1st Time Kit User

[Sumo1]

Well, I'm glad I waited to add the muriatic. I'll add a quart tonight and retest in the morning. Will post those numbers as well. However, I'm a little puzzled about the FC. I'm running the chlorine generator 4hrs daily, enough to turn over my water once. I hoped that would be sufficient.

Concerning the pH, it could be higher than 8.0, as Chem Geek guessed. I plan to add borax this year, per the 'Tetraborate Experiment", so I guess I'm in for a few weeks of frequent testing, though I did enjoy reading that thread from beginning to end.

BTW, 68 degrees is too cold for me, too. I doubt I'll swim before May 1.
Thanks again
Hal

Also BTW, I was in a new pool store that just opened today down the street from my house. A man had brought in a water sample for testing and they just started grabbing bags of Balance 100 for him @$30/bag. He dutifully pulled out his wallet and bought it. Then the lady turned to me and invited me to bring in a sample for testing !! I declined, then she said that BioLab had really pushed them hard to buy this superduper new tester(read Big Bucks!). I told you that to tell you this--THANKS to all you folks for your help and GOOD advice because, if not for poolforum.com, I could have been that guy!

[Sumo1]

Test results, day 2. I added 4 cups of acid last night.
62F water temp
FC-4.6
CC-0
pH-7.7
TA-140 (probably tester error, but I'm learning )
CH-270 (see above)
CYA- ~65 (see above)
Salt- ~3200

Question: Is it necessary to test hardness frequently? I don't think it changes very rapidly, does it?
Anyway, I'll add three more cups of acid in a few minutes and test later today. That will bring me close to Chem Geek's 7.6 cup estimate and we'll see where it goes.
Hal

[Sumo1]

Here are the results from Friday's second test, about 8pm, after 7 cups(total) of acid were added:
Water-62F
FC-6 (ran chlorine generator several hours longer)
CC-0
pH~7.4/7.5
TA-120
Didn't have time to test hardness or Cya but they should be the same as before, right?
Hal

[CarlD]

Numbers look VERY good.

I would not test CYA or T/A more than once a week once they are where you want them, unless you've done a massive drain & refill.

I think you are all set except for one item.....

WATER TEMP!

[Sumo1]

I think you are all set except for one item.....

WATER TEMP! [/QUOTE]

Unfortunately, we're getting a much later than usual "last winter blast" and temps will be in the 20's the next 2 nights, with day temps not reaching 65 until Wed! After that, though, it should only get warmer YAY!
Hal

[Sumo1]

Wow, hard to believe 12 days have gone by since I last tested. Today I got
FC-7.4
CC-0
pH-7.8
TA-140
CH-280
CYA~60-65
Temp-59F (One of my kids fell in today while skimming leaves BRRR!)
Hal

PS: If I'm going to add borax to my pool, does water temp have any effect on the process?

[CarlD]

Why would you add Borax if your pH is 7.8? It's already a bit high, and Borax will raise it further.