Re: How much Chlorine is too much?
when you use this shot glass method, I am assuming I should be seeing some yellow coloring, or my cholrine levels are not near high enough, is this correct. I did the first test that you multiply by 2 and didn't even get a reading or any yellow coloring, it was basically clear. Should I just start dumping more bleach in? HELP!! I am seeing clearing of water though, gradually. Just not comfortable with the testing?
Re: How much Chlorine is too much?
If you got no yellow at all when you did the dilution method (the shot glass method), then you should try the test again, but this time just fill the test vial with pool water and test normally without multiplying anything. See if that gets you a reading. It may be that your cl level is 5 or under and that is why the shot glass method didn't work for you. You only use the dilution when your cl level is over 5.
Yes, I'm sure you need more bleach, but retest first. You want to try and keep the cl level up to around 10 without letting it drop. The more times you test each day and add enough bleach to get back to 10, the faster this will go for you. In your pool, each gallon of 6% bleach will raise the cl level by about 2.5ppm. (Remember, most bleach is sold in 3-qt. bottles not gallons. A gallon is 128 oz.) When you take the cl up to 10, that is when you will need the dilution (shot glass) method.
What test kit are you using?
By the way --- I moved this latest post of yours into this thread. Remember, keep all your posts about this problem in this thread instead of putting them in other threads. It makes it easier for us to help if everything is in one place. Whenever you want to post, just click "post reply" below the last post in the thread and that will put your new post under it.
Re: How much Chlorine is too much?
You are a doll baby, thanks so much. I was wondering if I should keep all in here, wasn't sure when it referred to other things. Got that now. I feel like a real duh! I GOT IT, LOL. Okay I am going to retest right now. THANK YOU SO MUCH!! In my stupid defense, I thought I was adding the water, etc. because this wasn't the right kind of test kit. I am using Wal-Mart, HTH, I guess? I ordered the Taylor recommended one for about $80, with extra refills yesterday. Okay, will go try another reading, I am guessing pretty low, now that makes sense, couldn't figure out adding the water, etc. GOT IT!! smile. How much do you rec. dumping in at a time. I have been doing in front of the two returns as someone said, is that best? Also where can you get cheaper sand, or just stick to the pool places? NOTE for others to share, I got 6% bleach one gallon at Big Lots for $1.50 a gallon.
Re: How much Chlorine is too much?
The reason for the dilution method (shot glass) is to force a test kit to read higher if your chlorine level is higher than the maximum the kit can read. It does lose some accuracy with the dilution, but is better than nothing. Glad you ordered the good kit. That will make things a lot easier for you.
You have a large volume pool at 25,000. You can go ahead and add all 5 gallons at one time, but just pour it in very slowly in front of the return jet. Bleach is denser than water and if you pour it in too fast, it will sink and can damage the liner. By pouring it very slowly, it quickly disperses into the water. After you add it, wait a couple of hours and then retest. (Your chlorine should be pretty high so this is when you'll need to use the dilution method.) Then, you can add more bleach --- however much you need to get it back up to 10-12 ppm. The more often you can do this, the faster this pool will clear and those grandbabies can swim!
I don't know where else to get sand. Maybe someone will chime in with ideas about that but you do need to get pool sand. "Play sand" like you would use in a child's sandbox will not work. Sounds like you got a good price on that bleach.
Gotta run and be a mom for a bit so off the forum for a little while. But, I'll check back in later and see how you are doing.
By the way --- no apologies needed for putting posts in other places and don't feel like a duh. This is a pretty big forum and sometimes it is a little confusing trying to decide where to post. That is one of the things the moderators do --- moving things around to help organize threads. Not a problem.
Re: How much Chlorine is too much?
I did the test again and it is just slightly tinged. Yesterday the pool place had 1 with no FC? It appears the PH is okay, maybe a little high? about 7.8 or .6. I have the Kreepy cleaner running, and had it running all night. Should I pull that out so it can filter 100 %? How much should I dump in to even get a reading. I am ready to dump about 5 at a time at least, but that is what we have been doing and it is going no where, other than it burnt out the Baq.
Re: How much Chlorine is too much?
Thanks so much for advice, I have a hard time following where my replies are so thanks for the guidance. I will only put 5 in like we have been doing. Thanks again. The times are always off from the posting, or are you in California, maybe? Okay, later!
Re: How much Chlorine is too much?
Okay, I am going to get off here too, even though I have alot of educating to do here, smile. Got to tend to my business things too. I am going to dump, slowly, thanks for tip, 5 gallons in and retest in a few hours. Enjoy your children!
Re: How much Chlorine is too much?
I checked my readings about 2:30, it was a light yellow, so read about 3?? I don't get it? I put another 5 gallons in. The water is no longer green, it is a cloudy blue. Can't see the deep end yet due to cloudiness. I never got around to posting this, smile? I checked the water again, it is still not real high, maybe pushing a 3 1/2-4 at the most? We put the Kreepy back in. Someone gave me info. on a place that has liquid chlorine that is 12% at a giood price, what about that?
Re: How much Chlorine is too much?
12% liquid chlorine is the same thing as bleach only a higher concentration. That would be fine. (But you'll put less of it in the pool.) Keep adding chlorine. Go ahead and add 7 gallons and see what that does for you. It is being used up so quickly that I doubt it will take the chlorine level high enough to be bad for your liner. Keep at it. Retest after 3 hours and add more bleach if it isn't high. Keep doing this -- testing and adding bleach every 3 hours if you can. Hopefully over the weekend, you'll finally get it clear. Are you watching your filter pressure and backwashing as needed? (Backwash whenever the filter pressure increases 8-10 psi over your clean filter pressure.)
It takes a lot of chlorine to convert a baq. pool to a chlorine one. Keep at it! And, run pump 24/7. Also watch your pH.
Re: How much Chlorine is too much?
thanks for your reply, we added more, and are going to check again, here before retiring tonight. I have been checking my filter pressure, and backwashing, thanks for reminding me though. I prefer alot of information, than not enough, LOL! I have kept with it all day, and been testing and adding, we are going for the 12% tom., it seems like it will be economical. I am questioning the potency of the Big Lots bleach, hard telling where it was stored/ Thanks again, hopefully we will see more of the bottom this week-end. I feel positive about it.
Re: How much Chlorine is too much?
Good for you for your efforts to read and learn a lot about pool care this week. You are doing a great job. Let us know how things look tomorrow and what your numbers are. Especially important will be how much chlorine you lose overnight so be sure you write down what your cl reading is before going to bed so you can compare it to the early morning testing.
Re: How much Chlorine is too much?
Well I thought I posted a reply here today, but don't see it, so here goes again, please forgive if repeat! Our pool is looking good, it went from greens to cloudy blue to cloudy to WE CAN SEE THE BOTTOM DRAIN!! Yeah!! I didn't read about your request for posting my readings night and day. Basically they are very low at night and I do more chlorine and in the morning about 10-15, with dropping during the day. I am wondering what we do now? I was maybe pool stored again? Saturday I went to get the chorline, we got a 5 gallon of 12.5 per cent at a rural pool store. I was talking to the owner, big mistake, I asked than about stablizer. I ended up buying a container of Cyanuric Acid. Did I do the wrong thing. What is next with us? Time to change the sand? Thanks for you help in advance!!
Re: How much Chlorine is too much?
I need help in deciding what to do next? Trying to understand posting here? Maybe I should post somewhere else? I tested this morning and readings are almost nothing. I put the rest of the chlorine in and have to run for more. I am thinking maybe I need to put a sock with the cyanuric acid in it from reading other posts, but don't know?
EDIT by Watermom:
Digger -- I copied what you wrote in the new thread you started and am pasting it here. Please keep all your posts within this thread. It is much easier to help somebody if all the "history" and previous advice given about a situation is all in one place. Below is your other post.
I am converting from Baqucil and doing pretty good, I just need help in my next step. I have a 25,000 gallon 20x40 inground vinyl pool. I now have almost totally cystal clear water. My readings for the cholrine have been up and down, not consistant, but are they ever? It has went from many colors of green to cloudy blue and now what I would say pretty much crystal clear. The bottom drain became visible late Sat. I have not gotten my test kit yet, but will soon, I ordered the Taylor one rec. I started with 12.5% chorline on Sat. and used a 5 gallon cont. I have to go and get more here in a few hours. I did buy a container of Cyanuric Acid, hoping I was not Pool Stored again? Readings this morning were almost nothing?? PH has been good in the normal range. Should I change the sand now? I am not really sure that my levels got consistently up to 15 without dropping 1-2 ppm overnight? Does it matter when it is so clear? Please help me, I have to make the trip here in about an hour, thanks so much to all who work so hard to keep this going!!
I read alot, but still not sure if I am doing right here to post my request, so correct me if I am wrong?
Re: How much Chlorine is too much?
Hi Digger,
I would wait to change out the sand for just a bit longer. You can go ahead and hang a sock of cyanuric acid if you want. It is goint to take about 6 lbs. in total to get you to a reading of about 30. That is a lot to put in a sock. Maybe divide it and hang two socks or do one sock with 3 lbs. and when it dissolves do it again with 3 more lbs. If you will give the sock a squeeze once in awhile, it seems to dissolve faster.
Did you get a tracking number to follow your kit and if so, any estimate on when they expect to deliver it to you? I would suggest continuing to continue testing and adding the bleach like you have been for another day or two and hopefully, by then your new kit will arrive and we can get a good set of numbers. And, then, if all looks good, it will be time to change out the sand and you will officially be past this conversion. To answer your question --- yes, it matters what your readings are. Even when water looks crystal clear, sometimes something is going on that you just can't see. The overnight chlorine loss is a good indicator that something is brewing so that is why we need to know that.
Almost there!! Hope this helps.
Re: How much Chlorine is too much?
Thanks so much, off to the pool store, we are on the same page, I like that. That is about what I was thinking myself. Son in law is working with me, but I am doing the educating, so he thought as long as clear, it was fine? I understand and did read that about algae growing and eating up the chorline with such fluctuations. We just cleaned out the pool light opening which had algae in it, yesterday. Light has been shot for years, another issue, but need to find glass plate cover to at least put that on. Thanks again for help. I have tracking no., expect it today or tom.
Re: How much Chlorine is too much?
Copied and pasted from the PM you sent me:
Digger wrote:
I still don't understand how to post a question, and if I am doing it correctly. Bear with me please. I really needed an answer though today, so hopefully I can get through to you? I will try to go back and post again. I will be in and out, but the grandchildren are planning on swimming today, and I want to make sure it is safe, even though I allowed it the other day, but levels appeared to be 0? (which I read in the Taylor booklet, it could be false??) Okay, first off I have crystal clear water, I don't remember the last time it looked so good? I know that doesn't mean nothing I got my test kit and used it for the first time this morning, so may have done it wrong? I read all the directions, but? When they say it will turn red, do they mean at the first hint of pink, or bright red? Same with the blue? I did the readings at light pink and light blue. Some back ground, I have been putting 12.5% liquid chlorine in, and did so late last night. I also did the two socks with cynauric acid in them. I was suppose to put in 6 lbs. I put less than that in. I did put a small amount into the skimmer also. The guy ( I know I still pay attention to some they say) at the pool store said to put it all in there. He laughed at me about putting in a sock, and said it would take forever. I don't agree, I am a patient person, it was working suffciently, and was gone this morning. Okay that is all I added. My readings are:PH: 7.5, Alkalinity: 130 PPM, that was when it was a light pink color, Calcium: light pink, 90 PPM, Cyanuric Acid, it never turned real cloudy, and the black dot never disappeared, even when liquid was added to the top. Okay Chlorine: FC was bright pink, I added 11 drops at 0.2 PPM which would equal? 2.2?, that was when the test sample was light pink. The CC I added 2 drops for crystal clear, but it cleared up at 1 drop., so I guess that would be.4? Please let me know if the water is safe for precious water Grandbabies? Someone told me somethign that scared me for them, about the chlorine soaking into their skin and and could harm them??Thanks so much.
Re: How much Chlorine is too much?
Here are the directions for the chlorine tests:
Chlorine (Free, Combined, Total) Test
1. Rinse and fill large comparator tube to desired mark with water to be tested.
NOTE: For 1 drop = 0.2 ppm, use 25 mL sample.
For 1 drop = 0.5 ppm, use 10 mL sample.
2. Add 2 dippers R-0870. Swirl until dissolved. If free chlorine is present, sample will turn pink.
NOTE: If pink color disappears, add R-0870 until color turns pink.
3. Add R-0871 dropwise, swirling and counting after each drop, until color changes from pink to colorless.
4. Multiply drops in Step 3 by drop equivalence (Step 1). Record as parts per million (ppm) free chlorine (FC).
5. Add 5 drops R-0003. Swirl to mix. If combined chlorine is present, sample will turn pink.
6. Add R-0871 dropwise, swirling and counting after each drop, until color changes from pink to colorless.
7. Multiply drops in Step 6 by drop equivalence (Step 1). Record as ppm combined chlorine (CC).
So, if you used a 25ml water sample, then yes, your FC reading of 2.2 is correct. On the CC reading, if it cleared at 1 drop, then your reading would be 0.2.
If the CYA test never turned cloudy, that just means that you don't have much cya in there. I can't guess what your CYA reading actually is not knowing how much you put in there. About a week after you added the CYA, run the cya test again, but not before then or you'll just waste your testing reagents. Then, if you find that your CYA level is less than 30, you'll probably need to add some more. Repost at that time with the reading and we'll advise you.
I think you are ok for the kids to swim today, but just add a little chlorine. If your FC is 2.2, I'd add enough to take it up to 5ppm. (Probably about 2 quarts of the 12.5% chlorine.) Then, you will know that the water is sanitized for them to swim in. Also, your grandchildren are perfectly fine swimming in a chlorine pool. What would be dangerous to them is swimming in a non-sanitized pool. Relax and enjoy the day with those little ones!
(By the way -- you need to follow the advice given here on the forum and not try and follow our advice AND the pool store's advice. OK?)
Regarding how to post: From the forum home page, go down to the section called "Using Chlorine and Chlorinating Chemicals" and scroll down in the list of threads until you find the one called "Digger's Pool." Then, go to the last post in the thread and click on "Post Reply" which will open a window where you can type. When you are finished, click on submit and it will show up in the thread.