What should my goals be?

[beachbabeBrandy]

Hello all! I am trying to nail down exactly what number I should shoot for for FC, PH, TA, CH, CYA, and Salt. Of course, I understand there will always be some variation, but I'm a perfectionist, and I need a concrete goal. I assumed I'd be able to use the pool manufacturers numbers, but those seem to conflict a bit with my salt cell and heater, which seems to conflict a bit with TF Pools. Give me you recommendations of who to follow and WHY, please

 

[Texas Splash]

I am trying to nail down exactly what number I should shoot for for FC, PH, TA, CH, CYA, and Salt.

You'll find all of those in the link below. If you have any questions about that page or the TFP Pool Care Basics page, let us know. Welcome to TFP!

What Are My Ideal Pool Levels?

Use our tool to find ideal chemical levels for any swimming pool. Check TFP recommended levels on pH, free chlorine, cyanuric acid, and more.

www.troublefreepool.com

 

[reggiehammond]

Troublefree has a tool - no need to look elsewhere. Download and enjoy - PoolMath

You'll likely wonder why FC targets are lower elsewhere - there's plenty to read here, but the industry completely ignores the FC/CYA relationship that is key to trouble free pool life.

The Free Chlorine and Cyanuric Acid Relationship

Managing your cyanuric acid and Free Chlorine levels is key to stabilizing your pool. Learn how these two items affect each other.

www.troublefreepool.com

 

[beachbabeBrandy]

You'll find all of those in the link below. If you have any questions about that page or the TFP Pool Care Basics page, let us know. Welcome to TFP!

What Are My Ideal Pool Levels?

Use our tool to find ideal chemical levels for any swimming pool. Check TFP recommended levels on pH, free chlorine, cyanuric acid, and more.

www.troublefreepool.com

Hi Texas Splash! I found those...if you look at my attachment, my question is more so wondering why they conflict with my pool manufacturer's recommendations, and my equipment manufacturer's recommendations. Hoping for an explanation. While I certainly trust everyone at TFP, I'm not trying to spend another 80k on fiberglass, so I want to be sure I understand why they conflict.
Thanks!

 

[PoolStored]

Give me you recommendations of who to follow and WHY, please

Follow TFP. I was in the same place a few years ago and couldn't find anyone that could tell me what to do and WHY? TFP was the only place that was transparent and had all the chemistry behind the recommendations.

This is a "deep end" thread, but is one of the reasons to believe. It explains much of the why...

Pool Water Chemistry

This thread presents my findings so far on pool water chemistry including the following: More Accurate Calcite Saturation Index (CSI) to replace Langelier Saturation Index (LSI) Calculation of ppm HOCl (disinfecting chlorine) at various levels of Total Free Chlorine (FC) and Cyanuric Acid (CYA)...

www.troublefreepool.com

 

[Texas Splash]

my question is more so wondering why they conflict with my pool manufacturer's recommendations, and my equipment manufacturer's recommendations. Hoping for an explanation.

It's unfortunate, but across the pool industry there are many, many generic recommendation levels charts. It can be frustrating. Doesn't matter is you go to Pentair, Viking, Circupool, Hayward, etc, you'll see various recommendations. In most cases you have to realize those levels were based off of assumptions of how the pool owner chlorinates or something else. The industry needed something to hold a pool owner accountable to, but those are very broad ranges and not specific to your pool.

In the links you'll see here at TFP, you will find years of science-backed history that illustrate why TFP levels were developed differently.

Two such examples - CYA and TA. Why an elevated CYA for salt pools? Because it helps preserver the free chlorine generated by the SWG throughout the day. It also reduces cell working time to help extend its life. Why a lower TA? Because many generic recommendations "assume" an owner will use chlorine tablets that are acidic and will pull the TA down among other things. TFP takes into account equipment, pool types, and many other factors those "generic" levels simply do not.

 

[beachbabeBrandy]

It's unfortunate, but across the pool industry there are many, many generic recommendation levels charts. It can be frustrating. Doesn't matter is you go to Pentair, Viking, Circupool, Hayward, etc, you'll see various recommendations. In most cases you have to realize those levels were based off of assumptions of how the pool owner chlorinates or something else. The industry needed something to hold a pool owner accountable to, but those are very broad ranges and not specific to your pool.

In the links you'll see here at TFP, you will find years of science-backed history that illustrate why TFP levels were developed differently.

Two such examples - CYA and TA. Why an elevated CYA for salt pools? Because it helps preserver the free chlorine generated by the SWG throughout the day. It also reduces cell working time to help extend its life. Why a lower TA? Because many generic recommendations "assume" an owner will use chlorine tablets that are acidic and will pull the TA down among other things. TFP takes into account equipment, pool types, and many other factors those "generic" levels simply do not.

Thank you for the info!

 

[beachbabeBrandy]

It's unfortunate, but across the pool industry there are many, many generic recommendation levels charts. It can be frustrating. Doesn't matter is you go to Pentair, Viking, Circupool, Hayward, etc, you'll see various recommendations. In most cases you have to realize those levels were based off of assumptions of how the pool owner chlorinates or something else. The industry needed something to hold a pool owner accountable to, but those are very broad ranges and not specific to your pool.

In the links you'll see here at TFP, you will find years of science-backed history that illustrate why TFP levels were developed differently.

Two such examples - CYA and TA. Why an elevated CYA for salt pools? Because it helps preserver the free chlorine generated by the SWG throughout the day. It also reduces cell working time to help extend its life. Why a lower TA? Because many generic recommendations "assume" an owner will use chlorine tablets that are acidic and will pull the TA down among other things. TFP takes into account equipment, pool types, and many other factors those "generic" levels simply do not.

Sorry. A couple more questions if you don't mind....
1. Will a higher CYA harm the gelcoat of my pool or my equipment in anyway? That's what I am most worried about! Is there any risk?
2. Why does TF Pools recommend such a high CH level?

 

[beachbabeBrandy]

Follow TFP. I was in the same place a few years ago and couldn't find anyone that could tell me what to do and WHY? TFP was the only place that was transparent and had all the chemistry behind the recommendations.

This is a "deep end" thread, but is one of the reasons to believe. It explains much of the why...

Pool Water Chemistry

This thread presents my findings so far on pool water chemistry including the following: More Accurate Calcite Saturation Index (CSI) to replace Langelier Saturation Index (LSI) Calculation of ppm HOCl (disinfecting chlorine) at various levels of Total Free Chlorine (FC) and Cyanuric Acid (CYA)...

www.troublefreepool.com

Thank you!

 

[Texas Splash]

Will a higher CYA harm the gelcoat of my pool or my equipment in anyway?

Not at all. Besides acting as sunscreen from the sun, CYA (stabilizer) serves as a buffer to chlorine. No harm at all.

Why does TF Pools recommend such a high CH level?

That CH range is very broad to cover a wide variety of pool scenarios. You don't need a high CH level, especially in a FG pool since there are no plaster products in the gelcoat. Only exception is if you opt for waterline tile. So maintaining a low CH level is just fine for overall water balance and to help reduce the likelihood of odd staining.

 

[mknauss]

2. Why does TF Pools recommend such a high CH level?

Just to confirm - CH stands for Calcium Hardness.

 

[beachbabeBrandy]

Just to confirm - CH stands for Calcium Hardness.

That is correct!

 

[mknauss]

That is correct!

So TFPC give a wide range for CH. To be honest, a fiberglass pool, without a waterline tile that is grouted with a cement based grout, only needs about 100 ppm CH. Heater manufacturers say 200 or more, but that is based on steam boiler protection. A pool heater is no steam boiler.

 

[PoolStored]

Why does TF Pools recommend such a high CH level?

Interesting phrasing of the question. That is not bad, just helps me understand how you are thinking about CH.

We are trying to make pool care as easy as possible for a wide range of situations, and not take drastic actions when they are unnecessary (do no harm).

CH of 650 is manageable, but not recommended.

CH. 350 to 550 is ideal (for a plaster pool). As Marty said, unless you have a heater, vinyl and fiberglass pools don't need CH. In RARE cases you can find a pool will foam with CH less than 150 or so, but it it doesn't foam, no need to add calcium. If someone shows up with 575CH, easy answer is to drain some water and replace it, but that is unnecessary you can manage CH up to about 650-800 depending on other parameters. Above 650, the water balance tends to become more difficult, but CH can be managed up to about 800, but requires careful management as high levels of CH can lead to problems such as scaling. If someone shows up with CH of 250 (plaster pool), the recommendation on what to do varies. Many people have high CH fill water and evaporation; in that case 250 is just fine, it will rise over time.

Calcium Hardness - Further Reading

www.troublefreepool.com

If you have higher levels of CH, you really want to manage all chemicals to balance CSI.

Calcium Saturation Index (CSI)

How is CSI calculated? Very simple – use our PoolMath tool. To ensure long plaster life and save money, click here to learn more.

www.troublefreepool.com

CSI and LSI - Further Reading

www.troublefreepool.com