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40000 gal 20 x 40 IG vinyl. Hayward Aqua Rite T-Cell-15, Sand Filter
Our test strips have always test little to NO FC, we were told that's ok for SWG pools. Reading on this site has helped me tremendously helped me understand, but still learning. How do we raise the FC? Read to use bleach but how much? CYA registers very low also. Salt level is at 3000. Water temp 84
First of all, get a good kit. We call test strips 'guess strips' for a reason. The test kit that we think is by far the best is the Taylor K2006 or 2006C (better buy). Not available locally but you can get it through this link that takes you to Amazon: http://pool9.net/tk/
But, in the meantime, go to Walmart and see if they have the HTH 6-Way drops-based kit (no test strips!) and get that. If they don't, get an OTO/Phenol Red kit (yellow and red drops) instead. Use it to test and then post your numbers. Also while you are at WallyWorld, get several jugs of their generic 8.25% bleach and a couple of boxes of 20 Mule Team Borax (laundry aisle).
Your SWCG manual should have a specific requirement for a CYA level for that unit.
For reference, in a 40K gallon pool, each of the 121-oz. jugs of 8.25% bleach (Walmart's generic is fine), will raise your FC by about 2ppm. How high you need your chlorine level to be depends on your CYA level. More info at this link: http://pool9.net/cl-cya/
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Welcome to the Pool Forum!
Your pool's volume, unless you have a very unusual 20x40 vinyl liner is closer to 30,000 gallons, than 40,000.
A gallon of plain 8% Walmart store brand bleach will add about 4 ppm of chlorine to your pool. BUT, if you have low chlorine and no stabilizer, you'll be better off getting a 24# pack or 50# bucket of dichlor at Sams Club. Dichlor dissolves rapidly, and adds about 9 ppm of stabilizer for every 10 ppm of chlorine. See http://pool9.net/sams-dichlor24
If you get dichlor elsewhere, you'll have to be careful. Most stores - including Walmar - sell diluted dichlor that has added mystery goo. Read the label: if it says 56% available chlorine then it's OK. Watch out for TRICHLOR mixtures that have 56% available chlorine -- you don't want those.
Our deep end is 9 1/2 feet, just replaced liner in 2011, pool built in 2004 but had to replace liner and entire bottom of pool.