Are my Levels OK?

[mroll]

Pool running since Memorial Day. At that time FC and CC were .5 and TA was 80 with CYA 40.. Finally got CC 0 FC 3 but I'm putting in between 1 1/2 cups - 2 cups of concentrated Clorox per day! Seems like a lot for a small pool and temps in the 70s days and 50-60 at night. Should I retest the CYA? Added two ounces of dichlor tonight (after bleach and testing) again to get the FC up some more..
Are my levels OK?
This forum was invaluable to me last year as a new-again pool owner...
Marcy

[mroll]

OK 112 views No replies? strange? Fre chlorine levels still around 2 at around 5 pm..put bleach in every evening and it is NOT hot nor sunny much. CYA still 35-40.. Again, is this OK?

[Charlie_R]

Your CYA is fine. Dichlor would raise it up more, so I wouldn't think it would be wise to use it any more.

Keep to your schedule of testing morning and night, and add what you need to with bleach/chlorine to keep it within range on the Best Guess Chart (http://poolsolutions.com/gd/best-guess-swimming-pool-chlorine-chart.html).

If the low FC problem persists, start brushing your pool daily, and raise your FC to shock level until it loses <1ppm overnight.

I'm guessing that you may be nipping an algae bloom.

[mroll]

Unfortunately I just added 3 ounces of dichlor and I can only test mornings on weekends. I really dont think its algae but I will brush Saturday evening or Sunday when it is not raining. Just difficult for me to bush from the outside. Thanks

[BigDave]

With a CYA of 40, the FC must stay above 3ppm all the time - I'd target no lower than 4ppm for regular maintenance. My guess is the same as Charlie_R's - this pool has seen a few low FC excursions and has a nascent algae bloom. Use bleach to bring the FC over 15 and keep it over 15 until one day after all these things are true: The pool loses less than 1 ppm FC from sunset to sunrise. The CC is nearly 0 (less than one drop after adding CC reagent). The pool is clear. then let it drop down to no less than 4 ppm.

[mroll]

Ok Dave...
Two days now holding overnight readings...CC is 0..pool always clear..Its losing a lot during the day though but I'm adding more bleach to reach the 15 ppm..
Losing during the day is OK right? Even though I'm using only a drop of the powder reagent, I can see it going fast using it twice a day. Can I buy a cheap test to use once in awhile?
Thank again for all your help
Marcy

[BigDave]

Replacement reagents are available and not too dear. OTO would be fine for checking during normal operations but while shocking the pool OTO can't measure high enough.

It sounds like the shock process is complete. Losing chlorine during the day is inevitable, that's just what the sun does. It sounds like it's time to let the FC return to normal (4 or 5).