Validation After 3 Weeks Please + Preferred Suppliers For Chemicals

[MistahGreen]

Hey Everyone,

My wife and I have been dlligently using the Pool Math app weekly to record the results from our Taylor K-2006C test kit. Results will be posted below for review (please ☺), but keep in mind that by next week we'll have the cartridge filter and the SWG cleaned.

Before the results here are the questions we have:
1) Do these results look pretty normal week over week for a net new pool that was handed over very balanced?

2) Ph seems to be the most unstable week over week? Pretty common to have Muriatic Acid needs weekly?

3) Where do y'all get chemicals from? I've been getting Muriatic Acid from Lowe's, and just placed an order from Amazon.com for some Pool Mate brand Stabilizer and Calcium Hardness stuff. Oh and Aquapure Salt from Amazon.com too.

Thanks in advance! Excited to have our first active post!

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GreenPool
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Build Type: Plaster
Volume: 22000 gallons
Chemistry: SWG
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Latest Test Result Summary:
FC: 9.0 (11 hours ago)
CC: 0.4 (11 hours ago)
pH: 8.2 (11 hours ago)
TA: 100 (11 hours ago)
CH: 270 (11 hours ago)
CYA: 60 (11 hours ago)
SALT: 3310 (11 hours ago)
TEMPERATURE: 82° (11 hours ago)
CSI: 0.43 (11 hours ago)
==========================================
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Chemical Addition 08-22-2024 @ 07:31 PM
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+ 45.15990784084381 FluidOunces of Baume31

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Test Results 08-22-2024 @ 06:52 PM
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Free Chlorine: 9.0
Combined Chlorine: 0.4
pH: 8.2
Total Alkalinity: 100
Calcium Hardness: 270
CYA: 60
Salt: 3310
Temperature: 82°F
CSI: 0.43

 

[ajw22]

All looks good. Just lower your pH to 7.6 to 7.8 using muriatic acid.

Your pH will continuously rise due to both new plaster curing and your high TA. If your TA gets down around 60 the pH rise may slow a bit. For now just keep your pH in the 7’s.

 

[MistahGreen]

Thank you so much for the reply! So don't worry about adding chemicals right now to supplement CYA and Calcium Hardness? Thanks again!

 

[ajw22]

Your CYA, calcium, and salt are all at acceptable levels. No reason to “supplement “ them.

 

[MistahGreen]

Great! Thank you.

With regards to chemicals. Where does the community normally purchase from? Any particular brands/products we don't like or want?

 

[ajw22]

Great! Thank you.

With regards to chemicals. Where does the community normally purchase from? Any particular brands/products we don't like or want?

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

Non-Recommended Pool Chemicals

These pool chemicals should not be added to your pool. Save your money and frustration and avoid these chemicals!

www.troublefreepool.com

Liquid Chlorine - Further Reading

www.troublefreepool.com

Acid - Further Reading

www.troublefreepool.com

Salt - Further Reading

www.troublefreepool.com

Calcium Hardness - Further Reading

www.troublefreepool.com

 

[Newdude]

I use Puritech Calcium Chloride and CYA from Amazon. 25 lb bags dance around $50.

Walmart is most people's go to for pool essentials chlorinating liquid (10%) if they don't have a bulk supplier or a pool store selling 12.5% at a better price per FC.

13 lbs of baking soda, a lifetime supply for most, is under $10 at Bjs / Costco / Sam's. (Raise TA, rarely).

20 mule borax is $6 for 4lbs in any Landry aisle (raise PH, probably rarely)

Ace Hardware has full strength (31%) muriatic acid for $10-$15 depending on location. (Lower PH) Pool stores may have a good price as well. The green / eco / low fumes stuff at the box stores is half strength and there's nothing wrong with it but it's the same price and you need twice as much.

 

[sande005]

Great! Thank you.

With regards to chemicals. Where does the community normally purchase from? Any particular brands/products we don't like or want?

With a Salt Water Generator, you won't need much of anything, generally. Maybe a couple of bags of salt once in a while. Acid for pH control (as you have found). Liquid Chlorine does weaken over time, so while I keep some on hand for "just in case", it is not critical to have around if easily available near by.
Most of the following is due to the need for me to lower the pool for shutting down over the winter, and replenishing in the spring:
It varies depending on what stores are near you. Walmart is the likeliest. I don't need much acid, ever, so just buy whatever is in stock at the hardware type store I am currently in. "Dry Acid" ("pH Down", etc) is usually frowned upon here, Muriatic liquid is cheaper and preferred. The regional chain Menards for me usually has the cheapest liquid chlorine (but not that much less than Walmart or Home Depot). Ditto for salt. Calcium, if I use it, is via Amazon. Arm and Hammer soda from Costco for TA, if I need it. Pool stores sometimes have cheap liquid chlorine - but as a general rule, otherwise stay far away.
Avoid: anything with the word "Blue" in the name (usually adds copper, which you never want). Anything that seems to be a combination of chems (chlorine + stabilizer, chlorine + algaecide, etc., etc.)
If you follow the TFP program, no need for algicides and clarifiers. Most Clorox labeled items seem to have additives/enhancers, so I generally skip - except for CYA "Stabilizer" from Wal-Mart.
Some brands of salt and/or Calcium Chloride, even if marked "pure", seem to have more sediment or "dirt" in them than others. If faced with choices locally, check back here for comments on the specific brand.
Newdude mentioned Borax - some really like it. For my pool, it has been so stable anyway, that for me that would be just one more thing to deal with, with limited benefit (for me)
Borates in pool - Further Reading

 

[Jquinby]

90% of the time I get what I need from either Home Depot (salt, muriatic acid, chlorine) or Walmart (chlorine, CYA, borax). Baking soda from Costco. Our water gets really soft over time so I recently special-ordered pool-specific calcium chloride from HD, but it sounds like you can get it cheaper at pool supply stores. TBH I haven't checked pool store prices in awhile; the big-box stores are just more convenient in terms of getting in and out.

 

[Newdude]

Newdude mentioned Borax - some really like it. For my pool, it has been so stable anyway, that for me that would be just one more thing to deal with, with limited benefit (for me)
Borates in pool - Further Reading

That's borates / boric acid / Borax in large amounts to add borates. When adding large doses of Borax it needs to be balanced with doses of Muriatic acid.

Borax (in small amounts) is for raising Ph, which is occasionally needed. It lasts forever when stored cool/dry and nobody would miss the $6 to have a box on hand.

 

[MistahGreen]

Grateful for all the responses and advice, seriously, thank you!