New here

[Big Splash]

Pool is clear now. Just a couple days of brushing the bottom and sides, 24/7 pump, and running the robot did the trick. pH measured 7.6 this morning and seems to have stabilized. I last tested the CH about 5 days ago reading 170. Since that was in line, I wasn't worried considering I have a vinyl liner. I'll test it again next time.

Thanks for the membership bump. This forum has helped greatly.

Splash

[PoolDoc]

Great!

You don't need to test CH again. Unless you're using cal hypo to chlorinate, it won't rise.

[Big Splash]

Well that's cool But, I just tested it anyway. .

FC 3.5
CC 0.5
pH 7.2
TA 180
CH 160
CYA 30(ish)

Lesson learned with all this is to add doses of chems in small increments, let that take effect and then retest before adding more.

[PoolDoc]

Great. That's my preferred method.

I've had significant arguments with others who have come to support the 'BBB method' over precisely the topic of how chemicals should be added.

Your TA is a little high, but not something to obsess over, especially with that low CH. However if you keep your pH at the low end of things, you'll find that you have to add acid periodically and that your TA will slowly drop. Once you reach your target TA (120 - 140) you can just let your pH 'float', adding acid (or borax) only if the pH wanders outside the 7.0 - 8.0 range.

[Big Splash]

The TA went up quickly from 100 to as high as 190 when I added the soda ash. I'm still adding in CYA via trichlor tabs. So, I should expect the TA to drop correct? I've been adding Borax slowly to keep the pH in range (not dropping) . That won't effect the TA correct?

Thanks,
Splash

[Watermom]

Soda ash raises pH and TA. Borax raise pH without affecting TA much which is why we prefer it to soda ash.

[Big Splash]

Cool. I guess all the reading up I'm doing is finally sinking in (no pun intended).

btw, what does the "PF=6" that was added to my signature mean?

[Watermom]

PF stands for "Pool Factor" which is a calculation that Pooldoc uses to estimate effects on water with given amounts of chemicals. Here is something I copied and pasted from another post Ben wrote that may help you better understand how it works:

PF = pool factor.

If you add 1 lb of chlorine gas to a pool with a PF of 1 (120,000 gallons = 1,000,000 lbs) you get 1 ppm of chlorine.

If you add 1 lb of chlorine gas (100% chlorine) to a pool with a PF of 10, you get 10 ppm of chlorine.

If you add 1 lb of dichlor (55% chlorine) to a pool with a PF of 10, you get a 5.5 ppm of chlorine (1 x 10 x 0.55)

[Big Splash]

Thanks for the explanation. Gee, and I thought I just had cool factor

[Watermom]

Thanks for the explanation. Gee, and I thought I just had cool factor

You do, Big Splash, you do!