testing results

[minermom]

I have a quick question, and I've tried looking at old posts, but I just end up getting confused.
My test results today were (Wal-Mart kit)
PH - 7.2
CL- above 5 (but not much)
ALK - 140
CYA - 60
I know my ph is a little low, and my alk. is a little high. The pool is clear, so is enough to worry about? And is there anything that raises the ph and lowers Alk. (Borax?)
Thanks in advance for any help.
Kerrie

[waterbear]

I know my ph is a little low, and my alk. is a little high. The pool is clear, so is enough to worry about?
Your pH is fine and will rise on it's own (Unless you are using trichlor).

And is there anything that raises the ph and lowers Alk. (Borax?)
Thanks in advance for any help.
Kerrie

Aeration will raise pH withouht having any impact on TA. So to lower your TA you would add acid to drop the pH to 7.2 then aerate the water to raise the pH without affedcting the TA. You would repeat this until the TA was where you wanted it.

[smallpooldad]

Few questions first so that I can help you:

1) Is your pool using a saltwater chlorine generator, if so what make, and model number?

2) If not do you use the BBB method (Liquid Bleach)? If so whose bleach? (Are you using Borax if so what is the ppm (parts per million). The best test strip for Boron is made by LaMotte.

3) If not do you use the BBB method do you use chlorine pucks?

4) How many gallons is your pool?

5) I believe the Wal-Mart Test kit, is liquid reagents, am I correct? ( For information: The best normal test kit, if you can afford it, is made by Taylor Industries).

6) What is the Alkalinity, pH, Calcium Hardness of your tap water?

7) Does your pool show any signs of iron staining, normally the walls are brownish?

8) Is your pool plaster, fiberglass, stainless, tiled, or a vinyl liner?

9) You did not mention the Calcium Hardness measurement. What is it?

10) How long has the water been in the pool without draining, in years?

11) What type of filter, sand, DE, cartridge, do you have and what size is it? How often is the filter media changed.

12) What size is your pump?

13) At what tempersture range do you normally operate the pool.

14) When was the last time you backwashed it, how often do you do this?

15) Does your pool get a lot of debris on a dailly basis

16) Do you have a pool cleaner/vac if so what type and does it run daily?

17) How many hours do you run your pump for?

18) Do you have a pool heater? Do you use it? If so how often?

While all this information is not absolutely needed it really helps in addressing your issues.

The ideal pH is normally considered 7.5 as that is the same as your eyes and if you have an iron or other metal staining problem it may help control that, 7.4 is actually slightly better for metal problems. One can go as high as 7.8 or as low as 7.2 on the pH, but I think you know that.

At present as Waterbear stated it is better to keep the pH between 7.0 and 7.2 and then aerate using a large fountain pump if you have one. Meaning a fountain spraying water back into your pool, to lower the alkalinity. If not and tap water has an alkalinity that is lower than say 120 or below, you could drain it down some as a last resort. This will be dependant on the results you need to acheive. Chlorine at 5 for the present is OK.

[minermom]

So, I'm REALLY new at this (as if it didn't show), here are some stats on my pool. (Up until this year I just went to the pool store and went by what they said to add...)
We have a 18 x 38 above ground doughboy with a six foot deep in, so vinyl liner.
At the first of the year I tried doing the BBB, and my numbers were always ok, but the adding of bleach was time consuming as I'm apt to work alot and not test everyday. I then decided to use pucks in the basket (Trichlor) and HTH shock (Calcium Hypo). This is when my ph dropped and the alkalinity rose a little. (I read somewhere on this site, that would happen with the pucks). I run the filter 5 hours in early am and 5 hours in the late evening, or if we are swimming.
The numbers from this morning are:
CL - over 5
PH - between 7.2 and 7.5 (my guess would be 7.3)
ALK - 120
I realize they're different from yesterday and this could be the Wal-Mart kit (bought last year) or operator error .
I'm inclined to leave it alone, what do ya'll think?
Kerrie

[waterbear]

If you are using trichlor pucks you want to run your TA on the high side. 100-120 is a good range. Be sure to keep an eye on your CYA as it will rise with the continued use of pucks and your pool will become overstabilzied. THAT is the main reason most people on here do no use pucks.

[minermom]

I will do that.
Thanks so much for all the help.
Kerrie

[smallpooldad]

pH of 7.3 ok
Alk 120 ok
FC 5 ok
CYA 60 ( too high go to 45 by draining down the pool 25%. This should keep you algae free but if you are not getting algae at a CyA of 60 it is your choice)

[CarlD]

pH of 7.3 ok
Alk 120 ok
FC 5 ok
CYA 60 ( too high go to 45 by draining down the pool 25%. This should keep you algae free but if you are not getting algae at a CyA of 60 it is your choice)

Don't waste your time draining your pool! I hate to say it, but SmallPoolDad is wrong on this one.

There's nothing wrong with a CYA of 60. You'll have to keep your regular FC in the 5-10ppm range , but that's fine. IF you keep it there, you'll use less chlorine this summer as it's been a real chlorine eater all around! If you keep it in that range you won't get algae.

Our "Best Guess" table is still a great way to stay safe and compensate for higher levels of CYA. aylad, one of my fellow monitors, NEVER runs her pool below a CYA of 60--she lives in Louisiana where it's hot and sunny and the chlorine disappears if you blink at "normal" CYA levels. So she runs a higher CYA, a higher normal residual level, and doesn't go through barrels of bleach keeping her pool clean.

Using the "Best Guess" table give you the correct equalibrium between CYA and chlorine residual levels.

[smallpooldad]

I think I wrote drain it, if 60 is problematic - "but if you are not getting algae at a CyA of 60 it is your choice." If not I agree leave it alone. I think and agree that the way I wrote it was confusing.

Whatever, 60 is OK if there are no problems. At 45 CYA, way south of Louisiana, in Hawaii, we would also loose very little chlorine. It is just at 45 you are carrying a little more insurance as regards algae. But living on the edge is so much more exciting. Lower Cya means your chlorine is disinfecting more, it is as simple as that.

After 35 the difference in loss of chlorine is minimal in my experience but that seems to vary from geographic location and how much debris falls into the pool on a daily basis. Debris free and you should not loose too much chlorine at the lower CYA number.

Another advantage of lower CyA is that if you did have to shock with chlorine you would need less, see the "Best Guess" table, so why drive at 80 mph when you can get there at 30 mph, unless of course lower CyA truely does use up more chlorine, in your case, and indeed that might be - so then there would be no advantage at all.

If you are going for 60 CyA then I agree with CarlD that you should try to find the Optimum chlorine point where you have no trouble 5-10 ppm. Lowering the CyA lets you lower the Chlorine number somewhat. As he said look at the "Best Guess" table. Personally I prefer lower CyA (35) and lower chlorine(4-6) but to each their own. Ideally try to keep the CyA no higher than 80, or stretching 100.

Sadly as you are using pucks you will most probably have to drain it some if you wish to maintain 60 and not go above, unless you have a lot of kids jumping in and out of the pool doing it for you. If the CYA is allowed to go higher you will need to raise the FC amount. If you do drain at the end of you season (we have no seasons) you might want to consider starting at 35 and letting it float up to 60.

I am not sure how accurate the Wal-Mart kit is, others may wish to comment. If they state it is not accurate you may wish to get a Taylor Test Kit, for the added assurance you have the right numbers.

What you are looking for is a clear pool with a glassy surface, like the magazine pictures. It seems that you are pumping for the correct amount of hours based on your pool size assuming a correct sized pump and filter. If it is not clear look to either a lower CyA, assuming the chlorine loss is not too great or expensive, or a raise to a higher chlorine level.

[waterbear]

Whatever, 60 is OK if there are no problems. At 45 CYA, way south of Louisiana, in Hawaii, we would also loose very little chlorine. It is just at 45 you are carrying a little more insurance as regards algae. But living on the edge is so much more exciting. Lower Cya means your chlorine is disinfecting more, it is as simple as that.

IF you are running the proper FC levels for your CYA it's immaterial. Here in FL we often run pools with a CYA of 60 because of the amount of sunlight. In areas like Arizona, which also get extreme sun high CYA levels, high CYa levels are common (I've heard of levels in the 80-100 range in manually chlorinated pools). As long as the FC level is raised to compensate for the CYA there is no problem and some resent research seem to indicate that CYA actually has some direct UV blocking abilities to protect the chlorine at deeper levels.

You speak of your experience with your pool. The collective experience in this forum is with MANY pools. (And my own experience is also with many pools since I do work in the industry.) Perpective is a good thing.