BB Method (Instead of BBB)

[mfhache]

The Chlorine goes yellow. If I recall from last year for the PH test I keep on adding drops until the water goes Clear then refer to the chart.

[Watermom]

Chlorine tests that turn yellow are OTO kits that can only go to 5ppm. The Phenol Red test that accompanies it is the type where you add 5 red drops to a water sample and then do a color comparison (shades of pink/red).

Though not ideal, you can kinda get by with dilution to test your water using distilled water. (Not super accurate though.) Another way to kinda get by is by using an off the scale color matching chart that shows you higher chlorine readings using an OTO kit. Copy and paste the following link into a browser window while you are NOT logged into the forum to be able to see it.

http://pool9.net/oto/

But....... you would still have to know your CYA reading. Does your pool store do the 'disappearing black dot' test to test for CYA? That is the only way you are going to get an accurate reading. Knowing your CYA reading is critical.

[mfhache]

I'll have to see what their test comes up with. They usually give me a sheet printout when we're done.

If not then I suppose I'll have to get the $100 kit to start testing

[Watermom]

And, not only what their test comes up with, but how they do it. (Some pool stores have fancy-smancy computerized test readers that seem to give such accurate readings to two decimal places but..... in actuality they aren't too accurate, unfortunately.) Hopefully, they do the disappearing black dot test. Ask them.

[mfhache]

And, not only what their test comes up with, but how they do it. (Some pool stores have fancy-smancy computerized test readers that seem to give such accurate readings to two decimal places but..... in actuality they aren't too accurate, unfortunately.) Hopefully, they do the disappearing black dot test. Ask them.

Will do. Heading there after work to get a jug of Chlorine.

[mfhache]

So I got my test results from the Pool Shoppe this weekend. They are doing the tests manually now with vials instead of the computer readout. Also they used the fading black dot test.

Free Chlorine: 10PPM
Total Chlorine: 10PPM
pH: 7.4
Alkalinity: 101PPM
Cyanuric Acid: 80PPM

The water looks beautiful and should be good for swimming once the Chlorine comes down a bit. Thus far I've only shocked it with Chlorine.

So given these levels what would be the next step to adopt the BBB technique? Just keep the readings there and shock it every couple of days? I have some of the tabs left that I'd like to run out. Could I just use those up as long as my CYA levels stay in check?

[Watermom]

You can use those tabs but just realize they will continue to add CYA and yours is already pretty high at 80. It is your choice. But, whatever you decide to do, just make sure that you always keep your chlorine in the proper range per our "Best Guess Chlorine Chart." Read about it here: http://pool9.net/cl-cya/

By the way, it is not necessary to routinely shock a pool. As long as you make sure that your chlorine never drops below the minimum (from chart I linked), and you don't have more than 0.5ppm of CC, then you actually don't need to shock. Of course, if you have an excessively high swimmer load (like from a party) or have a bad storm that drops a lot of organic debris into your pool, then shocking is not a bad idea. Honestly, I seldom shock my pool. I monitor my chlorine levels consistently and thus don't need to.