Chlorine level is low

Hi I'm new to this method. I'm tired of driving 20 miles to the pool store every other day and I've already spent $200 on chemicals that still have not completely cleared my pool. I have been reading a lot of the posts on here the past week so I thought I'd give it a try. I bought a DPD test kit from Leslies. My pH is 7.8. My chlorine was zero I guess. I put 2 gallons of bleach in Saturday evening and checked chlorine Sunday... still zero. I added another gallon of bleach Sunday evening and checked it Monday...still zero. Added 2 more gallons Tuesday evening and checked it today it was .5 so I thought I might have a bad kit...so I added a 1 pound bag of shock (Trichloro-s-triazinetrione* Available chlorine 48.6%) and finally saw some color on the test! The test only goes up to 5 and the color was darker than that. So did I mess up by adding the shock? What should I do next?

Hi Sherrie and welcome to the Pool Forum!

You didn't do anything by adding the shock as long as the shock is not a trichlor blend that has copper in it.

To be able to give better advice, we need to know more about your pool -- type, size, type of filter, size of pump. How does the water look? Can you post a complete set of numbers taken with your kit? We recommend buying a DPD-FAS kit (Taylor K-2006) but since you already bought the DPD kit, you can just pick up a K-1515 from the test kit link in my signature below and it will give you the test that your kit is missing which allows you to measure chlorine levels higher than 5.

Post the requested info and somebody here should be able to help you.

Ok I ordered the K-1515 kit but I wont be getting it for about a week. I have an above ground 18x52 round pool with a Heyward sand filter that says 50 pounds and a 1 HP Heyward pump. My pH is still reading 7.8 but the chlorine reading is clear so I guess its zero. The water is a little cloudy and there is still a little algae on bottom. What should I do until I get that other test kit?

I'm guessing your volume to be around 9000 gallons. Can you get a CYA reading? If we know your CYA reading, that will help us give better advice.

Well I guess I have to get another test kit. The kit I have from Leslies is "Basic Poolcare DPD Test Kit" Free Chlorine or Bromine,pH and I ordered the k-1515 today so now my question is what other kits am I gonna need before I can do anything else?

Hi sherrie,
In the meantime just continue adding the 1-2 gallons of bleach every night. You don't want to let your chlorine be at 0 at any point right now because of the algae already present :)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by sherriemoseley

The kit I have from Leslies is "Basic Poolcare DPD Test Kit" Free Chlorine or Bromine,pH and I ordered the k-1515 today so now my question is what other kits am I gonna need before I can do anything else?

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Here's the Leslie's page: http://www.lesliespool.com/Home/Pool...Test-Kits.html

Tell me exactly which kit you have (none there are called "Basic Poolcare DPD").

18571

DPD Basic Test Kit

Arrg-g-gh. NOT one of my favorite Taylor kits (Taylor # K1001); the Taylor K1000 (OTO) is much more useful. I do NOT like DPD color match kits, for all sorts of reasons. But for a variety of reasons, the pool industry LOVES them. At least, the pH test in that kit is good.

OK. Standard recipe again:

1. Get an OTO kit locally, (see the test kit info page link in my signature) but continue to use the pH test from the Taylor K1001
2. Get 2 gallons of plain 6% bleach (can probably get bleach and kit at Walmart).
3. First evening after you have both, test the pool, add 1 gallon of bleach, test the pool again (record the color -- orange? even if it doesn't match)
4. Following AM, test the pool again, and again that evening. Let us know what you see.
5. Order a K2006 (same test kit info page)
6. Tell us what sort of pool you have (vinyl, FG, concrete) and the make / model of both your pump and filter
7. Give us a list of the chemicals you've put in since opening. We'll need exact brand names, since terms like "shock" or "chlorinator" have no particular meaning.

Okay I have continued to add a gallon of bleach every evening and I just received my k-1515 kit today. I just ordered the k2006 so in the meantime can I use the kits I have? Also I'm a little confused on the k1515 because it says: For 1 drop=0.2 ppm,use 25 mL sample or For 1 drop=0.5 ppm,use 10 mL sample.So which one do I need to use 10 mL or 25 mL? I am off work tomorrow and would like to do your recommendation tonight and tomorrow AM. I already posted my pool info on this thread 5-4-12. As far as the list of chemicals I've put in since opening, I reeally cant give you the names of any of it because I used it all as instructed by Leisure Depot and no longer have the containers. I know we did pH increaser and a flocculant and I had to vacuum algae to waste,then Calcium Plus which I still have some left and the brand name is Sparco and lots of shock which I think the brand name was Pool Life, maybe?

Use the 10ml sample line. That way, you add the DPD, then count the drops of FAS solution till it turns clear. (Swirl after each drop!) Multiply the drop count x 0.5 and that's your ppm reading.

Post your test results, once you have them.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by sherriemoseley

I already posted my pool info on this thread 5-4-12.

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If you'll make a signature line with all the pool info, it makes it easier for us to help. That way, we don't have to keep scrolling back up through a thread to find it. You can use the link in my signature below to help you do it.

Ok I think I did the signature line right. Thanks! Just tested pool then added 1 gallon bleach and retested. Will test again tomorrow morning and evening and post all readings then.

Yep, you did it right. Add the volume, too. Then it should be good to go!

A question --- do you have a 50 lb. sand filter?

All we could find on the filter was 50 lb. so I think so. I know after reading everyone elses posts I have a small filter and a huge pump. Of course thats what the pool store sold us with the pool. Here are my readings for the past 2 days.

-- 5-10-12 Thursday 10:45 pm -- pH 7.2 - FC 10.5 - CC 1 -- Added 1 gallon of regular bleach
-- 5-10-12 Thursday 11:00 pm -- pH 7.5 - FC 44.5 - CC 1.5
-- 5-11-12 Friday 8:00 am -- pH 7.5 - FC 24 - CC 1
-- 5-12-12 Saturday 6:30 am -- pH 7.2 - FC 9.5 - CC 1

No algae present now. We can see the bottom but the water is still a little cloudy. Still waiting for k2006 kit. What next?

Any idea when you'll get the kit? We really need to know a CYA level. Keep you chlorine up, run the pump 24/7. Is your filter pressure rising? Backwash whenever it rises 8-10 psi over clean filter pressure.

If it truly is a 50lb filter, you're not kidding that you have a huge equipment mismatch! It may take a LONG time for your pool to clear.

I'm gonna ask Ben to pop back in here and advise you again. Especially with such a big equipment mismatch.

Hi Sherrie;

Watermom is right -- we really can't tell much without knowing more about your pump and filter. The marketing games with those are so deceitful, we have a REALLY hard time figuring out what's going on.

Is your filter like either of these?
http://www.hayward-pool.com/images/p.../vl-series.jpg http://www.hayward-pool.com/images/p...S180T1580S.jpg

If you can get exact make and model numbers, it would help. It may be, you have a tiny filter with a tiny pump . . . and a deceptive label -- that's not good, but at least the pump won't blow the dirt through the filter. But, if you have a REAL 1 HP pump, with a 50# filter, it's going to take some hardware corrections to get your pool clear.

Hayward Pro Series High Rate Sand Filter-------- Model No. S144T
Hayward Hydramax AG Pump-----------Model No. SP1510-2-1-XE

My filter and pump look more like the pic on the right. Amazon says delivery fo the k2006 should be between 5/16 and 5/21. So about a week.:(

I added 1 gallon of bleach Saturday evening and never had time yesterday,Sunday, to test anything. This morning I checked and my readings were: pH 7.2 FC 13.5 CC 1. I was really surprised my FC was 13.5 since I didnt do anything to it Sunday. Should I just continue to put a gallon of bleach in everytime its under 10 FC until I get my k2006 kit?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by sherriemoseley

Should I just continue to put a gallon of bleach in everytime its under 10 FC until I get my k2006 kit?

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Yes that would be good. And you can swim in that, but don't wear new fashion (Lycra) swimwear or get highly treated (dyed, permed) hair wet in that high chlorine.

I just want to say thanks to all of you for the help so far. My pool is really looking good (just a little cloudy) and I've finally convinced my husband that you all might just know what you're talking about! So far we havent added anything to it but bleach and he's impressed. We aren't swimmung in yet because I'm still waiting for my test kit. But I know it will be soon. Thanks again so much.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by sherriemoseley

I've finally convinced my husband that you all might just know what you're talking about! So far we havent added anything to it but bleach and he's impressed.

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Yep! This place is full of people who can attest that Pool Forum is the best place to learn to care for your pool! Thanks for the kind words and you're welcome! We are always glad to help!

Ok I finally got my k2006 kit. Here are my results: pH 7.2
FC 6
CC .5
CYA 35
TA 40? I added 4 drops R0009 and it turned pink, I read it would turn bright red, added 8 more drops and
it really never changed. Is it supposed to be bright red?

Hey can anybody tell me if I'm supposed to keep adding drops to the TA test until it turns bright red? Mine turned a dark pink at 4 drops so I added 8 more drops but the color stayed the same.

Hi Sherrie
I'm new here this year too. They are really busy with so many of us at the same time. I know the answer to your question so I wanted to help out in case it takes a while for them to circle back to you.

Your drop count for your alkalinity stopped at 4. That's the number you use. The sample is green at first. Dark pink is a color change, period. The fact that it didn't get "redder" with 8 more drops attests to that. I don't believe we're to discern between shades within a color which is why the drop test kit is so much better. Dark pink is in the Red family....green is not. Alkalinity is the easy one of the 5 tests! :)

I'm having the same problem with Calcium Hardness. My indicator turns the sample purple rather than red. Absolutely half-way between red and blue. The titrant is to be added until the "red" turns to blue. Purple is part of both families. So I continue until there is a definite change in the initial color I get. (basically more of a blue-purple rather than a red-purple.) That makes CH (for me:rolleyes:) the hardest test. Luckily, it has a wide range of acceptable levels and with a liner, you have an even higher range.

Another thing you should know....don't be surprised when you have a sparkly, shiny, beautifully clean pool, and your chlorine still disappears rapidly! That's where I'm at now. There's still "goo" in my pool even though you can't see it. We've added over 130 ppm of FC to our pool in the last two weeks and it still can't maintain FC over 1.5 ppm. We added 2 gallons of 12.5% chlorine again last night and this morning we only had a TC of about 9 or 10 and an FC of 1.5 - 2.0. :p Just wanted to prepare you should that happen to you.

I'm 3/4 (I think:confused:) of the way done with the process you are starting. I had to get my alkalinity down from 250+ in addition to getting rid of the ammonia. Follow the forum's advice to the letter; everything works exactly as they lay it out. Good Luck!!

Thanks JuJu. I thought I must have been doing it right but I wanted to be sure before I follow the recommendations on the pool calculator.

Now my readings look good to me but my water is still a little cloudy. I'm not sure if I should be keeping numbers within normal ranges or if I'm still supposed to be keeping FC at 10. Yesterday evening readings: FC 3 CC .5 pH 7.2 so I added 6 cups of bleach to get it to 6 FC and added 4 lbs. baking soda to increase TA to 80. This evening readings: pH 7.4 FC 3.5 CC 0 TA 80. My water is still not crystal clear. My CYA was 35 on Wednesday so I havent checked it again since I havent done anything to change that.How can I get my water to sparkle now?

I think I'd keep the chlorine high for another day since you did have a CC reading of 0.5 yesterday. With a CYA of 35, that would be a chlorine level of 12-15. Also, are you running your pump 24/7 right now? You have a big pump for your size of pool. We see that a lot -- oversized pumps with undersized filters -- especially on AG pools. That can make it take longer to clear up a pool. (We may have made that comment before, but I didn't want to take the time to re-read a 27 post count thread to see!)

If, after a couple more days of good readings and your water still not totally clear (and running the pump 24/7), maybe try the DE in the sand filter trick. Adding DE to a Sand Filter

Thank you for responding..:) I added 1 gallon of 6% bleach last night and just tested everything again. pH 8.0- FC 11- CC .5- TA 90- CYA 30- CH 170 so I think I will add enough bleach to get FC to 15. Note that my pH and TA went up and CYA went down. I dont know why.It did rain yesterday and enough to overflow and its still cloudy and supposed to rain today.

Don't waste your test reagents re-testing CYA unless you have added some. Also, a test result of 30 and one of 35 is basically the same. That test is not too precise so it is not uncommon to get a varied range of results. Did you test your pH when the chlorine was high? If so, you can get falsely high pH readings. Do you have a Taylor K-2006? (Again, I don't want to take the time to re-read this thread.) If you do, please put that in your signature below. It helps us to help people when we know what kind of kit they are using.

Yes I am using k2006 and I added it to my signature. FC was 11 and CC was .5

Also so my pump has been running 24/7.

I just added 1/2 gallon of bleach to bring FC up to 15. I will check it again tonight when I get home from work to make sure its still 12-15 FC and if its not I'll add more bleach and test again in the AM.

For some reason I cant figure out how to start a new thread so I hope someone see's this and can answer :confused: I added liquid stabilizer to my pool this morning and was wondering how long I should wait to retest the CYA. I know they say to wait a week with the other but I cant find anything on the liquid.

With liquid stabilizer, you only need to wait a few hours of pump circulation.

Sherrie,
To start a new thread:

From the forum homepage, click on the sub-forum where you topic fits. In the upper left above the first thread in that forum, there is a blue rectangular box that says "post new thread" that you click on. From there, you can give your new thread a title and write your post and click on submit. Your thread will then become the first thread in that sub-forum.

Hope this helps.

Thanks Watermom! I see it now. :o