Dubosity's Thread: Lost in Cloudiness/Mustard Algae Hell

[Dubosity]

Thank you! I did read everything I possibly could on this site...there's some REALLY great info here!
I'm concerned about keeping such a high chlorine level because I won't be able to get an accurate pH read...and because swimming nude isn't always an option.Based on what I read in another thread, I was thinking about losing the pucks and chlorinating with bleach (or non-stablized tabs), in an attempt to reduce the CYA (over time) rather than draining and refilling. Is that, in fact, an option for me?

[Watermom]

Stopping the pucks will not lower the CYA. The only way to lower it is to exchange water. Having said that, you do need to stop using the pucks, though. Otherwise your CYA will continue to climb and you certainly don't want that. Definitely go with bleach. Like Ben said, if you don't want to do a partial drain and refill, you can just run higher than normal chlorine levels as outlined in the Best Guess chart in my signature below. You have to do one or the other. Otherwise, you're never going to get this pool under control. High CYA without high chlorine = algae blooms that never go away for good.

[Dubosity]

all righty then :-) I will definitely do a partial drain/refill, stop using the pucks, and switch to bleach. Thanks a million! (I also ordered the K2006 kit...through your link so that you guys get some of the $...you deserve it!)

[PoolDoc]

Just a note about the suits --

I *think* that the bleaching effect of chlorine is ALSO reduced by high CYA, so the suits *may* be fine. Chem_Geek is more confident of this than I, and he has a better grasp on the analytical side of the chemistry than I do. I've got some niggling memories of conversations years ago with one of the pioneers of industrial bleach production that make me a little less confident.

But odds are that your suits will be OK, even if you can't go au naturel. It's just I'm not complete sure of that,yet.

Ben

[Dubosity]

I don't know if I should keep this thread going or start a new one. Forgive me if I've chosen incorrectly.
My husband is pushing back on the use of bleach AND whether to drain/refill. His arguments are 1) we spent $80 on the bucket of trichlor tabs and we have enough to last the rest of the season 2) we're currently renting the house and don't know how whether we'll end up buying it or not, and 3) it's going to cost at least $100 to partially drain and refill. I have 3 questions:

1) If I drain/refill enough to bring the CYA to 40-60 ppm, can I go on using the trichlor for the rest of the season? (I"m in N Central Florida where the season can run through the end of Oct.) Will the levels rise back that fast?

2) If I'm able to convince him to go with bleach, how do I know the amount needed for my 30K gal pool and how often it must be added? (I realize I would be maintaining a different level depending on whether we end up renewing the water.

3) If we decided not to exchange the water, so that I need to maintain about 8 ppm of chlorine, how do I reliably test the pH? Can I count on the directions in the Taylor kit (ie, dilute the sample with tap water before testing)?

Sorry to be such a pain. I did try to glean everything I could by reading through just about every post on the site, but I didn't really see anything that specifically answered these questions. Thanks for your patience.
Debra

[madwil]

1- each 10 ppm of chlorine from pucks gives I think 6 ppm CYA, or stabilizer; it can add up really fast, trying to maintain FC high and such- I would save the pucks and only use when leaving for several days, like vacation, and use bleach for daily maintainance
2- 1 gal, 6% bleach will add 2 ppm FC to your pool approximately. At your CYA level, you need to keep it I think 8-12 range; if you hit 12, it'll probably go down 2-3 points each day to sunlight (how much you lose increases as your level increases. at CYA 100, I think you lose 20% in full sund; but every pool is different, this is just a guess on my part!)
So 1 gal bleach a day, maybe... (I use 1.5 gal every 3-4 days with CYA 30)
3- At FC 8, you should be able to get pretty good pH readings- its above 10 that the FC really screws with the pH readings. So you monitor pH as your chlorine goes down, add acid/borax to adjust, and add your chlorine; Don't let your FC below 8, though; it's an invitation for algae blooms at your CYA...

[PoolDoc]

I were in your situation, I would

#1 - Buy the Taylor kit -- you MUST have a way to test high chlorine levels
#2 - Use your tabs as you husband prefers BUT use my "Best Guess" table to set, and the Taylor kit to measure, your chlorine levels
#3 - Re-visit that decision if you end up with the house after the summer.

One caution: if you have the pool next spring, and let it get slimy this winter, you could open to an impossible situation in 2012. Stabilizer is sometimes biodgraded to ammonia, and with your high levels it would literally take 100's of gallons of bleach to get rid of the ammonia, if all the CYA were converted to ammonia.

Ben

[Dubosity]

Once again, you've come to the rescue. Thank you sooo much! I now feel I have all the info I need to come to a mutually agreeable solution.

P.S. I did purchase the K2006 kit...just waiting for it to get here. And we don't cover the pool in winter so I'll be maintaining the chlorine even then...just perhaps so high.

[aylad]

You still will need to maintain the chlorine at the higher level with the higher CYA--but you'll find that as the water temp drops, so will the rate at which your chlorine does. I keep my pool open year round but during the summer I add the large jug of WalMart bleach 3-4 times a week, but once the water temp gets below 60 or so, I only have to add it 1-2 times a week to keep the chlorine in the recommended range.

Janet

[Dubosity]

After much discussion, we've decided to exchange water. We drained almost 1/2 the pool and are now refilling. We just didn't want to stay in the high-CYA/high-chlorine cycle! Hopefully, this will be enough to bring the CYA down to an acceptable level.
Any wisdom you can share about the steps I need to be thinking about while it's filling and/or just after it's done? Or, shall I look at some of the threads dealing with having a "brand new pool"?