new kit - first test

HI to all,

I got my new kit and love it - everything is organized so well. I don't have a book that tells me what the results mean - or maybe there is a link online?

So here it goes:

FC 14
CC 0
TC 5
pH 7.2
Alk 95
Calcium 480
Cya 100
Temp ~90

It is warm here in Florida and although the chlorine is a bit high the water is murky.

I have a new inground plaster pool with a salt generator and cartridge pump. The pool uses a 2 speed pump so the water is always circulating.

Any advice is appreciated!! I think from reading around that I have CYA and Calcium contents that are too high. We are expecting a bit of rain and the pool is down about an inch now - not sure if I should wait and retest or just drain and refill a bit. Not sure how much to drain and refill. Or if I can avoid that.

Hi, West,

Murky water first....If you'll add enough Chlorine (from bleach....not the SWG) to raise your level to 30ppm and KEEP IT THERE, your water will be sparkling. With that really high CYA level, you need that much Cl to reach shock level.

Secondly, you can probably live with the high CYA and Ca levels. Be very careful keeping your pH in line and KEEP a 5-10ppm Cl level in there at all times. Partial draining is a sure-fire cure but you'd need to drain about 50% to get the effect you need.

Thanks, Dave.

If I do drain out 50%, will I have to filter the incoming water at all? I know the pool company put this big canister on the hose line so it would filter out stuff when they first filled it.

Is there a problem to swimmers with keeping the chlorine that high? And are you talking the TC or the FC?

We had a pool boy take care of our pool while we were away and I think he got carried away with the stabilizer. The chlorine was very low even with the SWG set at 60%. I think the calcium is high because the pool is new - I was adding a LOT of acid in the beginning.

West,

Call the pool company and find out what they were filtering out. Good fill water should be fine....must be an issue with water in your area or perhaps they were just being extra thorough.

Swimming above 10ppm may fade a swimming suit...won't fade the swimmers...skinny-dip, anyone?:)

Above 5ppm, you will test for FC only (normally), so we're talking FC although the difference between FC and TC is minimal at those levels.