what should i do next with my pool readings?

[eugchen]

Need advice on what i need to do next with my pool. my pool is 11,131 gallons, chlorine. my CYA has run high in the past due to usage of tablets. was 135 CYA last year. started using liquid chlorine ONLY for past 6 months or so. steadily CYA going down. last time i checked was maybe 2-3 months ago, and CYA was 85. FC levels for that levels 9-11. i was maintaining that for a few months.

i decided to go to Leslies this weekend and see what they find vs my TFT100 kit. heres what they found.

FC 14.96
Total Chlor 15
ph 7.7
Total Alk 53
Calcium Hardness 155
CYA 50
Phosphates 199

heres my data TODAY (1 day later) with TFT 100 kit
FC 9
ph 7.5
Total Alk 60
Calcium Hardness 150
CYA 50


as you can see, their data is not bad. in terms of matching mine. but now that my CYA is 50 (and not 85), does that mean my FC target is 6-8? and no need to keep the 9-11?

my total alkalinity and calcium hardness seem low on their testing and mine. are these values problematic and do i need to do something about it? thanks

 

[Newdude]

as you can see, their data is not bad

This *one* time. Do it like TFP collectively has thousands and thousands of times. Because of said experience, dont waste your finger taps telling us about it.

Their test serves zero purpose even when it's right. It either agrees with you, or it makes you question your reliable test kit.

CYA was 85. FC levels for that levels 9-11. i was maintaining that for a few months.

Awesome job !!!

but now that my CYA is 50 (and not 85), does that mean my FC target is 6-8? and no need to keep the 9-11?

Correct. As the season ramps up, you'll lose more FC daily and will need the higher side of target range, maybe even over target range. This time of year having 3 FC over minimum might be a 4 day supply. In July 4ppm is gone from. 10A to 3P. Lol.

my total alkalinity and calcium hardness seem low on their testing and mine.

60 to 100 TA is fine with no specific concerns otherwise.

For the CH, you'll want to add some but it depends on your fill water CH. If it's low/softened, you can add to 350. If it's hard fill water only add to 250 as it will increase the rest of the way on its own.

 

[Bperry]

Need advice on what i need to do next with my pool. my pool is 11,131 gallons, chlorine. my CYA has run high in the past due to usage of tablets. was 135 CYA last year. started using liquid chlorine ONLY for past 6 months or so. steadily CYA going down. last time i checked was maybe 2-3 months ago, and CYA was 85. FC levels for that levels 9-11. i was maintaining that for a few months.

i decided to go to Leslies this weekend and see what they find vs my TFT100 kit. heres what they found.

FC 14.96
Total Chlor 15
ph 7.7
Total Alk 53
Calcium Hardness 155
CYA 50
Phosphates 199

heres my data TODAY (1 day later) with TFT 100 kit
FC 9
ph 7.5
Total Alk 60
Calcium Hardness 150
CYA 50


as you can see, their data is not bad. in terms of matching mine. but now that my CYA is 50 (and not 85), does that mean my FC target is 6-8? and no need to keep the 9-11?

my total alkalinity and calcium hardness seem low on their testing and mine. are these values problematic and do i need to do something about it? thanks

Their TA test is not the same as the Taylor. They report adjusted alkalinity. The chlorine is also way off. You can’t tell anything from their test as it seems their tests can be like random number generators. Sometimes you win the lottery and if you take the same water sample back a few hours later you lose the lottery.

 

[Mdragger88]

Their TA test is not the same as the Taylor. They report adjusted alkalinity. The chlorine is also way off. You can’t tell anything from their test as it seems their tests can be like random number generators. Sometimes you win the lottery and if you take the same water sample back a few hours later you lose the lottery.

The pool store lottery! So true

But Instead of winning $$ you find out how much you need to spend!

 

[Newdude]

Oooooooooh. 3 phosphates. Bummer. That'll be $89 for this watered down stuff.

 

[eugchen]

ok point taken....dont go to pool stores for checking anymore....

what do i add to get CH higher? and when is total alkanlity a problem? at what levels?

 

[mknauss]

Check the CH of your fill water. Hard to believe you are only at 150 ppm. I know you had rain this winter, but the CYA did not fall all that much.

 

[Mdragger88]

when is total alkanlity a problem? at what levels?

A ta of 50 or above is fine. Going lower can lead to ph being unstable and going too low.
The higher the ta gets the faster ph rise will occur so some who battle frequent ph rise find actively lowering higher ta levels helpful if it’s above 100. You’re not in that boat. Even if you were a high ta doesn’t hurt anything. You simply need to know what you’re ta is for csi & acid dosing calculations.
The pool store sells people acidic tablets & dichlor to feed their pool daily so their recommended ta levels are higher to prevent crashing the ph. You’re not in that boat either.

Managing pH and Total Alkalinity - Further Reading

www.troublefreepool.com

 

[eugchen]

is CH related to calcium buildup? cause i usually have a problem with calcium buildup, seeing white marks on the tiles. i have had to try and scrub those off with my brush and pumice stone!

 

[mknauss]

is CH related to calcium buildup? cause i usually have a problem with calcium buildup, seeing white marks on the tiles. i have had to try and scrub those off with my brush and pumice stone!

It is. But at your low level of CH, you should not have any calcium scale buildup.

 

[eugchen]

its odd cause i do have buildup. esp in the area where my spa overflows into the pool. the overflow is not uniform around the whole spa and there are a few white bands of calcium buildup if i dont attend to it consistently.

 

[mknauss]

See post #7

 

[Mdragger88]

Can you post some pictures of what you think is scale?

 

[eugchen]

here are some photos. mostly see it when alot of sun dries off the tiles. these days its gloomy so tiles mostly seem wet. but here are two photos. are these calcium buildups?

 

[Mdragger88]

That looks more like efflorescence- lets see what @mknauss says
Here’s a thread about it with some pics & info

Calcium on spillover/wall

Hopefully this is the right place for this. My pool is 2 years old and we have been constantly fighting this battle. It mainly builds up on the grout lines where the spillover is but as you can see it leaches onto the tile and ultimately happens everywhere. Our calcium runs around 200 as my...

www.troublefreepool.com

 

[mknauss]

That looks more like efflorescence

Could be. Or evaporative scale. You selected dark tiles with lots of grout lines. You will need to learn to live with it or get used to using dilute muriatic acid on it every month.