Need and experts help, my pool can't hold chlorine.

[redlady]

I opened my pool in May and shortly after had a problem with goopy green algae. When that was resolved we took apart the filter and cleaned it really good. Everything was fine until the end of June or into July (can't remember exactly) when I had to add 2 pounds of chlorine every day or two. At first I was getting a reading but it didn't last. Now for the past 3 to 4 weeks I can't seem to hold any chlorine in my pool. I did have a problem with phosphates, although that is ok now. All other levels are in balance. We were planning on sealing the pavers around the pool so the solar cover had not been on this year. Thinking the sun is burning off the chlorine we put the cover on last weekend and still no reading. I never had a problem like this and I'm into my 24th season with my inground pool. I am told by my local pool store that I have dead chlorine or a chlorine block which I've never heard of. I did a little research online and they seem to say that's crazy, the only two things that use chlorine is the sun and algae. I'm totally confused and frusterated. My pool has 26,500 gallons of water.

I have spent over 500.00 in the past month and the only thing that I accomplished is my pool is clear and I got rid of phosphates. I'm ready to cover it and walk away but I can't. I live in Ct. and it's in the mid 80's.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Also, I would like to get rid of chemicals and use something natural if anyone has any suggestions.

TIA

[Compooler]

Is the cyanuric acid level correct? Should be 60-90ppm...

Also, what type of chorine are you using? Powdered shock, or stabilized granular?

[CarlD]

Hi and Welcome Tia and Compooler.

Tia, you have been "Pool-Stored"--you have a problem and you give them a TON of money and they HAPPILY sell you all kinds of useless chemicals.
You are right to be suspicious: "Chlorine Lock" was invented by pool companies to explain why they had you use Chlorine pucks far longer than you should have. It means your CYA, ie stabilizer is at a far higher than it should be, and that it SEEMS that the chlorine level you are maintaining it with cannot cure it.

This is wrong. As for Compooler, a level of 60-90ppm for stabilizer MAY be correct, but also may not be. It's usually the recommended range for people who use a saltwater generator to generate their chlorine. I usually keep mine much lower, between 30 and 50ppm, yet another moderator, aylad, keeps hers at between 80 and 90ppm. Who is right? We BOTH are!

I live in North Central NJ and aylad lives in Louisiana and the climate and our pool conditions require different levels. If I was there I'd do EXACTLY as she does and if she was here, she'd do what I do.

Chlorine isn't just used by sunlight and algae. It's the main sanitizer and algaecide you use in your pool. Mostly, it's the ONLY algaecide I use in my pool. But it kills bugs, bacteria, viruses, metabolizes oils, urea, even sun-tan lotion. But it's most important function is to kill the bacteria that exists in fecal matter, in everything from bird poop, to the microscopic amount every person brings into your pool.

However, if you have lots of UV rays or lots of algae, the chlorine gets consumed by those, leaving none for the unpleasant, but critical function of sanitizing your water to prevent waterborne diseases.

OK, so where does this leave us/you?

First, you need post a set of proper test figures. You can have the pool store test it for you (they owe you big time so you don't have to buy anything in return). $500 for a 25,000 gallon pool in chems in one month is outrageous and we will try to help make sure that NEVER happens again!
Have them test
FC (Free Chlorine)
CC (Combined Chloramine)
or
TC (Total Chlorine)
pH (measure of acidity/alkalinity)
TA (Total Alkalinity...not exactly what it sounds like)
CYA (Cyunaric Acid, or Stabilizer/Conditioner)
CH (Calcium Hardness)

You've told us your pool is 25,000 gallons, but we need to know if the pool is vinyl or tile/plaster/concrete/etc. What kind of pump and filter you have.
Do you have a heater or salt water generator ?
What have you been putting in your pool? Not the label but the ingredients. You said you put two pounds of chlorine in (not much) but was that
Tri-chlor...
Di-Chlor
Calcium hypochorite 48%, 68%?
Lithium hypochlorite?

You added a phosphate remover (creates goop and not needed). Which one?

Algaecide? What are the contents (Copper or ammonia multiple ingredients: bad, Single ingredient 60% Poly...something: good)
Clarifiers, Bluing, etc?

You'll need a proper test kit. For the moment there's an inexpensive 6 way (I think) drop test kit at WalMart. But you should invest the $50 to $70 in a proper Taylor K-2006 kit. Go to the link on PoolDoc, Watermom or aylad's signature and click on it to get it from Amato. It helps support the forum. It's also the best investment besides time that you will make in your pool over the next,,,well, forever!

We believe in keeping things simple, at least to start. Most of the pool chems you need are at your grocery store, not at the pool store, and much cheaper.

The biggie is bleach. Regular unscented 6% bleach. Each gallon will raise your measured chlorine level by about 2.4 ppm (parts per million, the standard).
We use bleach for chlorine
Borax (20 Mule Team) to raise pH
Muriatic Acid (from Home Depot) to lower pH
Baking Soda (Arm&Hammer) to raise TA.

Only CYA has to be gotten from a pool store or from the pool section in places like WalMart or KMart.

Bleach, Borax, Baking soda...We call it the "B-B-B Method" of pool care. Simple. Easy. Cheap. Effective. Very Effective.

Finally, you should go to our sister site, Poolsolutions.com and read the tips and hints there. It takes about an hour or two and is pretty much the foundation of what we'll tell you when we see your pool test numbers.

Carl

[PoolDoc]

"Dead chlorine"??

Never heard *that* one before

[CarlD]

Me neither but I think Tia might have transliterated "Chlorine Lock" and something else they said into "Dead Chlorine". Why not? It's the same barnyard slush as "Chlorine Lock". It even almost makes a little more sense. But trust a pool store guy to give her verbal working over!