Does shocking w/12.5% raise CYA? Help!

I am only testing with the HTH 6 test strips.
I will be getting a new kit.

Here are my readings. As to what the strips say.

The only thing I have added was 10 gallons of Pool Store Shock @ 12.5% Sodium Hydro/15%Available Chlorine per gal. $2.50 per gal. (Is that the same as bleach?)


FC 10+
PH 8.4+
TA 180
CYA 80ish

The water is greenish and cloudy.
28ft round.
DE filter w/ pump running 24hrs("Bumping every 2-4 hours)

I really dont want to drain any of the pool, since I use my well to fill.


Thanks
Mike

I know the pH reading is bogus because of the interferance from your high chlorine levels. I suspect the CYA reading might be suffereing from interferance aslo. Not quite sure how they test for cya with the strips but I know it is not the same chemisty as the reagent test uses. Just one more reason to avoid test strips and get a drop based test kit. Wait until your chlorine levels drop to normal and then retest.

What is the least expensive kit available, that works good?

Thanks

Probably the HTH kit from WalMart.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by tonyl

Probably the HTH kit from WalMart.

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Not all walmarts have the HTH kit. Some have the Aquachem kit. Seems to be a regional thing. Here in North and Central Florida it's all Aquachem kits. It's pretty good but the Calcium hardness test does have some issues. Either one is still the one of the best test kits for under $20

spend the extra couple dollars and get the test kit from this website you will be much happier in the long run and it will save you money, plus as you get more advanced with your water chemisty you will have a good kit on hand, thats my 2cents anyway, i do own a few of the cheapie kits lol ;)

also no 12.5% & 15% sodium hypochlorite does not raise your cya. does temp raise your ph though.

You state the only thing you added was 10 gallons of 12.5% bleach...

Did you add this all at once or has this been over a period of time?

10 gallons of 12.5%. Cost, $30, plus deposits on carboys.

Next time you add that much: another $30. That's about $65 already.

The three recommended test kits:
1) PoolDoc's PS-234 (the best and easiest to use)
2) Taylor 2006 (similar, but harder to use)
3) Chlorine FAS-DPD Service Test kit (Leslie's on-line branded version of the 2006)

all cost in that ballpark. Used correctly, each of them will save you getting into a situation where you NEED $65 worth of chlorine in a hurry!

In other words, the GOOD test kit will pay for itself in the first season and keep on paying for itself. You test chlorine and pH every day or two (and the PS-234 has a daily OTO test kit) and you test everything with the full tests once a week. That way you see potential problems before they become problems and compensate ahead of time.

By not having to fix problems, you don't have to use more than the B-B-Bs, muriatic acid and CYA (only once a season, usually), which saves money, time and aggravation. You don't need flocculants, clarifiers, sequestrants, or flux-capacitor magnets guaranteed to empty your wallet.