Zero Chlorine readings please help!

I am beyond frustrated! I opened my pool 4 days ago to really cloudy water and zero chlorine levels
The pool store said use super shock every day. I used super shock two days and realized my ph and alk were low, brought them up, went to pool store on third day and got the following readings
FC .6
TC 2.8
CC 2.2
PH 7.3
CYA 118
TA 122
hardness 143

I was told to add 3 bags of super shock, which I did. I have never showed a chlorine reading on my dipstick test or dropper test, no FC, no CC, notta for chlorine.
I added another bag of super shock today and a hour later I had zero chlorine readings on both dipstick and dropper tests
I am ready to add bleach but am so confused on how much to add and how long to keep the readings up there.
I am even more confused since my water is now crystal clear after running the pump 24/7, vacuuming and brushing.
IG 9500 gal
Vinyl liner
Thanks in advance for any suggestions!

What kind of test kit are you using and how old is it? Don't add any more super shock. As soon as we can verify that you are getting accurate testing results, somebody here can help you.

I am using the 5 way dropper kit from walmart from last year, the dipstick kit from walmart bought last week and premium pool check dipsticks from the pool store bought last week. The test results I posted are from the pool store 2 days ago. I am not seeing any chlorine on any of the 3 tests I have at home
Thanks for your help:)

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Originally Posted by tamil

I am using the 5 way dropper kit from walmart from last year, the dipstick kit from walmart bought last week and premium pool check dipsticks from the pool store bought last week. The test results I posted are from the pool store 2 days ago. I am not seeing any chlorine on any of the 3 tests I have at home
Thanks for your help:)

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Is your water green, or just cloudy? I second Watermom's advice to not add anymore super shock until we know accurate numbers for your pool. I suspect that you chlorine levels are actually high, which would bleach out the tests that you're using. Give it 2-3 days, then try again with your OTO kit from WalMart. IN the meantime, leave your filter running 24/7 and brush your pool daily.

Janet

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Originally Posted by aylad

Is your water green, or just cloudy? I second Watermom's advice to not add anymore super shock until we know accurate numbers for your pool. I suspect that you chlorine levels are actually high, which would bleach out the tests that you're using. Give it 2-3 days, then try again with your OTO kit from WalMart. IN the meantime, leave your filter running 24/7 and brush your pool daily.

Janet

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My water is crystal clear actually. This is why I am so confused. I am starting to wonder if the pucks I just bought aren't old. I used some granular chlorine and it brought the chlorine levels up. They are falling now but it's the first time I have even gotten a chlorine reading. The other day I used a bag of the sunburn super shock and half hour later I had no chlorine reading.

How often do you add bleach? I just feel like if I am going to have to add chlorine daily, then I am still missing something. I have 2 pucks in the floater, 2 in the skimmer and the only way I saw chlorine reading was to add granular, your thoughts?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by tamil

How often do you add bleach? I just feel like if I am going to have to add chlorine daily, then I am still missing something. I have 2 pucks in the floater, 2 in the skimmer and the only way I saw chlorine reading was to add granular, your thoughts?

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It's possible that the pucks you have are old. It's also possible that the amount of chlorine you're adding is bleaching out your test. Either way, you're having some issues with your pool, even tbough right now you have clear water, that you're going to need to address. And I hate to say it, but the trichlor pucks are the culprit with most of the problems. The trichlor is very acidic, which is going to tend to drive your pH down, causing you to constantly have to bring it up. The trichlor is also adding CYA with each puck you dissolve. Your CYA is already WAY too high, so that at the (roughly) 120 level, you're going to have to keep your chlorine level at a minimum of about 8 ppm to keep algae away, and preferably a little higher. To properly shock it, you're going to need to bring it to about 25. I would get the remaining pucks out now, and switch to bleach. (Wouldn't recommend cal-hypo either, because your calcium is on the rise, too).

How often you will need to add bleach is going to be determined at least partially by how much chlorine your pool uses in a day's time, which is affected by organic matter, swimmer load, sun exposure, etc. It's also affected by your pool's CYA level. I run my pool with a CYA level that some consider excessive--80-90--and have to dose my pool approximately twice weekly. However, I have very little organic matter and the vast majority of my bather load is continent and very good about getting out of the water to go. I also have full Louisiana humidity and sun exposure all day long, so to have a CYA less than that means daily chlorine additions. Most people run their CYA at around 40 or so.

Janet

Thanks for the advice! You are right I am seeing the ph drop. How long do I need to keep the cl level at 25? I have decided I am going to switch to bleach, and totally agree that I have something going on, just not sure what. I know i need to get my level up there, but not sure for how long? From this morning until now my clorine was at a 3 is now down to 1.
Thanks

You can have clear water, and something starting to grow in the water that is using up your chlorine. If you don't get it to shock till it holds overnight, you will battling this for a long time. Get a couple of bottles of bleach and put them in - it may take a lot. Your water is probably clear because you haven't gotten to a big algae outbreak yet. This happened to me a couple of summers ago - it took a really good shocking to get rid of whatever was trying to take hold. Use the bleach calc to see how much you need for your size pool, with your cya level