Test Results

[jscottou22]

First off, this forum has been amazing. My new pool was filled two weeks ago, and my anxiety level has been greatly reduced by feeling prepared (somewhat) after spending time on this site every day. I had my pool orientation Tuesday, and the specialist made the comment that he has never had someone so prepared in his 18 years of doing the "pool school"...so thank you.

I did my first test with my new Taylor test kit last night after using the cheap kit that came with the pool prior. I am still burning through the initial chlorine tabs in my chlorinator that were put in at start up, but here are my numbers:

FC-5
CC-0
pH-7.8
TA-80
CH-130
CYA-40

It has been raining like crazy here in North Texas this week, but is there anything I should be keeping an eye on for a new pool this first month or so? I started slowing adding calcium chloride last night to get my CH up to recommended levels. Also, is it common to have trouble distinguishing between the colors on the test kit your first few times? Man, there is very little difference between pH 7.2 & pH 8, and FC 3 & FC 6. I had to keep asking my wife to confirm the color match I was coming up with. Thanks again.

 

[mknauss]

Welcome to the forum!
Your test results look good for a new start up. What does the PB say about the CH? What is the CH of your fill water?
The color difference between pH 7.2 and 8 is extreme to me - everyone's eyes are different. Be sure you are using a white background when looking at the pH comparator block.
Use the FAS-DPD (powder and liquid reagent) for FC testing. The OTO thing is just to see if there is chlorine in the pool, not the level.

I suggest you read ABC's of Pool Water Chemistry and consider reviewing the entire Pool School eBook.

 

[mknauss]

Also, those should be the last trichlor tablets you use for awhile. Your CYA is high enough for now. Switch to liquid chlorine.

 

[YippeeSkippy]

Welcome to TFP, and congrats on the new pool! Fun times ahead!

You have a new plaster pool- did the builder give you directions for the break in period (usually 30 days) to which they have specific goals they want you to follow to allow the finish to cure?

Also did they tell you to register your pool finish? Do this --> Product Registration - Pebble Tec

Have you read this? --> Start-up New Plaster - Trouble Free Pool

As for the colors.....well... that takes a bit of practice Put a piece of white paper behind the comparitor block and it helps.

Maddie

 

[jscottou22]

Thanks!

He showed me his test results (which pretty well matched mine), and said everything looked good. He did not act concerned about the CH levels. I need to test the fill water, but I have had an above ground spa for a couple of years, and I typically have to add calcium chloride to that when I change out the water, so assuming CH is low in general.

 

[jscottou22]

I have been brushing the plaster twice a day for a week, and have another week to go with that routine. They gave me the recommended levels for the first 30 days, which I am trying to match...they are not too different from their general recommendations (which are similar to TFP, but with a lower FC level, and a lower CH range). They also told me to leave the pool cleaner out for the first 30 days...that's pretty much the only directions they gave me (other than keeping the water level dialed in).

I did register the plaster with Pebble Tec.

 

[splashpad]

Also, is it common to have trouble distinguishing between the colors on the test kit your first few times? Man, there is very little difference between pH 7.2 & pH 8, and FC 3 & FC 6. I had to keep asking my wife to confirm the color match I was coming up with. Thanks again.

This is what I like to do:
If you have a "sacrifice" device (phone/tablet/etc) (or dry the tester well), I use this page Pure white test screen ... to create a backlit white background for comparing the OTO/PH colors (*ignore the Br column #'s, that's for bromine spas)


Then I take a picture and compare the squares in MSPaint (or any PC picture program that lets you crop will work)

 

[YippeeSkippy]

FC 5, pH 7.4 ??

That's *my* read

Maddie

 

[setsailsoon]

JS,

Welcome to TFP and congrats on the new pool! Ditto what Marty said on your first test results! This looks really good. You already have some great experts engaged to guide you through this start-up. I can add personal experience on reading the shades of red. I (and a lot of men) have difficulty with this. This is one reason to use the FAS-DPD test, also the oto yellow color test doesn't give you a full FC, CC result that's needed. FAS-DPD requires no judgement about shades. Just red or clear. For pH at the upper end I had great difficulty. White background, and wife double-checking were invaluable for me. Over time it got easier. I even resorted to digital pH meters but calibration and maintaining them were a real pain. One additional lookout is that the phenol-red test does not change much at all over 8.2. So people like me have to be very careful with that. A good indicator you may be going higher than you think is you add the acid and it looks like your pH didn't change. This almost always means you're over 8.2 to start with. You shouldn't ever be this high anyway but sometimes stuff happens. My only other advice is to ask any question you may have. TFP is here to help people like you and we don't sell anything so you're always assured there's no conflict of interest.

Again, welcome and good luck with your new pool!

Chris

 

[ajw22]

The startup guides say to keep FC below 3 so that you don’t bleach out the color while the plaster is curing. Go easy on the FC for a few weeks.

 

[YippeeSkippy]

Yup, leave pool cleaner out or it can mar the surface which is still "soft" in the sense that those wheels can mar it.

Follow their guidelines for those 30 days... they hold your warranty so gotta play by their rules. But after 30 days.... well, TFP to the front of the line, please!

You're doing fine it sounds.

Maddie