Shock treatment

[klanel]

Like another poster, we are having to use liquid chlorine until the salt system is up and running. Actually been using liquid chlorine for a couple of months or more and having issues with the builder so it may be a while to resolve.

My main question is how often should I be raising the FC level? I always have it above 1p and typically between 2-3ppm.

Test results are:
FC 1.8
TA 60
PH 7.6
CH 240
CYA 40

I’m also thinking I need to add calcium carbonate. Can I buy a bag and store in a bucket with lid?

On the chlorine, what ppm do I shoot for once/month for shock?

Thanks

 

[ajw22]

TFP Methods do not "shock" the pool. We maintain the FC level following the FC/CYA Levels

With CYA 40 you should MAINTAIN your FC at 5-7. That's all you do.

Do a Overnight Chlorine Loss Test and see if you need a one time SLAM Process since you have been running low FC.

Then follow the ....

The Free Chlorine and Cyanuric Acid Relationship

Managing your cyanuric acid and Free Chlorine levels is key to stabilizing your pool. Learn how these two items affect each other.

www.troublefreepool.com

 

[ajw22]

I’m also thinking I need to add calcium carbonate. Can I buy a bag and store in a bucket with lid?

Recommended Pool Chemicals

Which should I buy? TFP's recommended pool chemicals are cheap, easy, and won't unbalance your pool water.

www.troublefreepool.com

CH – Calcium Hardness ​

Calcium hardness can be raised with calcium chloride or calcium chloride dihydrate. They are available in some areas as Peladow, Dowflake, Tetra Flake, or Tetra 94, often sold as a deicer by hardware stores, and some big box stores, in colder climates. Pool stores will carry either calcium chloride or calcium chloride dihydrate under a variety of names, including Hardness Plus, Balance Pak 300, Calcium Hardness Increaser, etc. Calcium products should be spread across the surface of the deep end of the pool.

What Are My Ideal Pool Levels?

Use our tool to find ideal chemical levels for any swimming pool. Check TFP recommended levels on pH, free chlorine, cyanuric acid, and more.

www.troublefreepool.com

 

[Texas Splash]

One of my favorite saying from another member, "A pool is like a pet.. It needs to be fed everyday." For those without a salt water generator, it means simply adding x-amount of liquid chlorine each day. Stick to the links Allen provided and you should do quite well.

 

[klanel]

I’m missing something and need clarification. I have been using the pool app from here and it says the Fc should be 1-3 ppm. If I plug in 5ppm it say that is outside the recommended limits.

I thought once per month I was supposed to elevate the fc.

 

[ajw22]

In PoolMath setup you should have Type of Sanitizer Used set to Bleach. I think you have it set to SWG. You are getting SWG recommendations.

 

[duraleigh]

I have been using the pool app from here and it says the Fc should be 1-3 ppm

Your correct FC level is dependent upon your CYA level. I have to ask how you have not discovered that with 500 posts? It's the VERY basic thing we teach about FC. I don't mean to be so abrupt but it seems we have done a poor job teaching if you haven't picked that up.

Elevate the FC once each month? Are you blending advice from another source? That won't work

 

[Bperry]

I’m missing something and need clarification. I have been using the pool app from here and it says the Fc should be 1-3 ppm. If I plug in 5ppm it say that is outside the recommended limits.

I thought once per month I was supposed to elevate the fc.

If you enter your CYA value of 40, it says on mine that the FC range is 2-7ppm but liquid chlorine recommendations would be higher than that. Are you sure your using the TFP pool math app?

 

[Newdude]

I have to ask how you have not discovered that with 500 posts?

A long build and a short time doing. There's always a few bumps putting things into practice.

But it's OK @klanel. The goofs sink in hard and fast now and there is no learning like doing.

I agree with the above you likely had the SWG settings in PM because you will have it eventually. And you are using what you remember of SWG adjustments not being needed frequently, but for liquid chlorine which needs daily adjustments.

 

[klanel]

I have to ask how you have not discovered that with 500 posts?

I guess I must be a little slow. But with all the builder issues I've had, my attention has been focused on other issues as with the vast majority of my posts.

You are getting SWG recommendations.

I changed it to bleach and it does the same thing. Shows 1 to 3 being recommended target and anything higher says 'outside recommended target range;

Are you sure your using the TFP pool math app?

Yes, would take a picture of it but can't

I go to the home page on the app and enter into whichever section I am checking for. I am using the free edition if that makes any difference.

 

[klanel]

liquid chlorine which needs daily adjustments.

I add chlorine every day manually. Have lots of salt here, a controller that is erratic, not wired to code, leaking salt cell, etc, etc, etc, I am in the process of bringing this build to some sort of conclusion in the near future but for now, it's add chlorine and make do until things can be finalized.

 

[jeffchap]

"Recommended range" is under normal circumstances. For FC it is 7.5 - 10% of whatever your CYA is currently. But it is safe to swim in up to 40% of CYA, or what we call SLAM level.

With your CYA at only 40, I would err on the high side and maintain my FC at no less than 4 PPM if I were you. Most pools lose up to 3 ppm of FC per day to burn off, bather load, etc. It wouldn't take much of an "accident" to find yourself at 0 FC and that's an open invitation to algae.

As stated, you need to add chlorine however frequently is required to stay above your minimum target at all times. For most pools, that is daily.

 

[Newdude]

I changed it to bleach and it does the same thing. Shows 1 to 3 being recommended target and anything higher says 'outside recommended target range;

Mine only uses 1-3 as the rec when its 0 CYA above it.

My fat thumbs sometimes hit the decimal instead of the enter. Any chance the CYA is 4.0 instead of 40 ?

Until we figure this out, ignore PMs suggestions and use the chart. Target for 40 CYA is 5-7. If you land above the minimum of 3 'tomorrow' you are all good. Start every 'today' at 7 or slightly above.

 

[Leebo]

I changed it to bleach and it does the same thing. Shows 1 to 3 being recommended target and anything higher says 'outside recommended target range;

By any chance are you clicking the “Check Mark” and entering your current test results?
If not, let’s go ahead and start from scratch somewhat and go step by step. From the “OverView” page can you press the + icon from the bottom. From there select “Log Test Results” and enter your current tests. Lastly select the check mark in the upper right hand corner which will update the current results throughout the App.

Hopefully this helps you get started! If not feel free to write back and I’ll further assist.
Lee

 

[YippeeSkippy]

Perhaps trying it out on the older web version of PoolMath will help you see how things work together, and how changes in one element (your CYA) will change the recommendations in another element (the necessary FC level).

Recommended Levels
FC/CYA Levels

Just remember to input your pool volume at the top, then go to the bottom and pick that you want to follow the TFP recommenation levels and your pool and sanitizer options.

PoolMath

Discover the calculator behind the perfect pool, PoolMath. Dealing with pools has allowed TFP to become the original authors of the best calculator on the net.

www.troublefreepool.com

Then you can enter your levels and see how they all look, but also enter what you desire then to be and it will tell you all in one place what to add/subtract. I personally prefer it for quick checks since I'm always on my laptop and never my phone.

Maddie

 

[klanel]

Mine only uses 1-3 as the rec when its 0 CYA above it.

OK, I found what you are talking about above. When I would select FC, it would automatically scroll down to current FC and desired FC. I never saw the CYA entry because you have to scroll back up to see it (at least on mine)

So, I entered 40 as CYA and now it shows a recommended range of 4-7ppm. For a couple of months now I was setting at about 3ppm and sometimes it would get near 1ppm by the next day.

As for my question about what I was calling shocking, it was based on my recollection of the builder saying about once per month I would need to pour a gal or two of liquid chlorine into the pool. Not something I saw here. And one reason I began to wonder if I needed to shock(may not be the correct term) the pool, is because it seems like the FC is dropping faster than it was before but then again, more sun and heat.

I checked the combined chlorine this evening and if I did it correctly, it was showing zero. Is that possible? Because the FC is at 3.6ppm. Wouldn't combined be at least as high as the FC?

Either way, I will try to make sure the FC does not drop below 3ppm. It may be some time before the system will be put on salt.

Most pools lose up to 3 ppm of FC per day to burn off, bather load, etc

We have not had a lot of people here as of yet but the FC is dropping more rapidly than it was earlier in the season. I would say about 2 ppm drop/day is what we are seeing.

By any chance are you clicking the “Check Mark” and entering your current test results?

I wasn't but have now. Thanks.

Just remember to input your pool volume at the top, then go to the bottom and pick that you want to follow the TFP recommenation levels and your pool and sanitizer options.

I had the info populated, set for recommendations but I missed the CYA field on the FC section. It looks like it's inline now with what everyone is saying.

Thanks for the input!

 

[Newdude]

So, I entered 40 as CYA and now it shows a recommended range of 4-7ppm

Awsome !!! Now remember, PM is assuming you are testing to add. You need to figure out how much to add back to 7, to ensure you are still 4-7 tomorrow. (It's actually 3-7, but I know what your meant) PM is only going to tell you if you are out of the suggested range. If you are going to miss, miss high and not low.

As for my question about what I was calling shocking, it was based on my recollection of the builder saying about once per month I would need to pour a gal or two of liquid chlorine into the pool.

They suck at chemistry. It's all dump and pray and shock when that doesn't work. Disregard entirely.

it seems like the FC is dropping faster than it was before but then again, more sun and heat.

Many in the warm climates go to 50 for LC when it gets hot. See how it does now that you have more leeway at 7 FC.

Also you can double check the 40 CYA. Maybe it dropped with all the spring showers.

I checked the combined chlorine this evening and if I did it correctly, it was showing zero. Is that possible? Because the FC is at 3.6ppm. Wouldn't combined be at least as high as the FC?

You are thinking TC......Total Chlorine, which is the combined of FC and CC. We only care about FC and CC. And CC can be 0.

We have not had a lot of people here as of yet but the FC is dropping more rapidly than it was earlier in the season. I would say about 2 ppm drop/day is what we are seeing.

The season/ UV is ramping up and a daily loss of 2 is well within spec.

Keep us posted