Very High Chlorine, Advice Please?

Hello all

I took my water to the pool store today to get it checked. These
are the numbers they gave me:

Temp: 78
Saturation Idx: -0.5
TDS 600
CYA: 40
Tot Chlorine: 8.9
Free Chlorine: 8.2
PH - 7.4
TA: 38
Adj TA: 26
Tot Hardness: 324
Copper - 0
Iron: 0
Manganese: No
Cloudy: None
Staining: None
All Algaes: None
Slime/Mold: No

20 x 40 Gunite Pool with DE filter and a Nature 2 Purifier. I was
using smart sticks and I took what was left of one stick out of one
filter and left what looks like a third of a stick in the other
filter (noone told me to do this I just did it on my own so it might
be wrong).

The Pool store told me to add 12 1bs of Balance Pak 100 to get the
TA up. They told me the dosage really needed for my pool would be
43 lbs (wow) but they wanted to be conservative because its a new
pool (6 weeks old). They told me not to add anything for the
chlorine which they said should be at 1. I have an electric cover
and they said to take it off at least an hour a day weather
permitting and that should help burn the chlorine off. I'll do this
but I'm not thrilled because the landscaping around the pool is
being done for the next 2 weeks.

I'm also a bit confused because I am using a BioGuard Multi-Test
1200 V kit and according to that test my chlorine is at 3, thats a
big difference. The pool store sold me this kit and when I told
them about this discrepency they told me they would exchange the
whole kit for a new kit. However I'm not certain whose results were
wrong.

In any event, does this sound like a good plan to deal with the
chlorine or does anyone have any other suggestions.

Thanks

DebPoolClueless

Deb,

Hi, and welcome to the forum!
I don't really understanding why you're wanting to lower the chlorine--with a CYA of 40, your Cl level needs to stay between 3-6 ppm anyway, and never drop below 3. And as long as you're using the smart sticks, your CYA is going to increase, which will require you to keep higher and higher minimum Cl levels in the pool anyway. A Cl of 8 isn't too high to swim, but if you do want to drop it down to the 3-6 range, leaving it uncovered on one sunny day will take care of it.

And the Balance Pack they want you to add to increase your TA is sodium bicarb--the EXACT same thing as Arm Hammer baking soda, but at 4x the price. Save yourself some money and get it at the grocery store instead. Don't get pool stored!!

Janet

Thanks for the quick reply and the welcome Janet.

To answer your question of why do I want to lower my chlorine? I'm very new to all this very interesting pool stuff (pool is 6 weeks old). The pool store told me I needed to lower my chlorine to 1 (and I believed them, ha) because I have a Nature 2 Purifier and they said with this purifier I should be running my pool with very little chlorine. Is this correct information? I have no idea. But if you are saying 8 isn't high, I'm very happy. I also ordered a new test kit (Taylor 2006) which I hear is good and I'm going to see what I get for Chlorine with that kit since I'm getting a 3 with my current kit and even I know a 3 is fine.

And thanks for the sodium bicarb advice, I'll buy it in my grocery store next time.

DebPoolClueless

Deb,
The literature for Nature 2 does recommend a lower Cl level HOWEVER the sanitizing power of that product is strongly contested here. Search on the forum for 'Nature 2' and the read through the poor reviews. What most people on this forum do is remove the nature 2 from their plumbing or remove the cartridge. I won't try to summarize the postings on Nature 2 but I agree that it is a waste and you should just use the BBB method. That CYA level you have is spot on so I would stop using the pucks/sticks/dichlor/trichlor products since it is 'built' into them. Search BBB method for dosage instructions, tips, etc. Also search for Ben's Buest Guess CYA chart which approximates the needed chlorine level per CYA (stabilizer level) and BleachCalc which will do the tricky math for you.

Interesting that a Nature-2 has been in this system for 6 weeks and the pool store test still doesn't show any copper.

Hahaha... who to blame? The pool store testing or the scam product?!?!

One of the advertised "positives" of the Nature 2 system is that you don't need to run as high Cl levels as you do in a regular chlorine pool. However, I agree with Bleach=Chlorine in that you need to read through the posts on Nature 2 elsewhere in this forum and decide if you really want to continue using it. Basically the Nature 2 relies on copper and other minerals (is it silver, or zinc?) to act as an algaecide. However, while it may kill algae, it does NOT kill viruses or bacteria. The other thing about the Nature 2 (my understanding from reading posts here and literature on it, I do not have personal experience with it myself) is that the water is "sanitized" while it's in the unit, but once it leaves the unit and goes back into the pool, it's fair game for whatever wants to grow in it--hence the requirement for chlorine in the pool itself. Most people here have decided that if you need the chlorine anyway, AND chlorine does a much better job of keeping your water clean, why bother with the expense of the Nature 2 system? Add into that the fact that when the Nature 2 adds copper to your water, then when you shock the pool the copper (at high levels) will usually precipitate out of the water and into your pool in the form of stains.....so then you have to add metal sequestrants.

Take some time, and do some reading...but for now, Cl of 8 is just fine. Don't let it drop below 3.

Janet

Since your TC is 8.9 and your FC is 8.1, that means your CC is .7--and that's not good. It looks like you have something you need to metabolize and that means a good shocking is in order

Contrary to what everyone else is telling you I would try to RAISE FC 7ppm to 15ppm. I cannot tell you how much bleach to add because I don't know how many gallons you have, but you need 1 1/8 gallons of 6% bleach for every 10,000 gallons in your pool.

Or 1 1/3 gallons of regular (5.25%) bleach for every 10,000 gallons.

CarlD's right--I missed the CC........shock it! I just wanted you to realize that, contrary to pool store advice, 8 is NOT way to high for your CYA level.

Janet

Deb,

Welcome aboard. You need to listen to the folks here that aren't profit driven instead of the pool store folks that are. I would suggest ordering Ben's kit from the forum here. It is far superior to anything else on the market. Download the bleach calculator that we all so heavily rely on. Just find any post my MWSMITH and it is in his signature. It has all of the chemicals you need to keep your pool pristine. Just punch in your info and voila, it tells you exactly how much of what you need to add. Enjoy your pool!

Thanks so much everyone. I'm very appreciative and overwhelmed by so many helpful responses. I will definately look into the nature 2 very closely, maybe I can even return it, they shouldn't sell a product that results in metal getting into your pool, thats insane.

I shocked the pool (with Burn Out Extreme) June 2nd, its ok to shock it again so soon? What is the magic number of CC that suggests shocking is needed? Its so funny you are all telling me to shock. My pool directions are to shock with Shock and Swim once a week and Burn Out Extreme once a month and today the pool guy told me to skip the Shock and Swim this week cause it will only add more chlorine to the pool! I guess I have alot to learn. Glad I found this forum.

If I get rid of the nature 2 is there any piece of equipment I need to add?

Oh and my pool is 27,000 gallons. And interestingly enough I am also adding an alegicide to the pool even with the nature 2.

Thanks again, I know you will all be hearing from again real soon!

Debbie

Deb, welcome to the forum! You seem to be starting to understand why so many people come here, the info here is stuff you're not going to get from your contractor or pool store -(IMHO, it's not so much that they want to sell you BS chems, they are just ignorant of what's really happening, chemistry wise and since they make money off of it, they have no incentive to change what they are doing [that is to say, they aren't doing it out of malice]). You have made the best decision in comming here and learning how to take care of your pool without having to rely on the 'pros'.
If you rid yourself of the Nature 2, and can afford it you might want to look into a salt system, there is an area here which deals exclusivly with those systems, you could do a little reading and decide which one would be best for you. You've already received excellent advice as per your chlorine ? , but if you have any more ?s, just post and someone here will help you. Again, stick with the 'not for profit' advice you get here and give the forum and poolsolutions a good read - it'll clarify things for you greatly!

Deb,
I don't know what those shocking products are. But they are almost certainly Di-chlor, Tri-chlor, or Cal-hypo.
All basically add chlorine to your pool but also add other stuff:
Di-chlor and Tri-Chlor are VERY acidic and lower pH--even if you don't want them to. They also both add stabilizer (CYA or Cyanuric Acid) even if you have enough and don't want more.
Cal-Hypo adds calcium to your water at the same time.

Ordinary laundry bleach is Sodium Hypochlorite--the same stuff as "Liquid Chlorine" or "Liquid Shock" at your pool store. Bleach has NO side effects--it adds NOTHING but chlorine. You need 4 gallons of regular bleach to reach 15ppm. Or, if you use Ultra bleach, you need 3 and 1/2 gallons. You can pour the bleach in the return stream or the skimmer (while the pump is running).


As for CC, there isn't really a magic number, but a lot of us have noticed that we cannot get 0 CC and instead finding that our test indicates less than .5ppm of CC and that seems to be harmless. But if it's CLEARLY .5 or above (and you have .7) then it shock time.