The Pool Calculator

[Scetnk]

I came across this about 2 or 3 years ago. http://www.poolcalculator.com/
Originally thought it was from the Pool Forum or PoolSolutions but think it might be from TFP. Does anyone on the PoolForum use it and is it sufficiently accurate to use? It seems to work fine for me. If not a PS/PF product do you have one available? Supports BBB method of pool care. Thanks.

[chem geek]

It was created by Jason Lion at Trouble Free Pool (TFP) using formulas and table approximations he created from my spreadsheet (http://richardfalk.home.comcast.net/~richardfalk/pool/PoolEquations.xls). There is no PS/PF calculator and it is fine to use for calculating dosages. Just note that the calculations regarding the amount of acid/base needed to adjust pH are approximate. Also note that the recommended FC levels don't exactly match Ben's Best Guess Chlorine Chart (http://www.poolsolutions.com/gd/best-guess-swimming-pool-chlorine-chart.html) as they are instead based on levels of consistent active chlorine (hypochlorous acid) I calculated, though the baseline for this was still based on the active chlorine levels at the mid-range of CYA in Ben's chart.

[AnnaK]

I have successfully used both tools for several years. A copy of Ben's Best Guess Chart is taped to my test kit as a reminder of ranges and a quick reference source. I go to the Pool Calculator to do the math.

My pool is just a bleach pool, no SWCG, no water features, nothing that would produce major changes in chemical balance once the season is under way. I do need to add a variety of chems at startup each spring and let the PoolCalc figure the amounts. For dry chemicals (washing soda, baking soda, CYA) I use the "by weight" parameters and a kitchen scale. For the liquids I go "by volume" and use a plastic measuring cup.

There are so very many factors that influence pool water chemistry and cause fluctuations that I've really come to appreciate the concept of 'ranges': FC between 3 and 6 ppm, CYA between 30 and 50, pH between 7.2 and 7.8, TA somewhere between 60 and 100 for my pool—yours may be different.

[waterbear]

there used to be another calculator created by a member here called BleachCalc that was used a lot in this forum. It was very good except for the borax calculation section which did not produce correct results. Not sure if BeachCalc is still around. Personally I liked it since it was less confusing than the Pool Calculator, IMHO.

[SalemCastles]

http://troublefreepool.com/files/BleachCalc262.exe

[waterbear]

interesting that it is still archived at TFP. mwsmith2 (the author) is still a member here and AFAIK he was never a member there (at least, not for the years that I was a mod there). BleachCalc was used at TFP before Jason wrote the Pool Calculator but it came from here (as did most of the things over there since it was originally conceived as a backup forum for PF information. I know this as a fact since I was a part of that original incarnation and it was one of two forums that were started as backups for this one by individuals.)

[Watermom]

That is the one I use. But, you're right, WB, it is weird that TFP would have it. Hmm.