Taking control of my pool this year

[jilted]

Just a quick update:

I used my little OTO kit this evening and it was showing my FC at between 2 and 3 ppm and the pH was down closer to 7.2 (but I guess that could be off a little since it is an older kit).

[jilted]

OK I used my Taylor kit this evening. Pool has been running since Sunday night after adding ~8 lbs of CYA.

FC: 7.5 ppm
CC: When I added the 5 drops, it did not turn pink. Is this OK?
pH: 7.6
Alkalinity: 90 ppm
CYA: around 35 ppm

So I still have some work to do on my CYA i guess.
How about that CC issue? Should this have happened?
I guess I'm off to find more CYA this weekend since our Lowe's doesn't seem to have it. Would a feed store possibly have it? I live out in the country hehe.

Thanks,
-stephen

[aylad]

CC: When I added the 5 drops, it did not turn pink. Is this OK?

Absolutely!! If it didn't turn pink, that means you have no CC, and that's the whole goal!! Your other numbers look pretty good, other than the CYA still being too low. A feed store probably will not have CYA, but if you have a Tractor Supply Co (the chain) nearby, sometimes they do. Otherwise, go to WalMart and check the section where the spa chems are.

Janet

[jilted]

OK Walmart had the HTH brand that was a 4 lb container of 96% CYA for like $14
Went back to Lowes on the way out and they DID have CYA this time heh.
Our Lowes has the Aqua-Chem brand and it was a 3 lb container of 100% CYA for $13

I had already bought the HTH and wasn't going back in that madhouse.

Is there much of a difference in the two brands being 96% and 100% CYA?

Anyway, I put another 4 lbs in which should give me maybe another ~15 ppm which would bring me to 50. Should I try to bump it up a tad bit more?

Thanks,
-stephen

[Watermom]

I wouldn't add anymore CYA yet. The 4 lb. addition should add about 18ppm more of CYA which would put you up to about 53 which is in range suggested by your SWCG manufacturer. You can always add more later. Easier to add more later than need to remove.

[jilted]

Thanks. So now that I have my CYA under control, about where should I try to keep my chlorine level at? I think I read that since the SWCG is constantly producing chlorine that you can keep it lower than if you were using granules and tablets.

Also, is there a consensus on when I should run the pump? Day or night?

Thanks,
-stephen

[Watermom]

Read your literature that came with your SWCG. It should give you the chlorine levels needed for your system. I run my pump during the day. Some people do nights because electricity rates are cheaper then. I am not too familiar with SWCG operation, so let's see if one of our SWCG guys has any opinions on this and why.