We used Baquacil for 15 years. The first 12 were great but the last 3 were nightmares. Last year we barely swam at all. We spent a fortune on chemicals last year and finally gave up in late July and on the advice of the pool store, let all levels of Baquacil go to 0. We closed the pool with no chemicals added. They advised to start fresh with massive does of chlorine at the start of this season. The pool was green when we closed it.
It was green when we opened it as expected. Our pool is 18x33 above ground, 15,000 gallons. We put approx. 12 gallons 6% bleach in it over a week when we opened it. It turned a flourescent green and then after shocking and putting 3 inch tablets in a dispenser got a milky color. We took a water sample in. Ph and alkalinity were high. Chlorine was non existent. They said to lower ph and shock it. They said there was no Baquacil in it. We shocked it again. (3 lbs). We took another sample. Ph was 7 alk was 160 hardness was 80 free cl 0 tot cl 1.8 stab 20. They said put 1lb. ph up, wait 1 hour and put 3 lbs. stabilizer, then tomorrow put 21 lbs. calcium hardness increaser in 2 doses , wait six hours and then put 3 lbs. shock after 8:30 pm. We did all this and also had 3 3 inch tablets in dispenser and took another sample 4 days later. Results: alk-160 ph-7.2 cya-30 tot hard-80 tot cl-1.7 fr cl-0. The pool store said to let alk come down by itself. They said to shock with 3lbs shock that night. They also said to crush a chlorine tablet and put in skimmer and bring another sample the next day. They also said to put 21 lbs. calcium hardness increaser. We did.
We brought another sample yesterday. Results: alk-160 ph-6.8 cya-30 tot hard-90 tot cl-7.8 fr cl-0
They said put 1 lb. ph up. Wait 1 hour, put 3 lbs. NON Chlorine Shock, crush another 3 in. tablet and put in skimmer. Don't put any more calcium hardness increaser right now. Bring another sample Monday or Tuesday.
Help! Why can't I get any free chlorine reading? I'm wondering if I can trust the advice I'm getting. I was told to put ph down in to lower my alk (160) when my ph was 6.8 which is already low for ph. I'm confused.