Need advice about TA in new pool

[aylad]

I believe that smart stix are a different shape of trichlor pucks...

Wouldn't be a bad idea to get a current CYA and pH level.

Janet

[traceyb]

On July 28th my readings were as follows/

The FC----1.2
The ph---7.4
The TA---110

Smart Sticks are a form of trichlor...made by bioguard. The calcium hardner is done/ I won't buy it again though considering she is an nground pool operator and the one in my backyard is an AG vinyl lined.
I don't know where to go from here ........my water looks marvelous, I just want to keep it that way. I was wondering about the algaecide. It's bioguard step 3. It's active ingredients are

Alkyls and dimethyl benzyl ammonium chloride. It says its a once a week application. I have had water in my pool now for 9 days and so far it is nice nice nice. So any suggestions ??? Thanks

[Watermom]

You don't need an algaecide and sometimes adding them makes your pool a foamy mess. Also, can you give us your cya reading? Is this a newly filled pool?

[traceyb]

yes, it is brand newly filled. What is the cya????? I have 6 way and 4 way strips but the lady who has been helping me uses drops. She'll test again this thursday and we'll see what she has me add...???? I'll consult here before I buy/add anything. if you look on the thread on backfilling an AG pool....my pool photo is on there.
So when do I need to add algaecide??? Only if we see algae????

[traceyb]

Ok, I figured it out I think. The cya level determines the amount of stabilzer right? If so, I used my 6 way test strips and the stabilizer was around 50 ppm. It is a 22,900 gallon AG pool.
The total hardness was ok as well as the TC,FC,ph<and TA.
I guess the hardness reads well due to the fact that I added 16lb of harness increaser over a period of 3 days. I guess it's something I didn't necessarily need to do, but it's already done. OOOPS>
So, maybe I can get some guidance from here.

[aylad]

The test strips have been known to be less than accurate--I would highly encourage you to get a drop-based kit. Most of us use the one Ben sells on this site--it will accurately test for most everything you'll ever need. As a starter, you can always go to WalMart and start with the $15 5-way kit.

If your stabilizer is around 50 ppm, then stop using the smart stix...you don't need CYA any higher than that. I would switch to exclusively bleach at this point, to keep the CYA from going any higher. What is your hardness level?

You can get plenty of guidance you need from here, but you need to post specific levels for TC, FC, pH, TA, and CYA-- "ok" doesn't give us enough to go on.

As far as algaecide goes, if you have a properly chlorinated pool, you don't need algaecide. It can actually create a lot more problems for you than it'll fix. I've never put algaecide in my pool, and if I were smart enough to figure out how to post a pic , I would show you that it's crystal clear all the time. Some of the other veterans (and I believe my 3 co-mods) put algaecide in theirs only at closing--and even then, the only thing recommended around this forum is Polyquat 60. For now, save the money on the algaecide, properly chlorinate your pool, and you won't have algae problems.



Janet

[traceyb]

The hardness is 250
the TC is 1
the ph is 7.2
the TA is 40
the sabilizer is 50.
This is using a test strip. I WILL indeed grab a drops kit soon, but I would rather buy a good one. How much are they online and where do I go to buy one? Sorry, for an ASAP reading, this is what I can give you. Water looks very very beautiful and clear. I have been keeping the smart sticks going though.
Do you still think I need to add bleach? If so how much? I will hold off on the algaecide.......thanks for your help .......it really is appreciated.