Chlorine and PH readings

[KurtV]

What she said.

Also, the di-chlor is probaby what drove your pH down so much. Try using bleach (sodium hypochlorite) instead to get your free chlorine level up; it will also help a bit to raise your pH.

[bxb21]

I don't really want to partially drain the pool, so I'll try to get my chlorine levels up. The chart says I need between 8-15 ppm with 25 ppm to shock.
That's a lot of chlorine, I assume it's safe to swim with it that high? Also will the CYA go down on it's own if I don't use any more di-chlor or will I be battling this every year unless I drain it?

I'll order the test kit today so that I can keep track of all this.

[duraleigh]

I don't really want to partially drain the pool, so I'll try to get my chlorine levels up. The chart says I need between 8-15 ppm with 25 ppm to shock.

That'll work.

That's a lot of chlorine, I assume it's safe to swim with it that high?

Your assumption is correct.

Also will the CYA go down on it's own if I don't use any more di-chlor or will I be battling this every year unless I drain it?

It'll eventually go down....might take 'til next Spring.

I'll order the test kit today so that I can keep track of all this.

That would be the smartest thing you can do for you and your pool!

[bxb21]

Since my last post I drained and refilled about a foot of water from my pool in hopes of lowering the CYA some. I won't know until my test kit arrives. I got the PH up to about 7.2 and the TA is down to about 110. Since Monday I've poured 17 gallons into the pool. Checked the reading this afternoon and its only about 1.0. I added 3 more gallons a few hours ago. When I first add the bleach the chlorine level goes up pretty high (my test kit only goes to 3.0, so I'm guessing somewhere between 6.0 and 8.0), then in a few hours it drops back to between 1-3. Is there some reason it keeps dropping or do I just have to keep pouring in the bleach?