Rookie Pool Owner

[PoolDoc]

Why did you drain your pool?

Never mind, now. But next time, don't assume that just because your CYA is high, you have to drain. Your other readings look OK . . . EXCEPT the low chlorine.

Here are a few simple rules for you to keep in mind:

1. The common name for a pool without chlorine is a POND.
2. Your chlorine should be 5 - 10% of your CYA level . . . when things are going well.
3. At the first sign of algae, your chlorine level should be between 25% and 50% of your CYA level.
4. So . . . if YOU can't test and monitor your CYA level, then will not be able to consistently operate your pool well.
5. With test strips, you cannot measure EITHER chlorine OR CYA accurately enough, or across the ranges you need to do the job.

You'll need to get a K2006 testkit from Amazon, if you want to resolve your problems. Meanwhile, add 1 gallon of pool bleach (available at Amazon) per 10,000 gallons of pool water . . . and then brush the pool. Repeat every other EVENING till there's no trace of algae for 4 days. Then drop to 1/2 gallon every other day.

Once you have your K2006, you can stop flying blind, and actually dose appropriately.

BTW, you can swim safely with high chlorine. Just wear old swim suits and don't submerge dyed or colored hair. If you are unsure about this, Google "bleach baths". These medically approved therapeutic baths are used on children and have chlorine levels of 50 - 100 ppm.