Anyone care to critique my numbers???

[The Mermaid]

I'm just getting back into the water after a couple years hiatus (that's what having a baby, a colicky baby, can do). I *think* I remember what I'm doing, but I feel kinda rusty at all this. I pulled out my old test kits (one of Ben's) and found that it had stored amazingly well. So here's what I've got.....

24,000 gallon, vinyl AG pool
no heater, paper filter

TC = 4
CC = 0
FC = 4

TA = 50
pH = 7.8
CYA = 40-50ish

Water looks sparkly clean and is a perfect temperature (broke my thermometer, but by feel I would say about 88 degrees).

I'm figuring I need to add some baking soda to raise the TA to what, about 100???? Then of course, I'll probably need some acid to get the pH down. But is there anything about these numbers that would indicate emminent danger to my pool equipment or swimmers? Or is it safe to swim while I tweak my balance? I don't really know what the consequences are of having a low TA and high pH. It won't peel my skin off right?

[aylad]

Nope, no skin peeling for now! Actually, your numbers look pretty good, and those that need tweaking are ones you already know what to do about. I'd say raise the TA to around 80-90. "Typical" pH ranges are 7.2-7.6, but honestly, every pool "settles" at a pH, and mine stays right at 7.8 no matter what I do to fight it, so I don't anymore. The kids say it's easier on their eyes, anyway.

I feel for ya with the colicky baby--my oldest had me walking hundreds of miles with her for the 3-4 months she had it when she was a baby. It's definitely one of the toughest things about raising a baby!!

Welcome back to the forum...

Janet

[The Mermaid]

Thank you Janet! That's what I thought, but just wanted outside confirmation since my brain was so fuzzy.

And yeah, those first few months.... just WOW. He's a super happy little boy now though. You wouldn't know it was the same little guy. I'm just so happy to be able to enjoy the water again! And he does too.... finally. Yay!!!!

Melissa

[CarlD]

Yeah, your numbers look pretty good, and certainly swimmable. Sure, T/A is low but unless you find your pH bouncing around, you can raise it slowly and without worry.

Just do it slowly, nothing extreme. And swim!

My wife always insists there must be a forgetfulness gene or hormone otherwise no woman would ever have a second child--and, that's true for us involved dads as well! Our first was horribly colicky...we considered it a good night, no a GREAT night if he slept 2 hours, woke for an hour, slept 2 hours... Then one of us could sleep for 2 hours, get up for an hour, and go back and sleep for 5 hours. The other would sleep 5, get up for one, and go back to sleep for 2 and we'd each get 7 hours..not bad!

Bad nights (and there were a lot of them) he'd sleep 12 minutes and cry for 2 hours...we had help from grandparents (my MIL was a nurse who worked "graveyard" so she could help). At 3 months is vanished...now he just got fitted for a suit that's the same size I was when we got married--OUCH! (a: because he's that big, b: because I'm, well, er, um....bigger)

Our second (now 5) was no problem that way--he's adopted and the bureaucratic paperwork of the two countries PLUS the State of NJ meant he didn't come home until he was 5 1/2 months old--past colic. You see, the forgetfulness gene mis-fired--my wife remembered! Just kidding! :D Both boys are great and AVID pool puppies!:)

[PBLsQuad450]

Oh wow! I know a colicky baby too. Would walk the driveway for an hour or more at night and the second the door would latch behind me coming inside it would start right up again. Every night. My wife and I had a rule (we both work), I was "on" until 2am and she was "on" after 2am. I never missed Letterman. She would sleep a few hours each night and take 2 half hour naps during the day. Honest! Doc said, over and over, "hard on you parents, but I have been around a long time and these kids really thrive." He is right. She is 11 now. I couldn't dream up a beter daughter. Great student, totally into theater and drama and dancing and singing (have been to 8 shows in the past 2 weeks and wouldn't miss a minute). Part fish also, which is why I now live on PF. Seriously, never gets cold and never gets tired. Well, I think, never admits to either condition. Her friends seem normal enough? They get cold or tired at some Point? Not her. I have said thank you, like tons of times, but really, I have been caring for a pool, either ours growing up our mine as an adult, much of my life. It wasn't until PF that it all came together. She was swimming today for HOURS with her cousin (and best friend) and she said, "the pool has no smell at all?" I said, "yep." I'll give you some control issues... OK. But I got it under control with no guessing or magic or pool store mojo. I like that.

[aylad]

I was "on" until 2am and she was "on" after 2am.

My husband and I used that system, too--except we changed "shifts" at 3:00. Worked out wonderfully, except for when she picked "shift change" to get fired up for that last early morning feeding.....

Janet

[CarlD]

Yeah, since he wouldn't go on a schedule we did. 4 hours on, 4 hours off. When off, you ate, showered, slept, whatever. When on, you took care of the baby.

Our ped said that these kids are more alert and with it. My wife asked "Do you mean they are smarter or will I have an active, wide awake idiot on my hands?" Well, he's finishing up 9th grade with top marks and fantastic study habits, far better than I ever had (thanks to his mom). While not an athlete, he does have a Black Belt so....Can't carry a tune in a bucket, even with a lid, but plays the trombone very well, by sheer desire. (where does he get that? We both played and sang when younger).

[The Mermaid]

You see, the forgetfulness gene mis-fired--my wife remembered! Just kidding! :D Both boys are great and AVID pool puppies!:)

LOL, OK, totally not pool related, but that was funny. My son is 3 yrs old now and a delight, but when I look back at the pictures from those first 6 months I wonder how anyone decides to have a second. But then I realize that some babies are actually happy and content during that time. I had a friend that told me she had to wake her baby up to feed him so he wouldn't starve to death, he slept that much. I can't imagine the look of confusion on my face when she told me that. Huh??? My son would never sleep thru a feed and he ate every hour or two, round the clock. Oh and the little stinker would not take a bottle, so guess who got to do ALL the feedings??? I'll give you a clue, my husband never did figure out how to lactate. Men?!?!?! Kidding! Thanks for the laugh.

I did swim today and it felt so good. It's going to be a wonderful summer.