Water test Results

[FNC1962]

Great idea about the pool log. I will start doing this. How about my pH level, should I work on getting it a little higher? How often should I do the other tests?
Thank You very much for your advice, this forum is fantastic.

[AnnaK]

Your pH at 7.3 is fine. I suspect you want to raise it a little just because you know you can

Don't allow yourself to fall into the trap of "chasing numbers". That's where we get some magic value into our heads and think we have to reach that or the sky will fall, or something. Keep in mind that chemical levels in a balanced pool are in ranges: FC between 3 and 6 ppm, CYA between 30 and 50 ppm, pH between 7.2 and 7.8, TA between 70 and 120 ppm.

Watch your pH. Most pools like to stay at a certain level. As long as that level is within the above range, why fix something that isn't broken? If yours develops a tendency to drift up or down or if it drops below 7.2, then let us know and we'll help you figure out what's happening. With a TA of 90 you have a well buffered solution now which should keep the pH stable.

I test TA once a month unless my pH goes squirrelly for 2 days in a row. Then I test TA and adjust, if needed. I keep a relatively low TA because my fill water is low in alkalinity. Since my pool's pH is steady and I've not observed any corrosion issues I've opted to not mess with the TA . . . to not "chase numbers".

I test CYA four times during the season: 1. at startup, 2. after adding enough stabilizer to reach 50 ppm during startup, 3. at the end of July, to see how much I've lost from splashout and refilling, and 4. at closing.

I have never done an acid demand test or a base demand test.

There's some hot weather in the works. Go swim!