Using the K-2006

[Manslick]

Thanks all.

On the way to work this morning it hit me that the distance from my eye to the CYA tube would be a variable in the black dot visibility.

I was sitting down outside at 5PM in the afternoon sunlight and right on top of the tube, so at waist level the tube will be 24” from my eye. I think that would tend to make the dot disappear sooner assuming my eyesight is as good from 2 feet. If true that would lower the CYA level.

I had this water tested at Leslie’s on Saturday and was told the level was 30 so I added some stabilizer since 30 being the low end got me worried.

So okay, I’m going with bleach. With a 36K gal pool, what’s the dosage? Were do you guys get yours?


Hey waste; no I did not do an alk test yesterday but I plan on it tonight.

My first test showed it to be low, so I added 5 lbs of alk up.

Hey AnnaK – nice to see some reassuring words concerning the CYA test.

[waterbear]

The Taylor website has some excellent videos on how to properly use your test kit.

[Manslick]

The Taylor website has some excellent videos on how to properly use your test kit.

Many thanks waterbear.

[wsommariva]

May want to use baking soda instead of alk up. Should be cheaper. And I personally stay away from pool store tests. I rely on my test kits. Also check the expiration dates on the reagents. I just buy new ones each spring.

[CarlD]

Where I live, Baking Soda is about $.80/lb, but Alk Up and similar products run up to $3/lb. What's the difference? The package and the price! Both are Sodium Bicarbonate (but the pool store version calls itself Sodium Hydrogen Carbonate--to fool you into thinking it's not the same as Bicarb...it is).

pH Up! Balance Pak 200(or is it 300?) runs at least $3/lb. It is Sodium Carbonate. Sodium Carbonate is sold as Arm&Hammer Washing Soda (in the yellow, not orange box) and costs again, about $.80/lb.

"Liquid Chlorine" is frequently sold in 6% concentrations at pool stores. It is identical to Ultra Bleach (6%). If the pool store's is cheaper per gallon, buy it. If not, don't. They also sell "Liquid Shock" which is between 10% and 12.5% concentration. Basically double the price of bleach. If it costs less than half as much per gallon, buy it. If more, then go with bleach.

It's all about labeling and pricing and trying to confuse you into paying more.

Carl

[Manslick]

Where I live, Baking Soda is about $.80/lb, but Alk Up and similar products run up to $3/lb. What's the difference? The package and the price! Both are Sodium Bicarbonate (but the pool store version calls itself Sodium Hydrogen Carbonate--to fool you into thinking it's not the same as Bicarb...it is).

pH Up! Balance Pak 200(or is it 300?) runs at least $3/lb. It is Sodium Carbonate. Sodium Carbonate is sold as Arm&Hammer Washing Soda (in the yellow, not orange box) and costs again, about $.80/lb.

"Liquid Chlorine" is frequently sold in 6% concentrations at pool stores. It is identical to Ultra Bleach (6%). If the pool store's is cheaper per gallon, buy it. If not, don't. They also sell "Liquid Shock" which is between 10% and 12.5% concentration. Basically double the price of bleach. If it costs less than half as much per gallon, buy it. If more, then go with bleach.

It's all about labeling and pricing and trying to confuse you into paying more.

Carl

So if the pool guy says I need 5 lbs of alk up, then I buy 5 lbs of A&H? There's no fillers to worry about?

I've never used liquid chlorine so how do I figure the dosage using bleach?

Thanks Carl.

[CarlD]

If the pool store guy says add 5 lbs of Tot Alk increaser, DON'T DO IT! And, if you do, yes, use A&H Baking Soda. It's 100% sodium bicarb.

I NEVER add more than 1 lb of baking soda and I have nearly over 19,000 gallons, near 20k. With your pool, AT MOST add 2 lbs at a time.

You have 36,000 gallons. So the forumula is: (1,000,000/gallons_in_pool)*(Bleach concentration)*# of gallons of bleach.

So....(1,000,000/36,000) * .06 * 1 = 1.67. That means one gallon of 6% bleach will add 1.6ppm of free chlorine to your pool. (.06=6%)
If you use 12.5% then 1 gallon of it will add 3.5ppm of free chlorine to your pool
Bleach and Liquid Chlorine are the same stuff. Sometimes the pool stores sell it in 6% strength but also as "liquid shock" at 12.5% or in 5 gallon carboys as liquid chlorine, also 12.5%. That's what I use, and the guy I get it from turns it over so fast it usually tests at 14%.

Carl

[Watermom]

I buy generic Walmart Ultra bleach 6%.

[Manslick]

If the pool store guy says add 5 lbs of Tot Alk increaser, DON'T DO IT! And, if you do, yes, use A&H Baking Soda. It's 100% sodium bicarb.

I NEVER add more than 1 lb of baking soda and I have nearly over 19,000 gallons, near 20k. With your pool, AT MOST add 2 lbs at a time.

You have 36,000 gallons. So the forumula is: (1,000,000/gallons_in_pool)*(Bleach concentration)*# of gallons of bleach.

So....(1,000,000/36,000) * .06 * 1 = 1.67. That means one gallon of 6% bleach will add 1.6ppm of free chlorine to your pool. (.06=6%)
If you use 12.5% then 1 gallon of it will add 3.5ppm of free chlorine to your pool
Bleach and Liquid Chlorine are the same stuff. Sometimes the pool stores sell it in 6% strength but also as "liquid shock" at 12.5% or in 5 gallon carboys as liquid chlorine, also 12.5%. That's what I use, and the guy I get it from turns it over so fast it usually tests at 14%.

Carl

I understand. The dosage is determined by the water test. The number of gallons to achieve the required dosage is based on the Chlorine percentage. Brilliant!

Thanks a million – ha ha.

Now my task is to interpret the test correctly in order to know the dosage.

[Manslick]

May want to use baking soda instead of alk up. Should be cheaper. And I personally stay away from pool store tests. I rely on my test kits. Also check the expiration dates on the reagents. I just buy new ones each spring.

Thanks wsommariva. Where do you get your reagents?