Using the K-2006

[AnnaK]

Heh! Two days ago you were intimidated by the testing process and now you want to test rain water. It happens to all of us, that desire to test any and all water sources . Before long, you'll find yourself taking the test kit along when you go to friends' pools, to public pools, to motel pools (and you'll probably not want to get into those . . . ).

One thing you do want to test is your fill water so you know how much chlorine, TA, and calcium you start out with when you have to top off your water.

Record keeping is essential. I used to keep a notebook in the pool house; now I record test results and make notes on the iPad. Knowing the 'clean' pressure of your pump/filter is good info to have, right after cleaning the system or backwashing it. You can see trends at a glance and yes, it totally helps you be proactive.

I'm glad you find the PoolCalc helpful. Next to my WallWhale brush it's my favorite pool tool.

[Manslick]

Guilty.

I did test my tap water a long time ago and was surprised how high the PH level was.

Yeah, I got plans to do my brother’s pool.

Gett’n all in touch with my inner chemist.

[CarlD]

I keep a record too. I used to keep it on a mini-excel spreadsheet in my PDA. Now I just write it on the cover of my old PS233 in pencil and erase it at the start of the new season. I'm SO lazy I use each column twice, dividing each row into an upper and lower entry.

I never use the pool calc. I know I have 19,000 gallons, so I figure 20,000. I know if I add half a gallon of 12.5% LC it will boost my FC by about 3ppm, and a full gallon by 6ppm.
My CYA was at zero, so I chlorinated with Tri-Chlor tabs until the week that CYA finally read over 30ppm.
I checked my pH and when it was low (like 6.8, 6.9), I dumped in a box of Borax. An hour later it was still low (and my T/A was VERY low) so I dumped in a box of A&H Washing soda. My pH up to about 7.6, where it has remained constant for almost 3 weeks, despite my TA never going higher than 60ppm.

But if the Pool Calc helps you, by all means, use it.

The B-B-B method is all about sensible and logical pool maintenance so that your pool can be what it's SUPPOSED to be: A Wreck Creation facility (if you have kids you understand this!)

Carl

[AnnaK]

Thanks Carl. Yes, the Pool Calc does help me. A microbiologist by education and training I prefer precision rather than guesses. Using the Pool Calc I know just what and how much of something to add and can avoid the try-this-see-if-it-sticks method. That one works, no doubt, it's just not as cost effective as I like my pool maintenance to be.

I've been running trichlor pucks since we hooked up the equipment early in May and am now at 50 ppm. It took seven 3" pucks, not bad. no negative effect on the pH which is consistent at 7.5. I'm stocked up with LC and ready for a hot summer, starting now. It's in the mid-90s here in the Lehigh Valley. How are you doing in Jersey?

[Manslick]

I keep a record too. I used to keep it on a mini-excel spreadsheet in my PDA. Now I just write it on the cover of my old PS233 in pencil and erase it at the start of the new season. I'm SO lazy I use each column twice, dividing each row into an upper and lower entry.

I never use the pool calc. I know I have 19,000 gallons, so I figure 20,000. I know if I add half a gallon of 12.5% LC it will boost my FC by about 3ppm, and a full gallon by 6ppm.
My CYA was at zero, so I chlorinated with Tri-Chlor tabs until the week that CYA finally read over 30ppm.
I checked my pH and when it was low (like 6.8, 6.9), I dumped in a box of Borax. An hour later it was still low (and my T/A was VERY low) so I dumped in a box of A&H Washing soda. My pH up to about 7.6, where it has remained constant for almost 3 weeks, despite my TA never going higher than 60ppm.

But if the Pool Calc helps you, by all means, use it.

The B-B-B method is all about sensible and logical pool maintenance so that your pool can be what it's SUPPOSED to be: A Wreck Creation facility (if you have kids you understand this!)

Carl

Oh yea, I took that formula you gave me and put it right into a spreadsheet.

I used Annak’s pool calculator to double check my volume. Happily I’ve been quoting the right volume.

I plan to use the spreadsheet to keep a record of the test results and in time I’ll have enough data point to do all kinds of graphs.

[robbym70]

The Taylor website has some excellent videos on how to properly use your test kit.

A thousand Kudos to waterbear for posting the link to the Taylor site with training vids...Received my K-2006 last week but hadn't sorted out how exactly to use it...Found this link with the vids and voila--now I know (somewhat) what I'm doing. At work now but will post later in another thread re: current levels and ask for next logical steps...

As a 1st time pool owner I can't tell you how glad I found this site before I got "pool stored"

[Manslick]

I hear you robbym. I love this site.

So, today I test again.

FC = 2.5
CC = 0
PH = 7.5
CYA = 50
TA = 100
CH = 475

The chlorine, pool calculator says need I gallon, 3 quarts, 1 cup or 236 oz of 6% bleach to bring me back to Mondays level of 5.6.

I have purchased two 90 fluid oz jugs of K-Mart brand regular bleach. The label says 6% sodium hypochlorite.
If I add both it should bring me close to my last FC test of 5.6.
Am I getting this right?

The TA and CH levels. Do I need worry about them? If so, what do I do?
Help appreciated.
TIA

[Watermom]

You are doing great! TA at 100 is fine. Your CH is high but as long as your water is not cloudy, you're ok. Just don't use any cal-hypo and don't let your TA get high. BTW - The only way to lower CH is to do a partial drain.)

[Manslick]

You are doing great! TA at 100 is fine. Your CH is high but as long as your water is not cloudy, you're ok. Just don't use any cal-hypo and don't let your TA get high. BTW - The only way to lower CH is to do a partial drain.)

Thanks again Watermom – a partial drain, hmm. I have hard water here in Louisville.
From the water company - Pure Tap®, Louisville Water Company’s tap water, is moderately hard, at 159 mg/L or 9.3 grains of calcium carbonate per gallon.
So would a partial refill actually help lower my CH level?

[AnnaK]

The chlorine, pool calculator says need I gallon, 3 quarts, 1 cup or 236 oz of 6% bleach to bring me back to Mondays level of 5.6.

Those test kits are fun, aren't they?

At the bottom of the PoolCalc there's a feature called "Effects of adding chemicals" .

It says that adding 180 oz of 6% bleach (the 2 bottles you bought) will raise the FC in a 36,000 gal pool by 2.4 ppm.

Looks like you have things well under control and are on your way to a 5 Minutes A Day pool.