New to Forum

[dreamweaver]

Hi all, just signed to the Forum to get helpful information and hopefully answers to questions that I have. I have on hand Taylor K-1004 test kit, but ordered the CYA kit and a new reader 2000 series to get me up to 10ppm for chlorine and pH. Operating Hayward XStream Power-Flow Matrix 1hp filtration system.
Opened 22' Intex pool May 10 and had water read by pool business... CYA-76, TA 122, FC/CC were low but was just opened. Water was trucked in to cap pool and was filled last yr using same service.
Current readings:
pH-7.3ppm
TA-70ppm
FC/CC-15 ?ppm (I did this which is not accurate by dilution of 1/5 ratio to get 3ppm
After reading on forum, I'm a bad girl and have been using dichlor pucks and shocking w/ 99% trichlor.
#1: I know CYA is real high by now, is it still safe to swim w/ FC @ 15ppm..My water is crystal clear and sparkling.
I need to get the shock up to 60 according to chart as I've been seeing mustard algae for the past 10 days... been vacuuming pool, cleaning walls and bottom, and cleaning cartridge filter regularly. I really don't want to have to drain pool/fill until end of season
Thanks
Beth

[kelemvor]

I know CYA is real high by now, is it still safe to swim w/ FC @ 15ppm..My water is crystal clear and sparkling.

Beth,

It should be safe to swim in water with 15ppm FC with 75ish CYA. Assuming the pool store was anywhere near to accurate. It sounds like you may already be aware that there are vegas style odds on whether or not pool stores can produce accurate test results. In fact, even if your CYA were really at 200ppm you'd still have enough chlorine in there to keep things safe. Here's a page (along with a chart) that explains the relationship between CYA and FC levels.

Page: http://www.poolsolutions.com/gd/best-guess-swimming-pool-chlorine-chart.html

Chart Directly: http://www.poolsolutions.com/gd/best-guess-swimming-pool-chlorine-chart.html#a

Shocking up to 60ppm may be extreme. Especially if that 75 is close to reality. If it is close to reality, I would not be the least bit concerned about the CYA level.

If it is 75, normal operation = 5ppm FC and Shock is only 20ppm.

[Watermom]

Aaron,
She won't be able to follow those links. This one will work, though as long as she copies the link and pastes it into a browser window after she logs out. http://pool9.net/cl-cya/

[dreamweaver]

well, they say third time is a charm or 3 strikes your out...lol
Every time I try to reply I lose the post...lol
I'm worried that I don't have the pool up to Mustard shock as I think I'm seeing it... on the walls and bottom of pool. I think what I'm doing is just keeping ahead of it as when I add the chlorine in the pm the next am, it's not there but then the following day it is. With out my CYA tester (coming in next week) I'm flying blind. I'm operating on the Taylor K-1004 (paid $30 at a Mom/Pop pool supply) so just getting the extra test that I need. Just ordered today the FAS/DPD reagents to get better test results. I'm assuming my CYA is high due to the trichlor and dichlor I've used since opening.
I was able to see the charts, not from the link but all my reading here. I even did a copy paste into a word doc for future reference.. when this brain wants to say "what did it say"...lol
Any suggestion until my reagents come in, or just keep ahead of it until I can get more accurate results?

[Watermom]

Call around and see if there are any pool stores near you that use the 'disappearing black dot' test for CYA. If someone does, have them test your water and report the reading. Just don't let them talk you into buying a bunch of stuff while you are there. They will try!

Your test kit is a DPD kit and will bleach out at high chlorine levels. Go to Walmart and pick up a cheap OTO/Phenol Red kit (yellow and red drops) and use that to test with for now. It will not bleach out. The scale only goes to 5ppm on the OTO kit but you can use the color matching chart at this link to help you decipher the off the scale colors:> http://pool9.net/oto-chart/ Try and keep your chlorine in the dark yellow to orange range.

(Until you registration is completed, you won't be able to see the rest of the forum while you are logged in. So, copy that link and then paste it into a browser window after you log out.)

[dreamweaver]

I also have the OTO kit. I have been using both and getting low on those reagents for the OTO. I'll check with the local pool supply to see if they read by the CYA drop method. I always take a sample in when first opening the pool but then never have to use them again for the season. Busted, they did sell me Algaecide when I was there in May, said to use it as maintenance. I cleaned the pool today and some of the yellow was back, just a small amount on some of the walls and a tad on the bottom. Then we got a big "ol" thunderstorm (I think small tornado) as pool water looked like the ocean churning at sea....lol....my pretty pool looked like rice soup from all the Leyland Cypress tress we have lining the back side of the property :(.... had to get the leaf rake and skim for hours it seemed.....lol. I still have about 31 pucks left, but I'll use them in our little tub that we put our feet in before getting in the pool to make sure grass is off our feet, so no big waste there.
Thanks for all your help. I know once I get the other testers I'll be well on my way. I'm going to try the test w/well water in 5 gal bucket w/ 1/4 cup chlorine to see if it turns in case of possible drain. Or if CYA is high, just maintain a higher FC until the end of the season. Again thanks so much
BTW... they're closed today for the Holiday....lol

[Watermom]

You're welcome. Hope you enjoy the rest of the weekend. I'm not sure where in the state Charles Town is, but here in Charleston it is a gorgeous weekend. It is pleasant (upper 70s, low 80s) and not humid for a change although it will be short-lived. Supposed to heat back up on Monday, I think. But, at least it is this way for the holiday weekend and makes it so nice to be outside as opposed to last week ---- mid 90s and so humid that the minute you stepped outside, you were a sweaty mess! (That is, unfortunately, the typical weather for Charleston in the summer. Hot and humid.)

[dreamweaver]

Charles Town is in the Eastern Panhandle of WV about 10 min. from Harpers Ferry.... We're in what they call the tri-state area ie:, MD, Va, WV all boarder.