I think I'm testing my ALK/TA wrong.

I tested this morning and these are my numbers:

8/24
FC=3
TC=3
CC=0
TA= The test says to drop one drop at a time until it changes to red, however, I don't understand if it means totally red or until it change initially like the very first red swirl I see. Because I have been doing the latter one which means I have been registering it like this: 1x10= a TA of 10. But if it is the other way to continue adding drop until it changes completly from Green to Red then it took 20 drops. So 20 drops times 10 = TA of 200. So which one is it?
PH=7.6 ( My PH is raised a little bit from yesterday to today.)
CAL=200
CYA=35

I'm also adding one gallon of bleach every day in the morning.

Thanks a bunch in advance for your help. I would be so lost without your help.

Regards,
Elsa

I think it is until it holds the red color. The salt test is that way .. you continue adding drops until it turns red and stays red, there is typicaly a few drops where it streaks red and then fades back to the original color.

I do it until it totally turns red - not the inbetween color. Also as you add the first drop - it is concentrated in that area - but when you mix it up it stays green - so keep adding.

So, are my numbers okay?

When can I stop adding so much bleach per day? What are the figures I should have for FC, TC and CC? Appx 15,000 gallons.

Well TA of 200 is high - but if the water is clear and your PH is stable at a good number you are probably fine. If you have a plaster/concrete pool I would try to reduce your level.

Look at the ALK forum - there is a sticky that tells you how to reduce your TA level.

Chlorine looks fine, but you want to raise your chlorine level to 5ppm and then let it drop to 3ppm - but no lower.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by grdnchik

TA= The test says to drop one drop at a time until it changes to red, however, I don't understand if it means totally red or until it change initially like the very first red swirl I see. Because I have been doing the latter one which means I have been registering it like this: 1x10= a TA of 10. But if it is the other way to continue adding drop until it changes completly from Green to Red then it took 20 drops. So 20 drops times 10 = TA of 200. So which one is it?

Regards,
Elsa

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The proper way to do this test is add a drop and swirl the tube...repeat this until you finally add a drop that produces no further color change and then don't count that last drop. for example, you add 8 drops and you get a reddish color but it doesn't stay, you add a 9th drop and the color turns red and stays, you add a 10th drop and the red gets brighter, you add an 11th drop and their is no change to the color....your endpoint is 10 drops.
Hope this helps.

Thanks for helping understand how to test my ALK/TA properly. I think I finally understood how to test for it. I have alot to learn. Yikes, what on earth was I thinking when I agreed to this pool. Oh, but we are having so much fun with it.

Thanks again!

Elsa.

Don't worry...soon you will be a "pro" yourself and wonder what you ever thought was so hard about it!