Pool Calculator; useful?

I started using the pool calculator this season. So far, so good. Have found it to be very helpful. Able to keep all levels where they should be. Pool is crystal clear.

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Originally Posted by Shifty

Jim,

I don't think waterbear is telling you not to use the pool calculator, rather saying "proceed with caution." If you can reasonably estimate the volume of your pool (there is an estimating tool at the bottom of the calculator) and you know how the different chemicals react with one another (i.e. trichlor raises CYA and chlorine, but is acidic and lowers pH), it is a useful tool to use. I find myself mainly using the pool calculator for doses of bleach and borax.

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Originally Posted by AnnaK

I second what shifty wrote. I can't use the bleachcalc because it's a Windows executable and I run a Mac. The Pool Calc is HTML based and runs on any platform. Like you, I use it for bleach and Borax calculations and occasionally for "effects of adding xyz". It has never lead me wrong but I now have enough experience with my particular pool to know when I should question any results obtained. The caveat I follow is "add half now, test, add more later".

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Originally Posted by tnalaskan

I started using the pool calculator this season. So far, so good. Have found it to be very helpful. Able to keep all levels where they should be. Pool is crystal clear.

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Thanks. I appreciate the clarification and feedback.

Some use it and swear by it. I never do.
I figure 1 gallon of <n>% bleach in 10,000 gallons of water raises FC by <n>ppm. It's a convenient rule of thumb based on the actual formula: (1,000,000/pool vol) * (bleach concentration) * (amount of bleach) = FC increase.

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Originally Posted by CarlD

Some use it and swear by it. I never do.
I figure 1 gallon of <n>% bleach in 10,000 gallons of water raises FC by <n>ppm. It's a convenient rule of thumb based on the actual formula: (1,000,000/pool vol) * (bleach concentration) * (amount of bleach) = FC increase.

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For those of us who are more mathmatically challenged, could you give an example (perhaps using my 20k gal pool using 6% bleach)?

Thanks.

In 10,000 gallons of water, a gallon of 6% bleach would add 6ppm of chlorine. So, since you have twice as much water, in your pool, it would add only half that much which would be 3ppm of chlorine.

Figuring bleach is pretty easy, but how do you calculate borax or baking soda? I'm one of the mathematically challenged.

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Originally Posted by Watermom

In 10,000 gallons of water, a gallon of 6% bleach would add 6ppm of chlorine. So, since you have twice as much water, in your pool, it would add only half that much which would be 3ppm of chlorine.

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Thanks. I wasn't clear about parts of the equation, such as the units for the amount of bleach (ounces? gallons?) and the part about concentration (for 6% bleach, would I multiply by 6? or 6%?), but your example clears it up.:)

Anna, I never calculate borax and baking soda. I just make a judgement on how much to add and do small increments until the target is reached. There are so many variables that affect pH and TA that it is kinda hard to have an exact formula for them.

For pH, I agree, but alkalinity is pretty straight forward.

Watermom.....thanks for the link...that will be a big help getting me started on BBB!!!:)