First of all, I want to express my gratitude for this site and the folks on it. It has been an invaluable resource as I'm taking over doing pool maintenance myself.
A little backstory: I ditched three different pool cleaning services in less than a year (all with at least a 4.9 out of 5 star rating on Google). I won't go into specifics here, but let's just say in each case, I didn't get what I paid for.
So with pool maintenance in my own hands, I bought a TF-Pro Salt kit and a C-600 pH/salt meter. Some of the numbers made my jaw drop.
FC: 19
CC: undetectable (< 0.5)
Salt: 5300
pH: 8.4
CYA: undetectable (< 30)
TA: 50
CH: 200
The weekly reports I received said FC was 4 or 5, pH was between 7.4 and 7.6, and salt was 3000. (The other numbers were not reported.) I suspect the FC and pH were measured using the OTO kit (unreliable at such a high FC) or cheap test strips (always unreliable). I also suspect the salt number was read straight off the Hayward controller (no secondary test to confirm), and that salt was added every time the reported reading dipped below 3000.
My first course of action was to raise the TA to 80 using baking soda, lower the pH by adding muriatic acid, and turn off the SWG for several weeks while the FC dropped to a more reasonable level. I also replaced my SWG with a new T-9 cell.
Here are my most recent numbers:
FC: 9
CC: undetectable (< 0.5)
Salt: 5300
pH: 7.7
CYA: 70
TA: 80
CH: 425
All of the numbers seem good now, except for the eye-watering salt number. To get the salt number down, I don't see how I have any choice besides draining and refilling about 40 percent of my pool water. I'm sure my new T-9 cell will appreciate that. As others on this site have said, I don't plan to add salt based on the Hayward controller reading alone; I will use the TF salt test to confirm the numbers first.
That's all I have for now. Thanks again for this great resource, and thanks for helping me to open my eyes to the high costs, low value, and significant harm I was getting from my (now former) pool cleaners.
A little backstory: I ditched three different pool cleaning services in less than a year (all with at least a 4.9 out of 5 star rating on Google). I won't go into specifics here, but let's just say in each case, I didn't get what I paid for.
So with pool maintenance in my own hands, I bought a TF-Pro Salt kit and a C-600 pH/salt meter. Some of the numbers made my jaw drop.
FC: 19
CC: undetectable (< 0.5)
Salt: 5300
pH: 8.4
CYA: undetectable (< 30)
TA: 50
CH: 200
The weekly reports I received said FC was 4 or 5, pH was between 7.4 and 7.6, and salt was 3000. (The other numbers were not reported.) I suspect the FC and pH were measured using the OTO kit (unreliable at such a high FC) or cheap test strips (always unreliable). I also suspect the salt number was read straight off the Hayward controller (no secondary test to confirm), and that salt was added every time the reported reading dipped below 3000.
My first course of action was to raise the TA to 80 using baking soda, lower the pH by adding muriatic acid, and turn off the SWG for several weeks while the FC dropped to a more reasonable level. I also replaced my SWG with a new T-9 cell.
Here are my most recent numbers:
FC: 9
CC: undetectable (< 0.5)
Salt: 5300
pH: 7.7
CYA: 70
TA: 80
CH: 425
All of the numbers seem good now, except for the eye-watering salt number. To get the salt number down, I don't see how I have any choice besides draining and refilling about 40 percent of my pool water. I'm sure my new T-9 cell will appreciate that. As others on this site have said, I don't plan to add salt based on the Hayward controller reading alone; I will use the TF salt test to confirm the numbers first.
That's all I have for now. Thanks again for this great resource, and thanks for helping me to open my eyes to the high costs, low value, and significant harm I was getting from my (now former) pool cleaners.
