Sorry for long post but wanted to include as much relevant info as possible.

At my wits end buying bleach and “liquid shock”. Sixth season with this pool and I do all maintenance including open/close. It opens dark brown every year but never had a problem like this. Its still Green and adding sodium hypochlorite is not clearing it up. I can see bottom of shallow end but have not seen drain in deep end yet this year. I am seeking your help. Read on Please.

Initially shocked it with two gallons of sodium hypochorite 12% about one month ago (May 26th) and had progress but never totally cleared. It went from dark brown to light green in about one week. Until about ten days ago I also used pool store chemicals they recommended:
“Fresh & Clear Oxidizing Shock” = Potasium Peroxymonosulfate 38%, and “Chlor Brite” =Sodium dichlor-s- Triazinetrione di-hydrate 99%.
I have lost confidence in the pool store test results and recommendations. I think they were getting false TC=FC. I have had a few of those myself with the same Taylor kit they are using.
Fyi – skimmer tabs were also present during first 3 weeks of operation. Not sure exact composition but approx. 20 were consumed.
As a side note, I over did it with Baking Soda to get the TA up during the first week and had to add 4 gal of muriatic acid. TA is fine now as of about two weeks ago.

I always use Borax for pH up.

I am now trying to get back to BBB method or what ever will work properly to clear the water.

Last week, (prior to purchasing test kit) I shocked twice with 4 gal. of 12% sodium hypochorite about two days apart with no results.

After testing several water samples the past week and adding many gallons of “liquid shock”(12%) and Bleach (6%), I cannot seem to get the FC up.
I am Using Taylor Kit K-2005 (sold at local pool store). I called Taylor and it is same as K-2006 but without Titration for Cl. My TC readings have been equal to or higher than the 5 PPM comparator window in my kit so I am diluting the pool water sample in half using distilled water, comparing, then multiplying result x 2. I used OTO test kit to ensure Cl readings were not off the chart and being “bleached out”. OTO is pale yellow indicating less than 1 PPM. I assume this is FC. after about 1 minute it turns darker yellow but not orange. I read OTO is not accurate over short amount of time but is good for indicating excessive chlorine amounts if it turns orange.

I read on another website that 10x the amount of CC is needed in the form of FC to get rid of (convert?) the CC. With CC readings of 5 PPM (see below) I would require 50PPM FC. I did NOT shock to 50 PPM but I shocked to 30 PPM at 1 am this morning (it was dark outside) per my test kit manual part # 2004B, Table B - “30 ppm Shock Table for Algae Removal” which suggests 15 gallons of bleach (6%); ie. Table has 10k gal @12% Cl= 2.5 gal. So for my 27k gal. pool: (2.5gal x3 {rounding for 30k gal} x 2 for 6%) = 15gal.

This morning (10:00 am) pool was still green so I back-washed, added more DE and brushed entire pool to stir things up. Still Green as of 4 pm today (Fri, 6/24/11)

In summary TC has been 6 to 8 and FC has been 0.5 to 3.0 giving me CC of approx. 5ppm consistently.

I do have confidence in my filter and pump.

pH 7-2 to 7.3 (consistently)
TA = 85 consistently
CYA = 30 consisitently

Having no visual results 14 hours after shocking to 30 PPM I am concerned. Maybe I'm being impatient but I am concerned I did not shock hard enough.

Questions:

1. Should I have seen results by now? How long before visual results?
2. Do I need to keep testing?
3. How do I get the FC up?
4. Did I sell myself short by following the manual to “super-shock” at 30 PPM instead of 50 PPM (10x 5 PPM CC) and did I calculate amount of chlorine (15 gallons of 6% bleach) correctly?
5. Is sodium hypochlorite found in bleach “free Chlorine”?
6. Is CYA test method in Taylor kits accurate? Ie “When black dot disappears…”
7. How much bleach is too much ie concerning damage to liner?
8. Is there a more efficient method to “oxidize” the CC to get FC?

Please provide your feedback / recommendations. Your help is appreciated.

paul