New to pool math
- Thread starter robaldo
- Start date
- May 3, 2014
- 61,892
- Pool Size
- 6000
- Surface
- Fiberglass
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-40
Welcome to the forum!
That test kit is insufficient to properly manage your pool water chemistry.
See Pool Test Kits - Further Reading
I suggest you read through Pool Care Basics - Trouble Free Pool and even look at a few of our videos TFP-TV - Trouble Free Pool
That test kit is insufficient to properly manage your pool water chemistry.
See Pool Test Kits - Further Reading
I suggest you read through Pool Care Basics - Trouble Free Pool and even look at a few of our videos TFP-TV - Trouble Free Pool
Ok I just wanted a basic test kit i can do weekly and every few weeks take the water to the pool shop and get it done properly
- Jul 21, 2013
- 61,458
- Pool Size
- 35000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-60
I really just want to know alkalinity and ph is there a simpler kit that just does that ?
- Jul 21, 2013
- 61,458
- Pool Size
- 35000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-60
What will you do about managing the other chemicals in your pool water?
I don't know what test kits are available to you in Australia. When some of your mates come by here they can advise you.
If you count on a pool store to properly test your water, you are headed for disappointment.
You have it backwards - the Chlorine tests are the ones to do every few days. The others can be longer. (PROVIDED you have a very stable pool)
It has been established over and over for decades here that pool stores are the last place you want to have your water tested. Invariably they will either be wrong, or point you in a direction of buying way too many expensive products that you will never really need (or cause more issues than they supposedly cure).
It has been established over and over for decades here that pool stores are the last place you want to have your water tested. Invariably they will either be wrong, or point you in a direction of buying way too many expensive products that you will never really need (or cause more issues than they supposedly cure).
I might give that a go is it easy to follow ? And do I have to test for everything all the time ? I have a dual zone swim spa
Get their complete kit. Yes, it is very easy to follow. They sell an add-on "stirrer" device that is a huge assist in mixing. Don't think twice - get that add-on.
With the stirrer and test vials you get to play "Dr. Frankenstein" which can be a bit of fun, but yet not time consuming or at all complex.
If things are running well, you don't need to do every test all the time. The chlorine tests are the most frequent, and if all is normally well, only the Free Cl needs to be done perhaps 2-3 times a week. The other Cl tests perhaps once a week. pH perhaps once a week, maybe twice. The others maybe once or twice a month. But if the initial Cl and pH tests seem to be off, or moving in a wrong direction (too low or too high) then you would run some or all of the others to get a clearer picture of what changes you need to make in chemical additions.
Starting out, you will want to run everything every couple of days, to learn what ones change how often, and which ones tend to stay pretty much the same.
Of course, if the pool has issues - a really high TA, an algae explosion, etc., etc. then you would run some or many of the tests much more often to track your progress in getting it corrected.
All of this depends on what you are using to treat your pool. Those that use only liquid chlorine may have to test CL every day, or every other day. Those with a salt generator may only need to test Cl once a week. If you use tablets (which we think are bad) you may need to test Cl a couple of times a week, and CYA every two to four weeks. We can get more specific once you get the kit, and can give us more details about your pool, it's equipment, and what chemicals you use or want to use.
While my setup with a salt generator is on the low side of neediness, I honestly estimate I only spend about 15 min. a week in testing and chem additions. Far less time than a drive to the pool store. Your situation, even if less optimal, can end up in a similar low time commitment.
Hence the name of the site: Getting your pool to be as trouble (and work! and expense!) free as possible.
I don't want to sound all flowers and unicorns - if your testing reveals big issues (extremely high CYA, a big algae infestation, etc.) there may be an intensive, and perhaps long or more expensive, period of work to get things back in balance. But with the comprehensive testing available on hand, and advice here, you'll be well equipped to know what to do to get it back to trouble free.
- Jun 24, 2021
- 13,815
- Pool Size
- 29000
- Surface
- Vinyl
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- CircuPool RJ-60 Plus
If you use chlorine for sanitization, get this kit:
If you have a salt water chlorine generator, get this kit:
If you have a salt water chlorine generator, get this kit:
Thank you i will give it a go it’s only a small pool with a spa in a different zone. Last summer i just put chlorine after every use in both zones as the spa/pool handover guy recommended and just got it checked every 2 weeks or so. That seemed to work pretty good I didn’t have any problems
It is! Price, even in US dollars, seems kind of high. We pay the equivalent of about $76 aussie dollars. Taylor also makes their "Smart Stir" which is equivalent. So perhaps with a bit of sleuthing you may find one or the other offered elsewhere for a bit less.
A spoon needs to be cleaned well between each different test. Disposable coffee stirrers are probably better. Not hard, but stirring will become one of those little irritations. When your CL is high at 15 and you find yourself adding a drop, stirring, and then repeating 29 times more times until you get to the point where the color changes...
With the device you drop the "pill" in and turn it on, and it acts like a mini blender stirring all the time - so you just need to count the drops as it happily does the mixing for you.
With the device you drop the "pill" in and turn it on, and it acts like a mini blender stirring all the time - so you just need to count the drops as it happily does the mixing for you.
- Jun 24, 2021
- 13,815
- Pool Size
- 29000
- Surface
- Vinyl
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- CircuPool RJ-60 Plus
I actually just purchased this one let’s hope all this money I just spent is worth it
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