Want to start out right!

[Watermom]

The multiplier for the 25ml sample test is 0.2 and 0.5 for the 10ml sample. So... you have 6 ppm FC and 1.4 ppm CC. You may want to use the 10ml sample as you'll go through your reagent pretty fast using the 25ml.
You can lower your pH as Watermom described - your pH test is accurate with FC of 6.
You'll need to get your FC up to shock level as per Ben's Best Guess Chart and keep it there until you have almost no CC and you have less than 1ppm FC loss overnight.

Uh, Dave ........... hadn't I already told the OP these very things in my last two posts?

[BigDave]

Sorry WM, Yes you did. I started writing my response before your's was up. I was also dealing with the family morning so not typing very fast.
In your first post this morning you mentioned that pH test won't be accurate at high Cl levels and the OP checked back on this in the "So, I should ...". I meant to point out that the situation is different than when you advised regarding pH test accuracy.

[mortimay]

Still working on the pool. It's getting better but not as quick as I'd like! I know, I know....patience! I've been working on keeping the FC levels between 12-16ppm. The pH was at 7.6 but we got some rain and it's now at 7.8. We vac'd to waste last night and now adding more water to fill so I can continue to vac. I can see the "dark" in the bottom of the pool where there are leaves, etc that I need to get out. So, I'll add more acid tonight to bring the pH back down, I'll keep the FC up and vac to get the ick out of the bottom. Anything else I should be doing?

Also, I have an empty muriatic acid bottle and one that has some acid still in it (this one was left from the previous owners over three years ago). What is the proper/safe way to dispose of these bottles?

Thank you!!

[PoolDoc]

What is the proper/safe way to dispose of these bottles?

Pour the acid in the pool (to lower your pH). Rinse all the bottles out, in the pool. Throw them in the trash.

Regarding your pool generally -- just get the gunk out ASAP, and make SURE you maintain a good high chlorine level 100% of the time.

[CarlD]

Dave and Watermom are right--don't use the 25ml sample, use the 10ml. In ten years, I think I've used the 25 ml once.

When they say .2 and .5, (and this is gonna sound crazy but it's not) every FIVE drops in the 25ml sample is 1ppm of FC, and every TWO drops in the 10ml sample is 1ppm of FC. (5drops to 1ppm means each drop is .2, 2 drops to 1ppm means each drop is .5)

Carl

[PoolDoc]

yer right. I should have noticed that. Thanks for doing so. -ben

[mortimay]

Wanted to send a huge THANK YOU to everyone here at the pool forum. I got my pool cleared in 6 days this year, compared to 8+ weeks last year. You guys ROCK!

Last night I added 2 gal 12.5% bleach and then checked, the number was FC 18ppm and the pH was 7.6. This morning at 8:00am I checked the chlorine and it was 12ppm. I just checked again at 11:00 and here are all my numbers:

FC 6ppm
CC 0
Alk 180ppm
pH 7.8

We added well water last night and also got some rain. Today has been overcast so no direct sunlight on the pool. I know I'm still fighting stuff. Due to some medical issues, I haven't been able to do much with the pool for the last week. The pool had a slight green to it on Friday. I've been shocking again and the water is now crystal clear, but I'm not holding chlorine overnight. Vacuumed to waste the ick on the bottom of the pool. I'll be able to keep up with it this week, and I'm hoping to have it swimable this weekend. What's my next step?

[mortimay]

Went out to work on the pool this morning. It's clear but has a green tint to it. I have added well water the last couple of days, but water was greenish before.

Cl 5.5
pH 7.8
Alk 220
CYA lower than 30 but there is some CYA (when tested at 30 the water was cloudy but could still see the dot)

Adding more CYA now. What can I do to get rid of the green tint?

[PoolDoc]

If you've got dichlor, don't add CYA -- add dichlor! For each 1 ppm of FC with dichlor, you'll get 0.9 ppm stabilizer.

But, with that Alk, lower your pH to 7.0 - 7.2. Muriatic acid is best -- see the linked safety page in my signature.

[mortimay]

Is there a way to lower the alkalinity?