The standard samples should arrive today or tomorrow at the latest so I'll review all the helpful suggestions and tips and put the CYA question to rest shortly. I've been keeping the FC at 25 for now. The water continues to clear up. Last year what I thought was clear is considered filthy here. I reviewed some other threads here and actually brushed properly with special attention to the skimmer throats and edges in the pool, the baskets themselves, the inside of the skimmers and the weirs. The insides of the skimmers are a lot cleaner now. I also got the spaces around the entry stair trim where it meets the liner. This was not done last year.
Second year in house, first year maintaining pool
- Thread starter threeinchtabs
- Start date
Standard samples arrived. Standard CYA solution goes cloudy at 50 as expected. CYA in my pool water is under 30. Pool math estimate with 20k gallons to raise CYA from 20 to 50 is 3.31 pounds. I'm going to add 2 pounds and wait a few days and retest.
- Jun 24, 2021
- 16,445
- Pool Size
- 29000
- Surface
- Vinyl
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- CircuPool RJ-60 Plus
I added the dry CYA using the sock method, I used two socks in front of each return. I got impatient and squeezed them and dissolved it all from the sock in to the pool in about three hours yesterday evening.
FC last night was 24, FC this morning was 24! CC 0! Water is crystal clear! The neighbors commented on how clear the water is.
I couldn't wait to test and I'm reading 60 CYA. Thanks to the standard samples, I'm confident in the result. Based on how much CYA I added, it seems the pool is less than 20k gallons. Next time I add chlorine I'll test after to get a better idea of the pool water capacity. I'm going to get an SWG so I raised the salt to 2000 for now.
Water temperature 58 F
FC 24
CC 0
PH 7.2 (but we can't trust it because CC > 10?)
CH 250
TA 70
CYA 60
Salt 2000
FC last night was 24, FC this morning was 24! CC 0! Water is crystal clear! The neighbors commented on how clear the water is.
I couldn't wait to test and I'm reading 60 CYA. Thanks to the standard samples, I'm confident in the result. Based on how much CYA I added, it seems the pool is less than 20k gallons. Next time I add chlorine I'll test after to get a better idea of the pool water capacity. I'm going to get an SWG so I raised the salt to 2000 for now.
Water temperature 58 F
FC 24
CC 0
PH 7.2 (but we can't trust it because CC > 10?)
CH 250
TA 70
CYA 60
Salt 2000
- Jun 1, 2018
- 16,073
- Pool Size
- 26000
- Surface
- Vinyl
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Hayward Aqua Rite (T-15)
You deserve a spot here - post it up, we wanna see!
How Clear is TFP Clear?
In the future do an
Overnight Chlorine Loss Test BEFORE raising cya by any discernible amount
Did you test your salt level BEFORE adding salt
or is that just how much you added?I tested salt before adding 
, it was about 400 before adding. I added some more salt today.
New test results:
FC 20.5
CC 0
CYA 60
CH 225
TA 90
Salt 2600
PH 7.8
I appreciate the invitation but I'm not ready yet, it was windy today and my pool is under attack from oak tree catkins, I had to empty the skimmer baskets twice today! I'm going to do the OCLT properly, without making any other changes, possibly tonight.
, it was about 400 before adding. I added some more salt today.New test results:
FC 20.5
CC 0
CYA 60
CH 225
TA 90
Salt 2600
PH 7.8
I appreciate the invitation but I'm not ready yet, it was windy today and my pool is under attack from oak tree catkins, I had to empty the skimmer baskets twice today! I'm going to do the OCLT properly, without making any other changes, possibly tonight.
OCLT passed a few days ago, water is CRYSTAL clear. I've let FC taper down to 11. Salt is up to 3600. SWG installed! My brushing and vacuuming technique is improving.
I'm going to let the FC come down to 8 so I can accurately measure pH. I see the recommended CYA levels are higher (60-90) for SWG so I'll add a little to get up to 80. I'm going to pick up some muriatic acid that I'll need. It's not sold at Home Depot or Lowe's around here but Leslie has it....$5 off coupon with a water test. Looks like only small changes to water chemistry will be needed at this point. Water is only 68 degrees and the gas line at my equipment pad is looking very lonely. I'm actually considering getting a heater now that I don't need to worry about rotting the heat exchanger from the now removed tab feeder.
A big thank you to TFP! Guess it's time to change my username. I'm enjoying the pool and maintenance so much more because I can test the water accurately and I know how to make adjustments. It's going to be a trouble free summer without any snake oil potions or cure-alls in my water!!!!
My brushing and vacuuming technique is improving. I'm going to let the FC come down to 8 so I can accurately measure pH. I see the recommended CYA levels are higher (60-90) for SWG so I'll add a little to get up to 80. I'm going to pick up some muriatic acid that I'll need. It's not sold at Home Depot or Lowe's around here but Leslie has it....$5 off coupon with a water test
. Looks like only small changes to water chemistry will be needed at this point. Water is only 68 degrees and the gas line at my equipment pad is looking very lonely. I'm actually considering getting a heater now that I don't need to worry about rotting the heat exchanger from the now removed tab feeder.A big thank you to TFP! Guess it's time to change my username. I'm enjoying the pool and maintenance so much more because I can test the water accurately and I know how to make adjustments. It's going to be a trouble free summer without any snake oil potions or cure-alls in my water!!!!
- Jun 1, 2018
- 16,073
- Pool Size
- 26000
- Surface
- Vinyl
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Hayward Aqua Rite (T-15)
Just aim for 70 for now with the cya. Don’t wanna overshoot.
It’s possible that during the peak of summer you may need 80ppm but possibly not depending on your climate.
What swg did you get? Add it to your signature along with your test kit
It’s possible that during the peak of summer you may need 80ppm but possibly not depending on your climate.
What swg did you get? Add it to your signature along with your test kit
I've been a little distracted with replacing some bushes around the house and mulching. That's because I have more time to do these projects instead of worrying about the pool! Everything has been going smoothly in the last month, water crystal clear. I installed with help of a friend who is handy with PVC, the ChlorSync CS50, oversized for the pool by their standards, right sized by TFP guidance. I run the pump 24x7 on lower RPM, with the SWG set to 20% output to maintain a target of 8ppm FC. 15% was too low, 25% too high. I want to keep FC below 10 so I can test pH accurately. Water is only 72 degrees, bather load is low this early in the summer but I prefer to run on the high end of the FC range for my CYA level in case of a large rainstorm or unexpected high swimmer load.
I noticed the pool was losing a little more water than it should from evaporation, and spotted a wet spot of dirt at the equipment area even though it had not rained in a week. Found a large tree root pressing on a pipe just below ground, was a simple fix to cut out and replace the 90 degree elbow and two pieces of straight pipe.
Poolmath app is great for keeping track of test results and the "effects of adding" calculator makes it soooooo simple to know how much muriatic acid or salt to add! I've been testing up a storm since installing the SWG and getting it dialed in. I had to order more FAS/DPD reagent and CYA reagent.
Heater is not going to happen this year, landscaping projects are taking priority. More compliments from the neighbors on the water clarity!
I noticed the pool was losing a little more water than it should from evaporation, and spotted a wet spot of dirt at the equipment area even though it had not rained in a week. Found a large tree root pressing on a pipe just below ground, was a simple fix to cut out and replace the 90 degree elbow and two pieces of straight pipe.
Poolmath app is great for keeping track of test results and the "effects of adding" calculator makes it soooooo simple to know how much muriatic acid or salt to add! I've been testing up a storm since installing the SWG and getting it dialed in. I had to order more FAS/DPD reagent and CYA reagent.
Heater is not going to happen this year, landscaping projects are taking priority. More compliments from the neighbors on the water clarity!
- Jun 1, 2018
- 16,073
- Pool Size
- 26000
- Surface
- Vinyl
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Hayward Aqua Rite (T-15)
Great to hear! Now all you gotta do is come up with a new catchy username that properly reflects your new pool lifestyle 
…
…Closed up for the season already! There was no trouble the entire summer. Next year is going to be a breeze. The amount of knowledge and help on these forums is incredible.
Next project is to clean up the equipment pad a little: change the piping so water flow to an old pressure cleaner return passes through the SWG - so I can run the pump at lower speed and still keep the flow switch activated
Next project is to clean up the equipment pad a little: change the piping so water flow to an old pressure cleaner return passes through the SWG - so I can run the pump at lower speed and still keep the flow switch activated
Last edited: