Time to replace sand?

[jonno]

Water is much clearer this morning - I can see the pattern on the shallow end bottom and can see the dark head of the leaf scoop when it is at the bottom of the deep end.
TC was slightly lighter than the 5 level (5 OT = 25 ppm) using the OT kit and the shotglass method so I added 1 gal of 12.5% bleach. As I swept the bottom and walls, plumes of dead algae rose up ahead of the brush in most areas - but the layer was thin enough so that the "just brushed" swath was not distinguishable from the "not yet brushed" area. In days past, the sweeping would leave a obviously cleaner swath as I brushed.

I'm trickling more water into the pool so I can backwash this evening or tomorrow. Haven't been able to test pH or TA due to the high chlorine level. I'll be back at noon to test again. Sky is overcast and drizzling.

[jonno]

Yay! The titrating reagent refill was on my front porch when I came home from lunch so I was able to do a real FC test.

FC 31.5, so no bleach added.
CC 0.0

I arranged for another family member to test the FC again at 4p and I'll test once more around 6:30p when I get home.

John

[jonno]

Three titrating tests starting at noon today. Before that I had to use the shotglass method and it was a guess at best.
The water is still cloudy, but I can see the bottom.

1pm
FC 31.5
CC 0.0

4pm
FC 28.5
CC not tested

7pm
FC 27.0
CC 1.5

I'll test again tomorrow morning and see if the FC has held within 1 ppm. If it is below 25ppm, I'll add bleach. If it is 25 or higher, I think the plan is to stop adding bleach let the FC drift down to 15 (it may take a day or two), then test pH and TA. Then (dare I ask it?) will it be swim time?

[Watermom]

But...... if you still have a CC reading greater than 0.5, you still have to maintain the high cl. Sorry to have to tell you that. Since your FC didn't drop much during that time period, I'm hoping the CC reading may be is just testing error.

[jonno]

This morning the FC was 19ppm, down from 27ppm from 12 hours before. Also the CC was 1.0 so I'm still on the program. Added 1.3 gallons of 12.5% bleach to bring it back to 25 ppm.

I have someone to check it every two hours today and keep it at 25 and will see how it looks tomorrow. The water is quite clear - not crystal yet, but I can see the seams in the vinyl even in the deep end. I feel like this is home stretch and I'm not going to rush it. Thanks!

[Watermom]

I feel like this is home stretch and I'm not going to rush it. Thanks!

That's right. Don't rush it. Sometimes this is the point where people mess up. They get so tired of messing with it and it looks good so they think that they are finished and quit too soon. And, guess what? It's only a matter of a couple of days and they are right back where they started and ready to cry.

Hang in there. You're almost there!

[jonno]

Thanks for the encouraging words, they really help. I'll keep the FC at 25ppm until it holds within 1ppm overnight and the CC is no more than 0.5.

I've been keeping everyone out of the pool and will do so until this is done, but when I looked at the Best Guess chart, it looks like a quick dip might be okay and the high FC would pose no danger to the swimmer (although designer swim suits and dyed hair might lighten). However, I don't know if the pH and TA levels need to be considered. Several days ago, when I last measured pH (before I was keeping the FC so high) it was 7.2 and the TA was 170.

Watermom - What do you or the other experts think - stay out of the pool or allow a quick dip? (Of course, I would be sure an hour or so had passed since the last bleach addition).

So far today the readings are:
7:30a FC 19.0 (added bleach), CC 1.0
10a FC 25.0
Noon FC 21.5 (added bleach)
4p FC 23.5 (added bleach), CC between 0.5 and 1.0

I'll test again when I get home and post the overnight numbers.