Numbers question

[CarlD]

"Hi

Took water sample to pool store for numbers check. Here they are:

Free Chlorine: 3.0 good reading

Only if CYA is no higher than 30.

Total Chlorine: 3.0 good reading

That's good because it means Combined Chloramines is 0.

Calcium Hardness: 150.0 good reading

This depends ENTIRELY on whether you have a vinyl or concrete/plaster/tile pool. If vinyl, anything from 0 to 400 is fine and 500 is manageable. If you have the hard stuff, you are too low and need 200-400ppm.

Cyanuric Acid: 0.0 below minimum

Is that a reading of 0 or a reading of 0 below the minimum? Either way you need to confirm that. Outdoor pools should have SOME CYA

pH Level: 7.8 good reading

I personally think that's too high, though technically it's OK. Water will be easier on the eyes, BUT chlorine is far less effective than when it's a little lower. I aim for 7.5.


Total Alkalinity: 100.0 below minimum

While Chem_Geek and I debate on this, I don't think either of us would EVER call 100 "below minimum". I would call it "perfect", he might say it's too high. But if your pH comes down to 7.5, T/A may go down too. As long as you are above 80ppm I wouldn't "fix" it because it's not broken.

Copper: 0.0 good reading

That's fine.

Iron: 0.0 good reading

That's fine.

TDS 200.0 good reading

Meaningless number in 99.99% of all pools with problems, meaningless in ALL pools without problems.

In looking back at my previous sample reports, since 2005, all of my reports have had a "below minimum" on calcium hardness. I have known that, and didn't give it much todo, because I have learned on here that it is not important on the vinyl.

I have only ever added, household bleach, baking soda, borax. I have used the pucks in the inline to raise CYA in the past. To raise the CYA I filled the inline again.

My question is how did the calcium hardness raise? Just curious.

Thanks,
kathy"

[TanaRayne]

Thank you both for being so helpful.

It is a vinyl pool. Needed a skimmer basket and had to go to the pool store, so thought while I was there I would test the water. Kind of like for s&g. (s... & giggles)

Again, thanks
Kathy

[rcabor1]

I do know that calcium hardness is also important if you have a heater... but if not, I would only worry about it being over 400 or so...