Cyanuric Acid

[Sue225]

If I want to see if chlorine is 25 do i do 1 part pool water and 5 parts distilled water since the test only goes to 5?

[chem geek]

If you mix 1 part pool water with 9 parts distilled or filtered water (water that has no chlorine in it) then you would multiply your reading by 10.

With 1 part pool water and 5 parts distilled or filtered water, you would multiply your reading by 6 (1 part + 5 parts = 6 total parts so 1 out of 6 is your pool water).

[Sue225]

Well i went to ps this am to check chlorine level it was 15 after 3 gal 12%. I added 2 more gal to get to 25! Problem is that it is impossible to measure accurately chlorine level w/o proper test kit and mine has not arrived yet. Strangest thing CYA has been around 100 now the clerk tells me it is 32 in 2 days!! The 5 way test is still telling me cya level is around 100. So, i am just ignoring the clerk, as a matter of fact, i am not going to that store again! Pool is still beautiful, lets see if it holds chlorine! on 6/8 cya was 30 i added the mustard algae junk at that time and within the week it was over the top. 110 with a 1/2 pool refill. Frustrated beyond words. brownish pools of fluffy stuff are still on the bottom of pool. We are vacuuming to grass daily, seems a little better. They seem to settle in foorprints and other indentures in liner. I can't remember my name some days let alone the shade of yellow/orange the shot glass method shows. We guys are the best and i look forward to a lasting relationship with you As soon as this pool reaches the point where is holds chlorine i am switching to 6% bleach.

[Sue225]

5 hours and holding chlorine-brown algae is not forming on the bottom of pool anymore, hope i am not getting excited too early!

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I have noticed after my husband pointed this out that there is something black in several of the folds of the liner. Is this algae? Will bleach kill it if it is algae? It will not brush out. He said it was there last summer! Just another little something. So you think do you think we should add more bleach tonight? When I do Shot glass method 1 part pool 5 parts distilled water the yellow is a little darker than 5ppm. Thank for your help!!

[Watermom]

it could be algae in the liner folds and high levels of bleach should kill it. But, if it was there last summer, it could be stains?

If you take one part pool water and 5 parts distilled water, and then test with that, you'll need to multiply whatever result you get by 6. So, that should mean that your cl level should be somewhere around 30. If it still seems to be holding at that level, then I wouldn't add any more bleach tonight. Then, try and get out there early in the morning and test (using the dilution method if necessary) and see how much chlorine loss you have overnight. If it is less than 1ppm, then you should be on the home stretch!

You should probably post a complete set of current numbers in the morning. I hope your kit comes soon!

[Sue225]

Kit is here! Readings:
FC 18
CC 0
Alk 160
ph 7.8
Hardness 175
CYA 100

Let me know what you think-pool is clear

thanks

[aylad]

Looks pretty good, except that CYA is awfully high. When you get to the point where you're ready to let your chlorine come down,do NOT let it go below 8 ppm. With a CYA that high, you;'re going to have to maintain it between 8-15 ppm in order not to get algae. This is a long thread, and I haven't looked back yet to see if partial drain/refill has been suggested, but it's still early in the summer, and it sure would be a lot easier to maintain the pool if the CYA weren't that high. DEFINITELY no trichlor pucks or dichlor shock for you!!

Otherwise, TA is a little high and pH is as well, but that puts you in a great position to lower both using muriatic acid. The process is here: http://www.poolforum.com/pf2/showthread.php?t=191

Otherwise, things are looking good!!

Janet

BTW, I deleted the duplicate post--when I moderated your last post in, there were two copies. Since we have to moderate all posts in, if you post something and don't see it show up immediately, wait a bit before reposting--it's probably in the queue.

[CarlD]

If it's a vinyl pool then Alk is not a problem. If it's concrete or plaster or tile, you'll need to lower it.

With a CYA of 100, you'll have to maintain your FC between 8 and 15--you're now a 18 so you are fine.

pH is a little high, but that may be an artifact of the high FC of 18--but it's still in normal range.

About the only thing you should do is wear last year's bathing suits as the higher level of chlorine may fade them.

In short: For a high-CYA pool, your numbers look pretty good. Try adding to drops of the # 7 reagent to your pH test before your add the 0014 reagent. That's chlorine neutralizer and two drops neutralizes about 10ppm of FC--you have nearly 20. You may get a lower pH.

If your TRUE pH is lower and you have a vinyl pool, AND you are willing to maintain a high CYA pool, then I think you are just fine and good to swim.