High FC and TA

Yesterday evening before my kids went into the pool my chlorine was 2.0 and the ph was 7.2
I forgot to add the 1/2 bag dichlor before they swam so I added it when they got out in addition to the regular dose (one bag). Because I added the dichlor I added 1 1/2 cups of borax and 4 more cups because the ph was 7.2. When tested (which I hope I did correctly) my water this morning this is what I got:

CL......was orange
Ph.......8.2
FC.......21
CC.......0
TC........21
CYA.......it was closer to the 30.........about 34/35
TA........120-130. It turned magenta; I was expecting red

I think I need to lower the TA and ph......is this water safe to swim in?

With a FC reading of 21, your pH results won't be valid. Get some distilled water and mix half pool water and half distilled and then run your pH test with that. (No adjustments need to be made with the result. Just read it like you normally do.) Then, report back with that pH reading. Don't worry about the TA right now.

Your FC is pretty high but with a fairly low CYA like you have, it will come down. I probably wouldn't swim in it until it comes down some. Probably actually wouldn't hurt skin but would be tough on swimsuits. If you do decide to get in, wear an old suit that you don't care if it fades.

You need to retest your pH. Most likely, the pH is NOT 8.2, but you can't tell because the chlorine is so high.

Get a gallon of distilled water at Walmart, mix 1/2 cup of pool water with 1/2 cup of distilled water, and retest the mix. No adjustment factor is needed IF you use distilled or deionized water.

Isn't that what I just said? ;)

Thanks!! I will post the results when I get home........

Sorry, W-M.

That was the sort of simul-post that you get when you start an answer, run some errands, and then finish it without re-checking the thread.

No problem. Just messin' with ya! ;)

The chlorine level was 5.0 ( probably higher because the yellow was dark but definitely not orange). The ph level looked between 7.2--7.8.. I am happy things look better but confused how they were so high this morning and are now almost back to normal. Thanks again!!

This chart may be help you decipher those high chlorine readings since they are higher than your OTO tester can differentiate:

http://pool9.net/oto-chart/

Pools with low CYA lose chlorine pretty fast. Continue to use dichlor for a little while longer until your CYA is around 50. Then you'll want to switch to just using bleach otherwise your CYA will get too high. (Don't test CYA too often or you'll use up all your testing reagent.)