Help & FAQ
Everything you need to know about pool chemistry and how PoolTrack works.
Pool chemistry glossary
- FC — Free Chlorine
- The active sanitizer in your water. It's what actually kills algae and bacteria. Too low and your pool turns green; too high and it irritates skin and eyes. Target depends on your CYA level (see below).
- CC — Combined Chlorine
- Chlorine that has already bound to contaminants. CC above 0.5 ppm usually means it's time to shock the pool. High CC is what causes the classic “pool smell” — not chlorine itself.
- TC — Total Chlorine
- FC + CC. Most cheap test strips only report TC, which is why PoolTrack encourages you to track FC and CC separately for an accurate picture.
- CYA — Cyanuric Acid (Stabilizer)
- Protects chlorine from being burned off by UV sunlight. Without CYA, outdoor pools lose FC within hours. Too much CYA makes your chlorine less effective — which is why your FC target rises with your CYA level. Use the FC/CYA chart to look up the number.
- TA — Total Alkalinity
- The water's resistance to pH changes. Low TA causes pH to bounce around; high TA pushes pH up and can cause cloudy water and scaling.
- CH — Calcium Hardness
- Dissolved calcium. Too low and water becomes corrosive to plaster and metal; too high and you get scale on tile and heater elements.
- pH
- How acidic or basic your water is (0–14 scale). Ideal pool pH is 7.4–7.6. Below 7.2 is corrosive; above 7.8 reduces chlorine effectiveness and risks scale.
- LSI — Langelier Saturation Index
- A single number that tells you if water is corrosive (negative), balanced (near zero), or scale-forming (positive). PoolTrack computes LSI with a CYA correction. Aim for −0.3 to +0.3.
- TFP — Trouble Free Pool Method
- The chemistry methodology PoolTrack uses. It emphasizes the FC/CYA relationship and a short, clear list of parameters to track. More at troublefreepool.com.
- SWG — Saltwater Chlorine Generator
- A cell that makes chlorine from dissolved salt. PoolTrack treats SWG pools differently because they typically need higher CYA and lower FC targets.
- Shock / SLAM
- Temporarily raising FC to a very high level (based on your CYA) to kill algae and eliminate combined chlorine. Use PoolTrack's calculator to work out the dose.
Frequently asked questions
How often should I test my pool?
Every 2–3 days in swim season is ideal, plus after heavy rain or a pool party. At minimum: test FC and pH twice a week; test CYA, TA, and CH monthly.
Why does my FC target change when I add CYA?
CYA binds chlorine, making less of it available to sanitize. Higher CYA means you need more FC to get the same sanitizing effect. PoolTrack recalculates your minimum and target FC automatically whenever your CYA changes.
What's Quick Fill and when should I use it?
Quick Fill lets you paste a reading from another app, and PoolTrack will fill out the log form for you. It's a Plus feature and is rate-limited to 50 parses per day.
What makes the Plus plan worth $7 a month?
Three things: predictive trend alerts (PoolTrack warns you before your pH or FC actually goes out of range), a weekly email digest summarizing your pool's week, and CSV + PDF export for insurance, HOA, or service records. Free users still get calculators, history, and the Telegram bot.
How does the Telegram bot work?
Go to Settings → Telegram, generate a link code, and send it to @pooltrack_bot. Once linked, you can text the bot commands like /log 7.5 fc 3 cc 0.5 to record a reading from anywhere — no need to open the app.
What happens if I lose connection poolside?
PoolTrack queues your reading in your browser's local storage and syncs it automatically when you're back online. You won't lose data even if submit fails.
Can I export or delete my data?
Yes. In Settings, use Export My Data to download a JSON copy of everything PoolTrack has stored for you, or Delete Account to cascade-delete all your pools, readings, treatments, and the account itself (including cancelling any active Plus subscription).
Is the advice in PoolTrack safe to follow?
The dosing math follows the TFP methodology and is accurate for the parameters you enter. That said, always add chemicals slowly, one at a time, and retest before adding more. PoolTrack is a tool, not a substitute for judgment — if something looks badly off, stop and get a professional water test.
Install PoolTrack on your device
PoolTrack is a Progressive Web App — you can add it to your home screen or dock and it opens in its own window, just like a native app. No app store required.
iPhone / iPad (Safari)
- Open PoolTrack in Safari
- Tap the Share button (box with arrow at the bottom of the screen)
- Scroll down and tap Add to Home Screen
- Tap Add — PoolTrack appears on your home screen like a native app
Android (Chrome)
- Open PoolTrack in Chrome
- Tap the three-dot menu (⋮) in the top-right corner
- Tap Add to Home Screen or Install app
- Follow the prompt to confirm
Mac or Windows (Chrome or Edge)
- Open PoolTrack in Chrome or Edge
- Look for the install icon (⊕) in the address bar on the right
- Click Install — PoolTrack opens in its own window without browser chrome
Mac (Safari)
- Open PoolTrack in Safari
- Go to File → Add to Dock
- Click Add
PoolTrack works fully offline after the first load — your data syncs automatically when you reconnect.
Contact
Can't find what you're looking for? Email support@pooltrack.app and I'll help.