Having Trouble Cleaning a Pool..

[BoredOne]

I would edit my latest post, but I still gotta wait for admin to add it, so I'm making another post.. The guess strips as you guys call it show my Total Chlorine at 3, but my Free Chlorine at 10 or even over.. Umm dunno what this means for me tho I thought I'd share for you'd have the info..

[Watermom]

FC + CC = TC so the numbers you gave in the last post aren't possible. (Part of the reason we call them guess strips!)

[ corrected typo => changed 2nd CC to TC ]

[BoredOne]

Well I brought a sample to pinch a penny to get tested, these are the results of the printout they gave me..

TC 4.0
FC 4.0
CC 0? Maybe they didn't put this one in?
pH 7.4
Alkalinity 120ppm
Calcium Hardness 155ppm
Stabilizer 50ppm
TDS 1200ppm

It states I need to raise my CH with 11.7 pounds of Suncoast Calcium Hardness Increaser..

I havn't bought anything yet cause I wanted to come here and see what you thought..

Also when will I not have to wait on an admin for everything? Wanted to add the basic info about my pool in my sig but I can't access my account info..

[PoolDoc]

+ Don't even think about adding calcium, till you have a K2006 or equivalent (LaMotte?), and have accurate test results.

+ Like Watermom *meant*, FC + CC = TC. If CC is 0, then FC = TC.

+ Right now, the only consistent way to get out of "Restricted" status is to subscribe. That will probably change some time before summer 2012, but I don't have a definite date.

[BoredOne]

+ Don't even think about adding calcium, till you have a K2006 or equivalent (LaMotte?), and have accurate test results.

+ Like Watermom *meant*, FC + CC = TC. If CC is 0, then FC = TC.

+ Right now, the only consistent way to get out of "Restricted" status is to subscribe. That will probably change some time before summer 2012, but I don't have a definite date.

Honestly right now we just don't have the extra money to spend on an $80 testing kit.. Which is why I went to pinch a penny to get a test, as far as I can tell they've got all the testing equipment and then some that the k2006 kit comes with, and the calcium level seems appropriate being that we are getting orangy stains around the pool, especially areas that I've swept out coins you can clearly see the circular outline of the coins.. I've pulled out coins, tools, even a battery from this pool.. Think what I'll do is they have this thing were they'll come out to your pool and evaluate it.. So they have a fresh sample of water instead of the one I have been holding for 20min to the store.. Tho I don't see why their test wouldn't be accurate?

[Watermom]

+ Like Watermom *meant*, FC + CC = TC. If CC is 0, then FC = TC.

Yep. That's what I meant. Thanks for catching my typo!

[PoolDoc]

If Pinch a Penny is using liquid reagents, it's quite possible that their test is reasonably accurate.

[BigDave]

I'd be willing to bet that the "we'll come out to your pool and evaluate it" will result in suggestions (possibly quite insistent) for chems that will cost alot more than the K-2006. Maybe I'm wrong (and this site is an exception) but there's not alot of altruism in the pool biz, and probably none in a "free service" that's baked into a corporate operating procedure.

I also seriously doubt that the water changes much in 20 minutes.

[BoredOne]

If Pinch a Penny is using liquid reagents, it's quite possible that their test is reasonably accurate.

Back on topic, they do use liquid reagents, and just record it on the computer.. And thats how I got the printout.. Other than that everything else came out fine.. Like I said, or like I think I said, it kinda makes sense cause we are starting to get stains within the pool.. The paint seems to be even coming off or thinning out.. Which is why it makes sense.. However, at least I think 11 pounds is a little much, or is that the correct amount needed? Or would be needed being the tests are 100% accurate..