Opening Pool Questions and Levels

[jrsdws]

No heater....I am pounding it with bleach right now but I'm only able to maintain about 4ppm FC. I've put in 36 jugs of bleach!!!

Keep pounding it or try something else?

[Watermom]

Bleach, bleach and more bleach. Try to consistently maintain shock level without letting the chlorine level yo-yo up and down. How much bleach are you adding at a time? Also, run the pump 24/7. Keep an eye on the pH and make sure it stays above 7.0. Keep us posted how things are going.

[jrsdws]

I'm adding 6 jugs (576oz) at a time and checking FC about a half hour afterwards. Pump is running fulltime. I'm using scum socks in the skimmer basket as there is a BUNCH of scum in it. Socks are filling/plugging maybe every 20 minutes or so.

I still don't get any more leaves or anything up from the bottom as I brush or use the basket across it.

I will test pH again right away.

Am I just experiencing a massive algae kill?

[jrsdws]

pH hovering at 7.0....what do I add?

[PoolDoc]

Let it hover there.

Also, please test both FC and TC, and report those results. As far as trying to hold the chlorine stable, I wouldn't worry too much about that -- you can't really do so till you get your algae and chemistry issues resolved. Instead add some bleach during the day, to keep it above 2, but add 6 - 8 gallon doses in the evening. Keep doing that till you can hold high chlorine levels overnight.

Ben

[jrsdws]

In frustration I dumped 20 jugs of bleach in shortly before dark. I let it circulate for an hour and tested.

FC = 39
TC = 43

We'll see how much is left in the morning.

If it's all gone, is it ok to switch to cal-hypo to get the shocking done?

[jrsdws]

Morning readings:

FC = 25
TC = 28

Time to go by another store...or two...out of bleach.

[madwil]

with your TA and CH so high, I would not use anything but bleach for CL... anything else will just add more crud you don't need...
for pH, it will slowly increase due to aeration, so just don't let it get to high- let it get to 7.6 or 7.8, then adjust back down with MA...
with your CYA level, if you shoot for FC 15, you should be good; I wouldn't go above about 20 to much, because that will just increase the amount of loss to other factors without kiling algae; keep it at 15-20 as consistently as you can, especially overnight when it will do most good!
Once you maintain FC overnight with <1 loss, and your CC stays <.5, you can go to normal FC levels of 3-6 (I usually stay on the high side, when it reaches 4-5 I add to 8)...

[jrsdws]

I think I'm getting on the right side of the fight now. Pool is far less dark...a lighter green now...and not as much scum in it.

I'm losing some chlorine since morning, of course, sunlight and algae.

FC = 18.5
TC = 21.5