TFP Chemical Ranges Question

[parkinsmith]

I have been caring for my new pool for about 8 months now , using the Taylor test kit and following the TFP chemical guidelines . Learning as I go . Here are a few questions I have about chemical ranges .

When a range is provided such as Calcium Hardness 350-550 for a pool with SWG how do I know where in that range is best for me ? Should I be at the low end of that range , middle or high ?

Same goes for TA. How do I know where in the range I should be of 60-80 or is anywhere ok? If I get a reading of 50 does that mean I need to act and bump up to 60 or is that 10 difference ok . I see it bounce between 50 and 60 frequently.

With regard to PH . I struggle with PH as the SWG tends to make it on the higher side. ( drives me crazy ) On the Talyor test kit the highest on the thing you put the test water in is 8.0 and bright pink . How do I know if I test 8.0 bright pink the PH is not actually higher as it stops at 8.0? When I get the bright pink I log it as only 8.0 and use the Pool Math app to tell me what to add. Is there a way to know if it is actually higher than 8.0?

When I test for chlorine I use the FAS DPD test and then test for cc. Is there a need to use the other TC test ?

Looking forward to your feedback !

Jennifer

 

[Bperry]

I have been caring for my new pool for about 8 months now , using the Taylor test kit and following the TFP chemical guidelines . Learning as I go . Here are a few questions I have about chemical ranges .

When a range is provided such as Calcium Hardness 350-550 for a pool with SWG how do I know where in that range is best for me ? Should I be at the low end of that range , middle or high ?

Same goes for TA. How do I know where in the range I should be of 60-80 or is anywhere ok? If I get a reading of 50 does that mean I need to act and bump up to 60 or is that 10 difference ok . I see it bounce between 50 and 60 frequently.

With regard to PH . I struggle with PH as the SWG tends to make it on the higher side. ( drives me crazy ) On the Talyor test kit the highest on the thing you put the test water in is 8.0 and bright pink . How do I know if I test 8.0 bright pink the PH is not actually higher as it stops at 8.0? When I get the bright pink I log it as only 8.0 and use the Pool Math app to tell me what to add. Is there a way to know if it is actually higher than 8.0?

When I test for chlorine I use the FAS DPD test and then test for cc. Is there a need to use the other TC test ?

Looking forward to your feedback !

Jennifer

If you turn on CSI tracking in poolmath app (if you use it) the ranges are all good enough but some can vary such that you can tweak the CSI value which relates to scaling or not scaling. I’m not smart enough to explain all the details so you’d have to look that up, but essentially, all the different test interrelate with one another, which ends up being the CSI value.

The pH will rise just naturally, SWCG or not. Keeping your TA on the low side of the range will slow the pH rise, as will allowing the pH to stay around 7.8 rather than driving it down to 7.4 or lower.

There’s no need for a total chlorine test. It’s just a made up math equation for the sum of FC and CC. TC=FC+CC.

 

[nobody291]

I'll add a few things to the good advice above...

The ranges of levels provided try to address most circumstances, which you should fine tune to your situation.

When a range is provided such as Calcium Hardness 350-550 for a pool with SWG how do I know where in that range is best for me ? Should I be at the low end of that range , middle or high ?

For calcium, I think it's best to be near the minimum (which can be as low as 250 on the recommended levels page). As it gets higher and higher, your risk of scaling in your SWG and along your pool tile increases. If your fill water is adding calcium, you definitely don't want to be adding even more. Also, you don't want to go below the minimum because then you risk leeching calcium out of your plaster, which will weaken it. Like was said above, it's worth activating the CSI tracking in PoolMath.

Same goes for TA. How do I know where in the range I should be of 60-80 or is anywhere ok?

TA is probably the least important parameter, so you normally just track it for awareness and don't need to actively manage it. Anywhere in that range is ok...as you get closer to the minimum, your pH will stop rising at a lower value.

If I get a reading of 50 does that mean I need to act and bump up to 60 or is that 10 difference ok

50 is the acceptable minimum for TA, so no need to do anything to increase it, especially if your pH is still rising to 8. If you haven't tested your fill water for TA (and CH), it's worth doing that to get an idea of how quickly the fill water will push your TA up.

Is there a way to know if it is actually higher than 8.0?

You can get a pH meter that will read above 8, but I've found the cheap ones to be frustrating and unreliable. There is a more expensive one that people have recommended here that might work better. But, I've decided to just add acid when my pH reaches the top of the drop-based test's scale.