Just opened pool for spring, test result questions

[duraleigh]

Hi, Doug,

I think your in good shape. How does your water look?

Your Cl level is not too high. I see no reason to shock.

With a CC of 0, there's not much for shocking to do.

The daily test is fine turning orange....it only goes to five ppm, right?

Review your test method for CH. Water should've been red, then turn blue. Never clear unless you have ZERO calcium.

In summary, If your water looks good, you're in good shape. I think you misinterpreted some instructions on the CH test.

[Beachnut_PA]

Thanks for your response, Dave. I was amazed at how good and clear the water looked when I took the cover off.

I will review my test method for CH. You are right, the water turned red, then clear after about 20 drops and stayed clear. I'll drop off a sample at the dealer tomorrow just to be safe.

After all the 'green swamp' stories I have read on these forums, I had expected our pool to look at least a little funky. I'm certainly not complaining.

Doug

[Beachnut_PA]

I guess I should have mentioned that this is an IG, 30k gallon pool.

I just did another CH test and the water turned slightly blue at 50 drops of the R-0012 stuff. When I did my test yesterday, I was putting the top on the test container and mixing to try and speed the process at 20 drops and every ten after that. I just swirled after each drop this time. I will still have the water tested by the dealer tomorrow.

Thanks again and happy swimming.

[mizzouguy]

I have the same problem with my test....it's pretty clear, but maybe a hint of a very very light blue around the bottom of the tester. It is my understanding that this should be really blue. I'm going to had some calcium to try and raise it 50ppm to see if I see this blue that is suppose to show up. If it does, then I'll assume I had 0 calcium......

[conductor500]

I just opened my pool also and was pleased to see it was crystal clear as well. All I did was add a gallon of bleach when I closed it up for the winter. I do not have a quality test kit yet but the one I do have has my levels as follows (27' AG)

TC 3
ph 7.2
akl 110-120
cya Out of drops will post back later.

should my chlorine be higher??

I was under the impression there would be alot of work to do to my pool when I opened it up in the spring.

[duraleigh]

Hi, Conductor,

If your CYA tests around 30 or less, 3ppm for Cl is okay. If CYA test higher, I would run my FC level correspondingly higher. (search "best guess" on this forum)

I was under the impression there would be alot of work to do to my pool when I opened it up in the spring.

Please come to my house this weekend. I am replacing a large liner and I want you to get rid of all that spare time you have!!

[Beachnut_PA]

The pool store test results were similar to mine except pH and Alk. His test showed pH = 8.0 and Alk = 80. His recommendation was to put over 13 pounds of stuff in the water (pH down and some type of stabilizer) to fix this "problem". I pulled out the test kit as soon as I got home from work yesterday and verified that my pH = 7.2 and Alk = 100 (down slightly). The fact that this guy could give me these bogus recommendations with a straight face really sucks.

I was skeptical of the advice given on this site when I first got here last year, but it's true. I still have a hard time believing these pool store folks can be so underhanded about something that is such a large investment for most of us.

Thanks for the advice Dave - sorry no time to help with your liner this weekend.

And good luck to mizzouguy and conductor.