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Tested twice Early am with cheap kit TC was 3+today. just now FC 2.5 cc 0 TA 100 PH 7.2.. Can ph e low and TA high??? Put in 3 ounces dichlor I think I must be raising my CYA finally..I am running out of powder to test FC already..
Am I on the right track to getting this stuff right and hopefully testing once a day??????????
Can my FC be 2.5 or 3 and be fine?????????
Your TA and pH are fine right now. Don't worry about your TA at all. Worry about your pH if it gets below 7.0, but then just add some Borax to bring it back up (the dichlor is driving it down). Your FC of 2.5 or 3 is fine as long as your CYA level is less than 30 ppm. Once you get to the 30-50 ppm range, you need to keep no lower than 3 ppm of chlorine in the pool.
You can order new powder from several places, including Amazon, Taylortechnologies, or spspoolspas.
Janet
I think you've shown that you're holding FC through the day so testing once a day is fine. But, please dose 4oz dichlor until the residual FC is at least 3ppm.
As far as running out of powder, you can conserve by using one dipper - if the sample turns pink, it's enough.
I think you're on the right track - just have to keep the FC above minimum at all times.
Are you uncomfortable with FC at 2.5ppm or 3ppm? I don't understand.
How much total dichlor have you used so far?
Janet, I f I order anything I will link through here!
Dave, A little less than 2 lbs so far of dichlor. I will throw in another ounce now. Put 3 in a little awhile ago.
NOT uncomfortable with FC at 2.5, 3...I didnt know the difference till I joined here!!! LOL
Once my CYA gets in 30-50 range and FC around 3, how much bleach per day would my pool take??
In your pool, a quart of 6% bleach will add around 2.5ppm of chlorine. So, once your CYA is somewhere between 30-50 and you go to testing chlorine in the evenings only, you'll just use that as a reference to figure out how much to add to take your chlorine level back up to around 6. If you find that by the next evening, your chlorine level has fallen below 3ppm, then you'll want to add enough bleach to get to 7ppm. You'll soon learn how high you need to take the chlorine each evening to make sure you don't fall below 3 by the following evening.
OK Hopefully last question on this..Seem to be holding FC of 3 throughout the day and night. Adding 3 ounces dichlor at night. Will retest CYA on Friday. IF I'm up between 30-50 range, hopefully finally, and I'm maintaining FC 3, CAN I just add 2 cups bleach per night???
AND if I fall below the FC3 then add 2 ounces dichlor instead of bleach OR double the bleach to 4 cups???
Need to leave instruction for son after next week.
(If I'm still not in the 30-50 range I will continue with 3-4 ounces dichlor for another week)
OK same today so I really would appreciate guidance on how to continue. ThanksQuote:
Originally Posted by mroll
I didn't see your post yesterday mroll, I'm sorry.
Let me see if I understand: You are adding 3 oz dichlor every night after testing and every evening when you test your FC is 3. You are leaving Friday, July 20. If this is not true, tell me.
I recommend you keep dosing 3oz of dichlor a night after measuring FC, CC and pH.
If you read more than 4ppm FC, dose 2oz dichlor instead of 3oz.
Add Borax if pH gets below 7.2.
By next Thursday, you should have about 3-1/2lbs of dichlor in the pool with a calculated CYA of 40ppm.
Adjust pH to 7.4-7.6 before turning the pool over to your son.
While you're away, have your son do this every afternoon:
Test pool water with OTO.
If OTO shows 3ppm or less, add 6 Cups plain 6% bleach.
If OTO shows more than 3ppm, add 3 Cups bleach.
If your son has a pool party, add 8 Cups bleach before the party, test OTO ASAP after the party and add 3 Cups of bleach if OTO reads under 3ppm, repeat OTO test and 3 Cups bleach every 1/2 hour until OTO reads above 5ppm.
Have a great trip and don't worry about the pool.
Run a full set of tests when you return.
Keep us updated until you leave.
OH NO!! WHAT HAPPENED????????????
NOW today MY FC IS 4ppm CC .5ppm PH LOW AND CYA WENT TO 65...SO NO MORE DICHLOR, RIGHT? Just added borax..WHY did CYA go from nothing to 65?????????????oh just added inch or so of water to pool BUT did that last week too with no problems...
If your CYA is 65, then it's time to stop using the dichlor and switch to bleach. It's also time for you to keep a minimum of 5 ppm of chlorine in the pool at all times. Sometimes it just takes a few days for it to register. You've been using a lot of dichlor, so I'm not surprised it's risen a bit. If your pH is below 7.0, dose it with Borax to bring it back up to the 7.2-7.6 range.
Relax--it's just a pool!! :)
Janet
Silly getting stressed over a pool, right???Quote:
Originally Posted by aylad
BUT I rather have a CYA of 30-40 and only need FC of 3-4....
How much bleach?
"In your pool, a quart of 6% bleach will add around 2.5ppm of chlorine.". Test your chlorine with your kit, and add whatever amount is needed to get back over 5 ppm, using that statement as a guide.
Janet
Unfortunately my DPD powder is almost all gone..did not last long,,Leaving on vacation in a week and son will be testing, hopefully with regular kit. According to Dave, he should put in about 4 cups bleach to keep it over 3. Is all this still right with CYA so high??? I think I will test that again Wednesday night. Could CYA go down by itself???
Oh gee this is getting too complicated.............waaaa
I think you're making this harder than it really is...all your son should do is test the water, see what the result is, and then add bleach to get it back over 5 ppm. If he needs to add 1 ppm, he should add 2 cups. If he needs to add 2 ppm, he should add about 4 cups. If he needs to add 3 ppm, he needs to add about 6 cups. These are estimates, but they will work to make it as simple as possible.
If you stop using dichlor, your CYA will eventually decrease via splashout or water lost during filter cleanings--but it's going to be slow. Plan on keeping 5 ppm of chlorine in the pool for awhile...
Janet
Janet
Redid CYA with same water and solution..looks like 50 now which would make more sense. Again, will only be able to test with DPD powder for another 2 or 3 days..Will order more..BUT With regular test , ONLY REGISTERS UP TO 3 ppm. So what do we do???
Here's how to force it to read higher...
http://www.poolsolutions.com/gd/how-...d-testkit.html
Janet
My DPD test will arrive Thursday but my son will only be using the OTO if he remembers. I am retesting everything tomorrow night and will repost the numbers so I can finalize my plans.. Tonight put in 3 cups bleach only
What were your FC, CC, and last night? What day are you leaving?
Only did OTO test last night. (3+) Will do it all tonight around 5:30 -6 and post. Leaving Thursday. Thanks for getting back to me Dave.Quote:
Originally Posted by BigDave
M
Please also do pH. 3+ OTO is what I'd like to see. We can run the recipie for your son for a couple days and see how it goes. Thanks.
OK Tested. FC 4, CC .5, PH 7.2 BUT when I look down into it, its more reddish. Anyway added 2 cups bleach and 2 cups borax. OH redid CYA and it read 30.. Dont know what happened the other day. 30 makes more sense at this time, right?Quote:
Originally Posted by BigDave
(BTW how come on the OTO test they say 3 is too high and 1.5 2 is ideal???)
Sounds like you're in good shape. Follow the recipie for your son while you're home to prove to youself it'll work. Test chlorine and pH daily (FC and CC as long as you can). The bleach program should be pH neutral so get it near 7.5 before you leave and your son won't have to worry about it.
Please dose 3 cups bleach not 2, I think 2 will let your FC get too low and you don't want trouble now.
Keep us posted.
These dosing recommendations are based on old beliefs that don't account for the presence and the effect of stabilizer (CYA) in pool water.Quote:
Originally Posted by mroll
OK so you dont think I should add any more dichlor if CYA only 30???...so hard for me to read that..I see dot..I dont see dot..I see dot!! geez
Also..there are some little pieces of black on bottom of pool..some about 1/4 inch,,some look like strips..not a lot but annoying since I see them again the day after I vacuum. I am going to try to remove it with hand skimmer today. Dirt? dead Algae?
I dont know if its blowing in..very windy here ..The pool is used just by my husband and me..
(should this be posted somewhere else??)
Thanks..
I think for your goal of turning the pool over to your son with a simplified recipie for your vacation, you're fine. This is based on the fact that you can hold chlorine above minimum with daily dosing.
We'll be glad to help you bring your CYA up a little more and figure out what the black stuff is after you return. The CYA test is the most difficult to read and subjective, I always have a hard time trying to figure out if I see the black dot or the shadow of my head.
Will your son brush the pool for you as well or is that out of the question?
I think for most sons, asking them to brush too is pushing it! I should know. I have 3 of them! If he'll just add some chlorine, I'd say you're doing well!Quote:
Originally Posted by BigDave
Still FC 4 CC 0 PH still low..we dont have a brush...lol..should I get one? You are right Watermom.. Have 3 'adult' sons..Brush pool?????
OH BTW the 'black' spots were leaves from bushes..Put 3 cups bleach in tonight..going to add more borax..Whats with that???
The dichlor is acidic and pushes pH down...just keep it in the 7.2-7.8 range and you'll be fine.
Mroll; I'm really glad to see your FC is still 4ppm and your CC is back to 0ppm - good news.
I'm also really glad to hear you've identified the black spots - I was a little worried it might be something growing and that's why I asked about brushing. Yep, a pool brush is a good tool to have and use, it physically breaks up colonies / biofilms so the chlorine can get to 'em. I think it was Waterbear who compared brushing your pool to brushing your teeth - has to be done to stay clean.
aylad; while I usually wouldn't advise messing with pH that's between 7.0 and 8.0, I've asked mroll to move the pH to near 7.5 to provide a cushion for the upcoming vacation with minimal poolcare provided by sons.
Tonight FC is 3.5 and CC still 0.. PH up to 7.5. Bought a brush. will use tomorrow..Put 3 cups bleach in tonight. I think I may have used 2 cups last night. my error...
I think I'm OK....
I think you're OK too! :)
Good so to reiterate..Will stick with 3 cups of bleach as long as FC is above 3 with OTO test while I'm gone?Quote:
Originally Posted by BigDave
However if it falls below, double the dosage?
I will test with Taylor tomorrow night again, though supposed to be storms here tomorrow evening. Hopefully dont fall again.
THANKS for all your help..........
Sounds good to me.
OK so done for now.. FC holding at 3.5...
Will post if any problems or concerns when I return.
Thanks all so much for your help........
M
Have a great trip!