Frustrated with algae and chlorine

[mnhwinn]

I am still shocking, but it is holding chlorine really well now. My new test kit is due to be delivered today, so I feel that I will have a more accurate idea of what is going on after I get that. I have been having to use the dilution method with distilled water to calculate the chlorine levels for the past week, and I feel that has been a bit tough, so I am just keeping a lot of chlorine in to be safe. Excited for my new test kit to arrive!

Yes, it is great to see that beautiful pool again! Thanks to all of you! I forgot how gorgeous it could be!

[mnhwinn]

My test kit was delivered today! Here are the current numbers:

FC - 5
CC - .5
TC - 5.5
CYA - 40
PH - 7.3
TA - 70
CH - 400

What do you think?

[CarlD]

If your water is clear, these are excellent numbers. If your water is NOT clear then you are well on your way to being clear.

My test kit was delivered today! Here are the current numbers:

FC - 5 This is good

CC - .5 If this is because you're testing with 10ml you may want to run the test with 25 ml (each drop is .2, instead of .5) If it then tests as .2 you are FINE!

TC - 5.5 See above--it may really be 5.2, which is fine

CYA - 40 FC levels should be between 3 and 6 so you are fine. But I'd stop using the tri-chlor pucks unless you feel the need to raise it higher--you are FINE here

PH - 7.3 A TAD low but I would NOT add anything to raise it--let aeration (splashing) take care of slowly raising pH to about 7.5 or 7.6. On the plus side your chlorine is more effective at this level.

TA - 70 This is a good level. Keep it here especially with your CH at 400.

CH - 400 This is the very high end of normal for concrete pools. It's OK but you do NOT want to go any higher, so you should NOT use Cal-Hypo to shock your pool or you risk the water going cloudy and scaling on anything metal.

What do you think?

I went back over your posts. You had also added PolyQuat (good) ("16 oz of poly[oxyethylene(dimethyliminio)ethylene(dimethyliminio )ethylene dichloride] 60%.") but then your FC was low and you couldn't get it back up for a couple of days. That's normal.

You may want to add an ounce of Polyquat once a week.

You added phosphate reducer. Don't. It's a HUGE waste of money and nowhere near justified for your phosphate level. We have users with levels of 3000 who have NO problems maintaining their pools without reducers.

You added a liquid CYA additive. That probably was what got your CYA to 40ppm... That's fine.

You used Cal-Hypo shock packs--that's why your calcium is at the high end and shouldn't be used any more.

You used Tri-chlor pucks which helped keep your pH down (Cal-Hypo raises it) but still in the safe range. Tri-chlor adds CYA as well, so, for now, you shouldn't be using them.

You've also been adding bleach/liquid chlorine and that is just fine!

If you are unsure about your CC, add bleach or LC to get your FC to 15 and that should clear it. But you can also use the K-2006 using a 25ml sample rather than a 10ml sample and this will measure FC and CC levels in .2 increments, rather than .5 increments. If CC is actually .2 (which you cannot tell at the 10ml level) then don't worry about it.

You have done GREAT!

[mnhwinn]

Wow! I am so grateful!! This forum has been such a life saver for my pool and my pocket book! I thank you SO much!!!

The details you just provided are so much appreciated - thank you for taking the time. I have spent so many hours over this past week, reading through posts on this forum, so everything you told me makes perfect sense, and I completely understand it. Woo hoo!

I will run my test with the 25ml, because as you suspected, I used the 10ml.

My pool looks incredible. Thanks so much!

I am leaving for vacation (as I mentioned before) in two days, and will be gone for a week. Do you recommend the same as was recommended before? I will be able to have the person who is watching my house add bleach for me, and the filters will be on a program. Is it still necessary to add the quart of poly before I go, or just an ounce for the week I will be gone?

[Watermom]

If you have someone who is going to add bleach for you throughout the week, you don't really need to add the quart of Polyquat, although it won't hurt if you do. If you do decide to add it, just be aware that it will drop your cl level and then you'll have to bring it back up. If it were my pool and I had someone who would come by every other day or so to add bleach, I probably wouldn't add the Polyquat. In fact, I never use it except in the fall before I close my pool. Some people routinely add a little bit, but I never have and have never had any problems with my pool.

[CarlD]

When I first suggested the quart of Polyquat I hadn't realized you had already added 16oz of it.

So I would suggest adding one ounce, and having your "pool angel" add a gallon of bleach every other day (or add 2 quarts everyday). This should be perfect. If chlorine goes a bit too high? So what? You have a concrete pool and it can stand extremely high chlorine levels (unlike vinyl). All that will do is ensure it is sanitary. It will come down on its own.