrahbe]

Jenn,

That test kit is really for just testing pH.. Yes, you can test total FC but why???

You should be using the powder test, which gives you FC or Free Chlorine.. it is the most important test in the whole kit.

Have you used the FC powder test yet??

Maybe not as "dummy proof" as we would like..

Thanks,

Jim R.

 

[JenniferMarie90]

Jenn,

That test kit is really for just testing pH.. Yes, you can test total FC but why???

You should be using the powder test, which gives you FC or Free Chlorine.. it is the most important test in the whole kit.

Have you used the FC powder test yet??

Maybe not as "dummy proof" as we would like..

Thanks,

Jim R.

I am ashamed to say no I haven’t I have only used the Taylor! I will use the powder test tonight and reply with the results. I am so glad I posted here !

 

[JenniferMarie90]

Jenn,

That test kit is really for just testing pH.. Yes, you can test total FC but why???

You should be using the powder test, which gives you FC or Free Chlorine.. it is the most important test in the whole kit.

Have you used the FC powder test yet??

Maybe not as "dummy proof" as we would like..

Thanks,

Jim R.

Ok guys! I just did the test, the free chlorine is 3.5 and the CC was very light at 0.5 so the total chlorine is 4.00. Is that still a tad high ?

 

[reggiehammond]

Ok guys! I just did the test, the free chlorine is 3.5 and the CC was very light at 0.5 so the total chlorine is 4.00. Is that still a tad high ?

A tad low, likely!

 

[Jimrahbe]

Jenn,

Do you look at the FC to CYA chart?? With a CYA of only 30 I suggest that for now you use the "chlorine" Non-saltwater chart.. FC/CYA Levels

You are above the minimum but not at or above your target.. So... I vote it is too low. Not a big deal at this point..

Look at the chart and tell we what your Target range is...

Thanks,

Jim R.

 

[DeanP66]

In a liquid chlorine pool (not SWG) with a CYA of 30, you want your FC to be in the 4-6ppm range and never let it get below 2.

At CYA 40, you want to be in the 5-7ppm range and never below 3.

But you have a SWG, so there is a different recommendation for that. It is suggested that you run your CYA higher (in the 70-80ppm range) which will protect your FC longer.

Don't lose sleep thinking your FC is too high. It it safe to swim in your pool with your FC up to SLAM level, based on how much CYA you have in the pool. So a pool with CYA 30 is safe up to FC 12, one with CYA 40 is safe up to 16 and so on according to the FC/CYA chart. Study that thing and you'll feel much more comfortable overall. It is the cornerstone of the methods taught here at TFP.

The industry is finally starting to realize how important CYA is in the overall scheme of things, but they are still behind the curve.

 

[JenniferMarie90]

Jenn,

Do you look at the FC to CYA chart?? With a CYA of only 30 I suggest that for now you use the "chlorine" Non-saltwater chart.. FC/CYA Levels

You are above the minimum but not at or above your target.. So... I vote it is too low. Not a big deal at this point..

Look at the chart and tell we what your Target range is...

Thanks,

Jim R.

Jim,

ok looking at that chart the target is 4-6ppm so its 0.5ppm low. I do have CYA I’m just scared to add more...I did read on the pool school to put the CYA in a “sock” not like a sock from my sock drawer right ??

 

[Deb04]

Yes, a sock from your sock drawer. I like to use a cheap knee high. I buy a pair from the drug store for 50 cents.

 

[Jimrahbe]

Jenn,

I use ladies knee-highs.. Not personally, but for adding CYA..

For me they work much better than a sock..

I fill the knee-high with CYA and then hang it from a stick in front of the running return.

You don't need to bring it up to 70 all at one time.. Bring it up to 50 and then 60, then 70 or so..

It should mean that you can run your SWCG at a lot lower output %..

I am assuming that you have an Outside pool..

Thanks,

Jim R.

 

[Newdude]

 

[JenniferMarie90]

View attachment 338616

HAHA sorry I didnt take a picture of the pink results! I will, however, test again tonight WITH THE POWER and take pics. Do you guys perform that chlorine test every day?

 

[JenniferMarie90]

Jenn,

I use ladies knee-highs.. Not personally, but for adding CYA..

For me they work much better than a sock..

I fill the knee-high with CYA and then hang it from a stick in front of the running return.

You don't need to bring it up to 70 all at one time.. Bring it up to 50 and then 60, then 70 or so..

It should mean that you can run your SWCG at a lot lower output %..

I am assuming that you have an Outside pool..

Thanks,

Jim R.

Yes its outside, full, hot Las vegas sun too. It would be great if I didnt have to run my generator. I think whats throwing me off is inside the salt cell panel it says to keep the chlorine (no mention of "free" or "total") between 2-3 ppm. And then the warranty sheet from pebbletec says the same...so I thought 4.5 was too high and would void my warranty..