Pool Chem, whadda I know???

[cwstnsko]

Since you have CC, It wouldn't be a bad idea to bring the FC up to shock level. You don't need Calcium in a vinyl pool, but since your calcium hardness is low, you do have the option of using Calcium hypochlorite to chlorinate and/or shock. The Alkalinity isn't too bad, but if you want to bring it up a little a few pounds of baking soda is the ticket. At that level of CYA, you'll want to maintain a FC level closer to 5-10 ppm. If your pH starts to drift up after the baking soda is added, some Muratic acid will bring it back down nicely.

[duraleigh]

Hi, Bekka,

Those are VERY thorough test results and very helpful...Thanks.

I would remphasize cwstnsko's advice to shock your pool. (how do you think he pronounces that username?)

That would be my priority and then possibly fine tune later but all your other numbers are in a non-dangerous range. The pool store's advice was ok (barely) but cw's suggested subs were better....you save some bucks.

You'll need to bring up your Cl level (at dusk is best) to about 20-22ppm. Then, next morning before the Sun hits it, test again and see how much Cl you've consumed. If you've lost more than 1-2ppm overnite (and I'm sure you will) you'll need to keep that Cl level up in that 20-22 range 'til your cloudiness disappears (and I'm sure it will, too).

Post back with other questions. Welcome.

[waterbear]

If you are currently using non chlorine shock be aware that it will test as CC! It also will NOT destroy any CC in your pool. The theory behind it is that there will be an excess of oxidizer in the water to burn up organics before they become CC. I personally don't buy it!

If you want more info go to the Dupont Oxone website
http://www.dupont.com/oxone/clearlyoxone.html
They are the manufacturer of the non chlorine shock (potassium monopersulfate or MPS, brand name Oxone, which is repackaged by all the pool chemical companies that buy it from them and put their own names on it!)....no matter the brand!
There is a lot of info on teh website and if you carefull read between the lines they tell you that is is NOT a sanitizer, it is NOT as effecient an oxidizer as chlorine, and that it really works better with a bromine spa or pool than a chlorine one!

IMHO, don't use it and shock with bleach!

[Bekka]

[QUOTE=cwstnsko]Since you have CC, It wouldn't be a bad idea to bring the FC up to shock level. [QUOTE]

I need to ask... does CC mean Combined Chlorine total ????

[CarlD]

CC means Combined Chloramines sometimes called Combined Chlorine. Total Chlorine is Free Chlorine plus CC.

[duraleigh]

Bekka,

Nope. TC is total chlorine. FC is Free Chlorine. CC is Combined Chloramines.

CC's are a very ineffective form of Chlorine...doing little good.

If you have an OTO test kit, your results are TC...the total of FC and CC's

If you have an FAS-DPD test kit, you test for FC and it gives you the ability to test for CC's as well.

Hard and Fast rule: FC + CC = TC

(When you "shock" a pool (also called breakpoint) it burns off the CC's leaving you with only FC...a very good thing. )

[Bekka]

Ok, I followed your instructions to up the chlorine until it stabilizes and upped the alkalinity with sodium bicarbonate. It took two nights to stabilize with bleach at shock level and voila woke up this morning to "crystal clear water". Yeaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa, you guys are great. At the same time, advice from another area that my pump would loose water when I shocked it, I found indeed a plug of leaves and small pine cone in my vacuum hose. I have a beautifully clear and very clean pool now.
Huggs, Bekka

[Maxout]

Chalk up another successful battle won by the "Bleach Commandos!"

Victoires d'agent de blanchiment !