I think I'm testing my ALK/TA wrong.

[grdnchik]

I tested this morning and these are my numbers:

8/24
FC=3
TC=3
CC=0
TA= The test says to drop one drop at a time until it changes to red, however, I don't understand if it means totally red or until it change initially like the very first red swirl I see. Because I have been doing the latter one which means I have been registering it like this: 1x10= a TA of 10. But if it is the other way to continue adding drop until it changes completly from Green to Red then it took 20 drops. So 20 drops times 10 = TA of 200. So which one is it?
PH=7.6 ( My PH is raised a little bit from yesterday to today.)
CAL=200
CYA=35

I'm also adding one gallon of bleach every day in the morning.

Thanks a bunch in advance for your help. I would be so lost without your help.

Regards,
Elsa

[Phillbo]

I think it is until it holds the red color. The salt test is that way .. you continue adding drops until it turns red and stays red, there is typicaly a few drops where it streaks red and then fades back to the original color.

[Simmons99]

I do it until it totally turns red - not the inbetween color. Also as you add the first drop - it is concentrated in that area - but when you mix it up it stays green - so keep adding.

[grdnchik]

So, are my numbers okay?

When can I stop adding so much bleach per day? What are the figures I should have for FC, TC and CC? Appx 15,000 gallons.

[Simmons99]

Well TA of 200 is high - but if the water is clear and your PH is stable at a good number you are probably fine. If you have a plaster/concrete pool I would try to reduce your level.

Look at the ALK forum - there is a sticky that tells you how to reduce your TA level.

Chlorine looks fine, but you want to raise your chlorine level to 5ppm and then let it drop to 3ppm - but no lower.

[waterbear]

TA= The test says to drop one drop at a time until it changes to red, however, I don't understand if it means totally red or until it change initially like the very first red swirl I see. Because I have been doing the latter one which means I have been registering it like this: 1x10= a TA of 10. But if it is the other way to continue adding drop until it changes completly from Green to Red then it took 20 drops. So 20 drops times 10 = TA of 200. So which one is it?

Regards,
Elsa

The proper way to do this test is add a drop and swirl the tube...repeat this until you finally add a drop that produces no further color change and then don't count that last drop. for example, you add 8 drops and you get a reddish color but it doesn't stay, you add a 9th drop and the color turns red and stays, you add a 10th drop and the red gets brighter, you add an 11th drop and their is no change to the color....your endpoint is 10 drops.
Hope this helps.

[grdnchik]

Thanks for helping understand how to test my ALK/TA properly. I think I finally understood how to test for it. I have alot to learn. Yikes, what on earth was I thinking when I agreed to this pool. Oh, but we are having so much fun with it.

Thanks again!

Elsa.

[waterbear]

Don't worry...soon you will be a "pro" yourself and wonder what you ever thought was so hard about it!