I have the "pinks" (instead of the blues!).

[Watermom]

Are you using the Taylor K-2006 kit? If so, what size water sample are you using for testing -- 10 or 25 ml? Are you saying that you add the R-0870 powder to turn the sample pink and then the drops of R-0871 to turn the water clear, and then you then add R-0003 and it turns slightly pink again, but one drop of R-0871 turns it back to clear? If this is the case, there is no problem. If you are using a 10ml sample it would show 0.5ppm of CC. If you are using a 25ml sample, it would indicate 0.2ppm of CC. Either of these is no big deal and by itself, does NOT indicate an algae bloom.

Was your pool green? Or do you think it was a bloom simply because your sample turned slightly pink when testing for CC?

One other question --- are you losing more than 1ppm of chlorine overnight (from sundown to within 2 hours of sunrise)?

[onemsmom]

Yes, the K-2006,
10ml,
yes, you have the scenario correct
yes, it was green
It's hard for me to tell about the drop because I often test late at night and add bleach then. I'm asleep before an hour of circulation to see what the actual level is before I go to bed. I will try to take a more accurate reading tonight/tomorrow.

BTW - Can hubby get a sample in the early a.m. and leave it on the counter with the cap on? He's the morning person. I am not. Would the readings be accurate that way, or does it need to be fresh?

Another question - since my CYA is so low, could I use the chlorine from the pool store in this instance? It sure would cut down on my trips to Sam's, but, also, I was wondering if it would help - it is stablized, isn't it? It's so hard to keep the chlorine levels up w/so little stabilzer in the pool.

Thank you,

Jennifer

[Watermom]

Teach hubby to run the test instead of leaving it to sit. Even hubbies can be trained!

What kind of chlorine from the store are you talking about? If your stabilizer is low, it is ok to use a stabilized form of chlorine for awhile but you need to make sure what you use does NOT have copper in it.

Is your pool still green or now clear? What kind of chlorine have you been using so far, only bleach?

[onemsmom]

Crystal, sparkly clear. Bleach only.

[Watermom]

Do the overnight test. If you don't lose more than 1ppm of chlorine from sundown til within 2 hours of sunrise, then I'd say you're good and you can let the cl drift down.

[onemsmom]

Well, only a 1ppm drop overnight. Still turned a little pink with the R-0003, cleared with 1drop. Will let the ppms drift down to 3-6 now and deal with the CYA today.

How much stabilizer should I add since I can't get an accurate reading? When I do the test, the black dot is just a little cloudy at the top of the tester. Assume 30 and add enough to hit 50? Is the final goal 50?

Also, I should wait to adjust ph/alk until the ppms are down, right?

Just want to make sure. Don't want to mess things up and have to go through all of this again!!!

[Watermom]

Good that it was only a 1ppm drop in chlorine overnight. A CYA of 50 is good. It is not a precise test so hard to hit a target exactly. You are correct to wait until the chlorine drops some to test and adjust pH and alk.