First Results Using K-2006, What Do You Think I Should Do Next?

[phishfood]

So finally after getting home learned to do the TA and CHT tests. Repeated twice

After being gone for ~ 7 days (neighbor came over every 48 hours to check chlorine)

I came up with:

pH 8.0

Did acid demand test

- 1 drop lowered to 7.6 "+"

- 2 drops lowered to 7.4

Calcium HT 110

Total Alk 90

So I figured adding 1.5 Tbsp ph reducer (.75 oz) to my 415 gallons. Also all these numbers people quote in oz - I can just do the standard .5oz=1Tbsp (3tsp) dry chemical? Does that conversion work?

Right now water looks crystal clear

Should I do anything further? OK at least as far as those numbers go (alk, calcium)? I read about people fighting TA-pH relation and read stickies about aeration/etc and think gack I should probably not do anything, numbers are fine. Comments?

Probably need to learn and do free/combined chlorine tests next to see how that's looking. Then maybe a CYA to see how I'm doing on that after using dichlor.

If one has 0 combined chlorine is shocking necessary? Spa store says "shock every week!" which seems like I don't know if they know whats best, or want me to buy more chlorine. Is combined chlorine be only test to see when a shock is needed?

[chem geek]

You don't need to shock if you use enough chlorine after every soak.

If your pH tends to rise, you can try lowering the TA some. If you lower it a lot (say to 50 ppm) then you should use a supplemental pH buffer such as 50 ppm borates (usually from boric acid).

I wouldn't worry about CYA until you've used enough Dichlor cumulatively to worry about it. Your calculating it based on FC dosage will probably be more accurate than the CYA test anyway.

[phishfood]

Thanks!