Confused

We filled up our Intex pool (6500 gallons 18x48) with well water and finally got it cleared up and we were using bleach but I felt like I was adding it every day so we switched to some chlorine tablets in the skimmer. We had added CYA and today it tested at 55, pH is 7.2, Chlorine is ZERO. I don't know what we should do to get our Chlorine up and keep it up. Maybe it is easier to just use bleach...I'm so confused. Can someone help me figure this out? Thx.

Most of us do think it's easier to use bleach. Some people can buy liquid chlorine in 5 gallon carboys at a pool store. That chlorine has a concentration of around 12% and you use less of it, and you don't have the hassle of bleach bottles.

Your CYA is good. The chlorine tablets in your skimmer will continue to raise the CYA and lower the pH and yours is already at the very low end. I'd stop using the tablets. Get some 20 Mule Team borax and add 1 1/2 cups. Let it circulate for an hour, test pH again. What is your TA?

Each gallon of 6% bleach will raise the FC by approximately 10 ppm in your volume. 1/2 gallon would be 5 ppm and that is the level of free chlorine you want to maintain with CYA at 55. How often and how much to add bleach depends on so many things that we really can't tell you. Test FC and pH daily, keep a log in a notebook or digital file, add bleach as necessary to keep the 5 ppm.

If this were my pool I'd put a gallon of bleach in it right away just to forestall an algae outbreak which will happen very quickly without any sanitizer in your water.

Thx..I am off to get more bleach and borax. I'll post back TA and pH..thanks! :)

Most folks who use bleach do add a maintenance dose every day, usually in the evening after the sun is off the pool. The only way to use bleach without having to add it daily is to increase your CYA to a higher level so that it last longer--but I would not do that with a metals pool because it will be a total nightmare if you let algae get started because of the high levels of chlorine needed to shock.

Our pH is about 7.5, FC 6-10, TA took about 30 drops to get from green to pinkish red. I am using the HTH kit from Wal Mart.

What kind of main dose should we add each eve? thx!

I'm not sure how to interpret your HTH test results. pH at 7.5 is good. FC "about" 6-10? With a DPD powder and FAS drop kit there isn't any 'about'. I have never used an HTH kit and so I can't really question or discuss the results.

Wild guess? Add 1 quart chlorine at night, test in the morning. If you're between 3 and 6 ppm FC, you're good. If you're below 3 ppm, add 1/2 gallon, instead. The chlorine demand changes depending on how much the pool is used.

If your FC is higher than the 5 ppm the kit will measure, here are the instructions to force it to read higher levels of chlorine...

http://www.poolsolutions.com/gd/how-...d-testkit.html

Thanks for the reminder, Janet. I forgot the HTH kit limitations on chlorine testing. Now I understand the 'about'.

I really just need to get the good test kit from Amazon. The FC color was at the top which is 6-10. What about the TA at about 30?

In an vinyl pool, TA just functions as pH stabilizer -- and if you pH isn't bouncing all around, it's not something to worry about.