Water Test Kit Advice?

[DareDog]

Today I ordered the TF-100 Start Up Deluxe kit. Any advice on using it? In the past I used test strips or the local pool store to test the water.

Just had salt water above ground pool installed last August.

 

[jblizzle]

Great choice!!!

It will come with instructions. And there are some here: Extended Test Instructions and there are You Tube videos.

 

[mknauss]

https://www.youtube.com/user/tf100testkit?feature=results_main

Also - Pool School - Extended Test Kit Directions

Run a full set of tests when you receive the kit and post them up.

Take care.

 

[kellyfair]

Good job on ordering a great kit! You will find the instructions that come with to be easy to follow, but certainly post any questions you have here.

If you haven’t already, a read through Pool School is a great way to pass the time waiting for your kit to arrive!

 

[Kiss4aFrog]

Best choice on test kit (IMHO). Videos are a great help https://www.youtube.com/user/tf100testkit?feature=results_main

 

[DareDog]

What is a good stock pile of pool chemicals to have on hand? Is Clorox brand ones any good?

 

[tim5055]

What is a good stock pile of pool chemicals to have on hand? Is Clorox brand ones any good?

Other than liquid chlorine and maybe a gallon of muratic acid, no "stockpile" is generally needed.

 

[Razorhog]

What is a good stock pile of pool chemicals to have on hand? Is Clorox brand ones any good?

Clorox good old fashioned bleach, yes. But in that case just buy the cheapest bleach - whether it's chlorinating liquid in the pool section or great value bleach in the laundry section. I'm not familiar with many Clorox pool products. But a rule of thumb is don't use any products with the word blue in the name. You have a salt water generator so you'll probably just need a few jugs of bleach on hand to supplement when needed.

 

[splashpad]

What is a good stock pile of pool chemicals to have on hand? Is Clorox brand ones any good?

Liquid Chlorine (aka Bleach) (any brand, your preference)
At department stores: Cleaning Bleach (6% or 8.25%)
for pool use: Liquid Chlorinator or Liquid Shock (10% or 12%)

 

[kellyfair]

Because I have SWG, I don’t need to keep a lot of chlorine around, so I just take the lazy way out and buy the grocery store brand when I am there.

 

[DareDog]

had water tested at the pool store.

Free Chlorine: 0.04
Combined Chlorine: 0.0
pH: 7.8
Total Alkalinity: 94
Calcium Hardness: 32
CYA: 13
Salt: 1960

I think since salt is low its not producing chlorine?

Salt is low, I have 4 40lb bags.

How do I increase the hardness?

 

[mknauss]

I would not make any changes to your chemistry based on pool store results.

The salt content you should be able to trust. Your IC?? needs about 2700 ppm salt to operate. So I would add about 800 ppm of salt to your water and see if the IC?? will start.

You do not need to increase CH in a vinyl AG pool.

When you get your test kit, run a full set of tests and report the results here. We can provided guidance at that point.

Take care.

 

[splashpad]

had water tested at the pool store.

While they aren't reliable, we'll peek at them for curiosity's sake

Free Chlorine: 0.04

Combined Chlorine: 0.0
pH: 7.8
Total Alkalinity: 94
Calcium Hardness: 32
CYA: 13

Depending on what chemicals you used prior to finding TFP,
the only reading I might use is the FC, are you adding liquid chlorine (based on PoolMath calculations for your pool size) to add Chlorine @ Now/0 Goal/5 daily, until your test kit arrives?

Salt: 1960

I think since salt is low its not producing chlorine?
Salt is low, I have 4 40lb bags.

Other then the PoolStore printout, why do you think it's low?

How do I increase the hardness?

Your pool is vinyl, you don't need to. (and don't want to honestly)

 

[DareDog]

While they aren't reliable, we'll peek at them for curiosity's sake


Depending on what chemicals you used prior to finding TFP,
the only reading I might use is the FC, are you adding liquid chlorine (based on PoolMath calculations for your pool size) to add Chlorine @ Now/0 Goal/5 daily, until your test kit arrives?



Other then the PoolStore printout, why do you think it's low?


Your pool is vinyl, you don't need to. (and don't want to honestly)

I have not add any liquid chlorine to the pool. should I be?

the SWG is saying to add salt. Red light is on Add salt.

I have a salt water test kit coming in the mail next week. water test kit should be here today.

 

[tim5055]

Yes, if the SWCG is not producing chlorine you need it in the water, so add it now. Additionally, once working a SWCG is great at maintaining a chlorine level but can struggle to move the pool from a low number to your target. It's always best to help it get there with liquid.

 

[DareDog]

Yes, if the SWCG is not producing chlorine you need it in the water, so add it now. Additionally, once working a SWCG is great at maintaining a chlorine level but can struggle to move the pool from a low number to your target. It's always best to help it get there with liquid.

a gallon of bleach?

 

[splashpad]

I have not add any liquid chlorine to the pool. should I be?

Yes, if the SWCG is not producing chlorine you need it in the water, so add it now. Additionally, once working a SWCG is great at maintaining a chlorine level but can struggle to move the pool from a low number to your target. It's always best to help it get there with liquid.

Yes as tim said. Use PoolMath, enter your pool gallons at the top, in the chlorine column put 0 in the Now (first column) and 5 in the Goal (second column), make sure to notice (and change if needed to match yours) the bleach percentage for the chlorine.

the SWG is saying to add salt. Red light is on Add salt.
I have a salt water test kit coming in the mail next week. water test kit should be here today.

I would wait to verify with your salt water test kit. You can use liquid chlorine until you get your SWCG up and running

 

[DareDog]

How bad did I mess up? I put a gallon of Clorox concentrated Splashless bleach in. Thought all bleach was the same. I know now it’s not.

 

[mknauss]

It will be a bit bubbly. Splashless has polymers/surfactants in it. Just do not use it again.

The polymers/surfactants will eventually oxidize.

 

[tim5055]

How bad did I mess up? I put a gallon of Clorox concentrated Splashless bleach in. Thought all bleach was the same. I know now it’s not.

Not the end of the world and you haven't ruined anything.

We learn best from our errors.....