Another Newbie - Getting the Pool Water Balanced

[jhk49]

Thank you much, I am making progress under your tutelage. Yesterday, I added 4.4 gallons of bleach as well as 2 boxes (approx 8 pounds) of borax. This morning my test results are as follows:

pH - 7.2, base demand at 12 drops to raise to 7.6
FC - 5.5 ppm
CC - 1.0 ppm

The FC level is right in range for the min/max level per the "best guess" chart with CYA's of 80 ppm. But, the pH appears to be a bit on the low side. The Taylor book, as you had mentioned isn't always accurate, indicates an add of 9.6 pounds sodium carbonate to bring the pH up to 7.6 ........ do you believe that an add of 1 box borax would be correct?

On another note, so if I take the time to maintain the levels of water chemistry within range on a daily basis, I should be able to have clear water without algae throughout the season with only minor exceptions?

jhk49

[PoolDoc]

Hi JHK;

I've been responsible for up to 24 large commercial pools (100,000+ gallons) in a season, and averaged 1/4 green pool per season out of 24. In other words, in 4 years, I had one pool out of 24 turn green 1x during a single swim season.

Does that answer your question?

Regarding the soda ash (sodium carbonate), use borax instead. But, unless you have a concrete pool, don't worry about trying to get the saturation index right, or the pH up to 7.6. Anywhere between 7.0 and 7.8 is fine.

[jhk49]

Based on my experience with you ...... you are quite accomplished. Thanks ever so much for your help and have a most happy and blessed fourth of July. I will be signing up (a paying customer) so as to be a part of this website forum.

jhk49

[PoolDoc]

Sorry, that may have sounded like bragging.

What I should have said, was that we (my local employees and I) used the same methods we (my moderators and I) teach here, and averaged 1 episode of algae per 100 pool seasons.

Ben

[Watermom]

I'll brag for him. He does know his stuff and thousands of people through the years have Ben to thank for sharing his knowledge of pool care with them --- me included!

jhk49- Glad you are finding the forum helpful to you and we'll be glad to have you as a full-fledged member. Happy 4th of July to you as well.