Help with my pool numbers...

[alapool]

I just got back from having my water tested at the local pool store and here are the numbers:

Total Alkalinity - 160
PH - 7.2
Cyanuric Acid - 100
Total Hardness - 120
Tolal Chlorine - 3
Free Chlorine - 0
Copper - .6

I had just put in some metal remover this morning. THe manager there said that could effect my cl levels. ???

So how do I lower my CYA and my ALK?

Thanks for your help.

[JohnT]

I don't really consider 160 to be bad on the alkalinity. My fill water is over 400, so I always have around 200. Lowering CYA is done by draining water and replacing it. You need to shock that pool.

[alapool]

In the last week I've added over 7 gallons of liquid bleach to it. I guess need to add more!

[mas985]

To lower CYA, partial drain and refill is the easiest and cheapest option.

To lower Alk, Ben has a good process for that:

http://www.poolforum.com/pf2/showthread.php?t=191

However, given your hardness is fairly low, 160 may not be too bad. Assuming 70 degree water, saturation index is -.5 which means slightly corrosive. If you do lower your alkalinity make sure you get your PH up. Ph balance is about 7.7 with your current numbers. At an alkalinity of 120 your PH would need to be about 7.8 for balance. You may want to bump your CH up to about 200.

[duraleigh]

Alapool / (JohnT)

I think your TC and FC is misstated. That would give you a CC of 3.0 which I have never seen before. That's why JohnT is telling you to shock.

My guess is your TC is 3 and your CC is 0 so you would not need to shock, if that's the case. In fact, probably shouldn't 'til you resolve your metal issues.

Dave S.

[aylad]

With a CYA of 100, once your water temp gets above 50 or 60, you're going to be fighting algae---with CYA that high, you need Cl closer to 8-10.

Janet

[alapool]

Alapool / (JohnT)

I think your TC and FC is misstated. That would give you a CC of 3.0 which I have never seen before. That's why JohnT is telling you to shock.

My guess is your TC is 3 and your CC is 0 so you would not need to shock, if that's the case. In fact, probably shouldn't 'til you resolve your metal issues.

Dave S.

In your quote, do you mean FC instead of CC? If not what is CC?

[JohnT]

In your quote, do you mean FC instead of CC? If not what is CC?

Total Chlorine(TC)=Free Chlorine(FC) + Combined Chlorine(CC)

Combined chlorine levels over .5 indicate the need to shock the pool. Combined chlorine is chlorine that is "involved" with biological contaminants and is usually the cause of the chlorine smell people complain about.

[alapool]

Thanks for all the replies. This board is GREAT!

My pool is looking good right now with one exception. ITS GREEN!!! I put some metal remover in it yesterday morning and will probably put more this weekend. Then I am going to drain it to the level of where the water comes out (which is about 2 feet lower than what it is). While is at that level I am going to aerate it for a couple of days. And then fill it back up. Hopefully once I am done with this my CYA will be lower and my TA will be lower.

[aylad]

You need to get some chlorine in there, and I wouldn't wait until you get the alk lowered.....if you're not careful, you're gonna end up with a swamp!

Janet