Too much Chlorine

[Barry J]

I just tested my AG 33x18 pool. The chlorine level came out "orange", which I assume is high.
The Ph was low at 6.8, and Alk was about 40..I put in some borax and baking soda, but ph and alk came up a little. I drained my poolo down to the return and top it off with frest water, in hopes to get the chlorine level down, but still "orange" on the shaker test.
I am about a week from closing the pool, what should I do, should I buy something to reduce the chlorine level??? And if so what???
Thanks
Barry

[BigDave]

High chlorine is your friend at closing. pH needs to be well above 6.8 (say 7.4) and alk should be more like 100 than 40. Where are these now? Don't try to reduce chlorine level - the sunlight will take care of that. How are your numbers now?

[Barry J]

I'll check them tomorrow night... Chlorine wise..I figured I would want it high for closing, But, Wednesday is suppose to be mid 90s, kids might want to go in

[BigDave]

You must be close to us. I'm looking forward to a couple extra innings as well.

[Barry J]

My reading today were:
Chlorine: orange...out of range
ph: 6.8
Alk: 50,
So my questions..is it save to go in with the chlorine that high???
And how much baking soda and borax to put in to raise my alk and Ph,
Thanks
Barry

[BigDave]

I'd need to know the CYA level and a more accurate chlorine level. Do you have a K-2006? You need one.

[singingpond]

Also, your pH is quite likely less than 6.8 (that's just the lowest reading on the color comparison bar). The fact that you had 6.8 in your first post, reported adding borax, and still have pH 6.8 currently, adds to the suspicion that the actual pH is lower.

Are you still trying to swim in the pool before closing, or just trying to get it into decent shape to close at this point?

[CarlD]

Try diluting your pool water with distilled water. First try 1:1, then try 1:2, 1:3, until you get a reading on your OTO cell. If it's 1:1, double the reading. 1:2, triple it. 1:3, quadruple it (so if it reads "5" it's really 20ppm). That will give us a ball park on the true total chlorine level.