Thought I could trust the pool store!

[Bigvin74]

Thought I could trust the local pool store for expert advice on how to properly maintain our sp, sadly I believe I have been duped. My family and I purchased our home in July of 2015 and were really excited to have a newer home with a pool. I have been making what seems as a weekend routine of going to the pool store and always coming out with about 80$ worth of merchandise. What has me here is a problem with my pool and after reading some posts, I know this site can help. I have a sandy/gritty bottom to our pool that turns into a white cloud when brushed. You these results I am about to post are from the pool store, I am waiting on my Taylor k2006c kit to arrive tomorrow.

FC= 2.3
TC= 2.67
CC= .37
PH= 7.6
CH= 200
ALK=88
CYA=35

After reading a post ion this site and reading the oool school I believe it's my Hardness that is the issue and what I am seeing and feelinng on my pool bottom is the results of leeching. My other problem is what other affordable calcium products are out there and where to get them, because I have purchased 30 lbs from that store for 16$ a 10 lb.

 

[tim5055]

Welcome to TFP!!

I get my CH products in the outside garden area of Lowes, but I have a smaller pool and don't usually add that much.

Got any ice melt in the garage? When I lived in Annapolis I always had it around. Check out this from Pool School:

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

If you go the ice melt route, make sure it is calcium chloride before you put it in the pool.....

 

[Bigvin74]

Thx for the idea tim5055...by the calculator it looks like I need to add 41lbs to get it up to 350ppm CH... I'm still gonna wait to test the water with the Taylor kit before I add that much Calcium. Still can't believe the store has no idea what my problem was even after I showed them a video of me brushing the pool and seeing what I was seeing. The fact that they thought having a below 200 ppm CH result for months now...knowing it's a white plaster swp! Unbelievable!!!

 

[mknauss]

Once you get your test results be sure to put them in Poolmath or the Poolmath app to calculate CSI. That is the important number for how aggressive the water is to gunite or for scaling if on the other end of the spectrum. You want your CSI above -0.6 and below 0.6.

Your current test results show -0.17 so not very aggressive. Of course we are unsure how accurate those numbers are.

take care.

 

[Regnar]

I just picked up 25lbs of CH Increaser off of Amazon for $29 shipped to the door. https://www.amazon.com/25-Calcium-Hardness-Increaser-Plus/dp/B012B9HU8W/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1500946918&sr=8-3&keywords=calcium+increaser+pool

 

[Topher55]

I wouldn't add anything until your test kit comes in, can't always trust the pool store numbers.

 

[Bigvin74]

Good call TFP gang...just got my test results from the Taylor k2006c kit....

FC= 1.2
CC= .4
PH= 7.2
TA= 80
CH= 420
CYA= 30
Salt=2900
CSI= -0.37
I tested the CH twice....I haven't added anything since my last reading at store! Still seeing a white cloud when I sweep, so I will check my DE filter to see if it is the cause. I don't think it is because it felt gritty and De does not. Also I had new grids installed at the beginning of the season...I'm assuming the tech from the store installed them correctly. Yes I know what happens when you assume! If it's not the filter...any ideas with these new readings?

 

[Perpetual summer]

With a cya of 30, you dipped below the minimum for FC. Better get more in there in a hurry

 

[rkeller62]

Good call TFP gang...just got my test results from the Taylor k2006c kit....

FC= 1.2
CC= .4
PH= 7.2
TA= 80
CH= 420
CYA= 30
Salt=2900
CSI= -0.37
I tested the CH twice....I haven't added anything since my last reading at store! Still seeing a white cloud when I sweep, so I will check my DE filter to see if it is the cause. I don't think it is because it felt gritty and De does not. Also I had new grids installed at the beginning of the season...I'm assuming the tech from the store installed them correctly. Yes I know what happens when you assume! If it's not the filter...any ideas with these new readings?

With an FC of 1.2 my vote is for dead algae. I'd say perform an OCLT to confirm. Regardless you have to get that FC up for your CYA, recommended range is 4-6 for CYA of 30 with minimum of 2

 

[Topher55]

I agree, dead algae. Use bleach to bump the FC up to 10 and do an oclt. Remember to turn the swg off when doing the oclt.

Also the recommended cya level for an swg is around 60, you won't lose as much chlorine on a daily basis with a higher cya.

 

[Bigvin74]

It was dead algae...thx tfp!...you guys rock!
New readings:
Fc 4
Cc 0
Ph 7.6
Ta 90
Ch 350
Cya 80
Salt 3500
Csi -.21

 

[mknauss]

[FC/CYA]Follow this[/FC/CYA]

Your FC is too low. Test your water at the start of your daily SWCG run. Your minimum should NEVER go below 4. Getting a reading of 4 for FC is way to close for me!

Take care.