Chemical Help

[chem geek]

You can read about my personal experience with this effect in this thread including a summary of readings and amount of chlorine in this post. Basically, your CC will take a roughly equal amount of chlorine, or perhaps some less, to get rid of it, but you may also still have ammonia in your pool from the bacterial conversion of CYA so adding chlorine in that case might increase CC even further in the short-run. There's not much you can do except oxidize it all away and chlorine is the least expensive and effective oxidizer for that purpose.

[PoolDoc]

If you can, pick up a few boxes of 20 Mule Team borax, to go along with the bleach and tabs. You're still showing high CC's even after the correction, and they clean up more nicely at a higher pH level. (Plus the CCs that form at high pH are better at killing algae!)

[mreesept]

My FC is 2, what should CC be???

I thought I was on the right track with FC 2 CC 4 and the pH and TA coming down.
I guess I am confused. Is it because my cya is 0? Is it possible that I just didn't stabilize enough in the past?
I know that I screwed up the pH and TA last year by adding too much baking soda and ph up.

[PoolDoc]

Normally, you want your CC level to at or below the lowest reading on your chlorine test. So, if you are using the FAS-DPD at the 1 drop = 0.5 ppm dilution, than you want a CC of 0.5 or less. If you are doing the 0.2 ppm dilution, than you want 0.2 ppm or less.

CC is chlorine that attached goo -- usually people goo -- but didn't finish the job. On an outdoor pool exposed to sunlight, you'll rarely have significant CC levels if
1. you chlorinate CONSISTENTLY;
2. you don't add pool store goo;
3. you haven't just had a ginormous pool party, with all sorts of people getting lotion or pee in the pool.

But, during start up, things are different. I could explain more, but it would probably just be confusing. Just add the borax and bleach and keep using the tabs, and let us know what's going on, every couple of days -- unless something goes wrong. You *should* see a clearing pool, rising FC levels, and dropping CC levels.

[mreesept]

Ok I added more bleach and the next day FC 1.5 CC 6 pH 7.2, not good.

I went to sams and started with pucks, and added 3 gal of bleach along with the borax. We will see what happens tomorrow.

[PoolDoc]

Yeah, it looks like you've got CYA converted to ammonia in your pool.

Just keep bleaching . . . but you WILL get better results if you'll get enough borax to kick the pH up above 7.6! (And, the borax will be good for your pool, later.)

[CarlD]

I'm learning from this! This is the first time I've seen a member have such high CC levels in a long time! I personally prefer to use Liquid Chlorine in 5 gallon carboys because it's the equivalent of 10+ gallons of bleach, all in one container. Of course I don't really worry about my 10 year old liner bleaching out, rather that doesn't leak!

[mreesept]

Please Help....

Am I doing something wrong???
I have continued to have 3" pucks in the skimmer and have gone through a 50# bucket, I buy at least 3 gal of bleach and add every night and I still have FC from 1-4 but CC is still 1.5 to 2.0 but what is real concerning to me is that I am doing something wrong is the pH.... I add box after box of Borax and still my pH is going down to 6.8.

Is there any advantage to "washing soda" over borax?
The only reason is that the Washing soda is cheaper where I live. I have only added Borax but I have added probably added at least 12-15 boxes since this started. (I just don't want to screw it up by adding too much, or maybe that is not possible)

Also I add the Borax through the skimmer, is there a better way???

(I don't know if this is an issue but I have a Poplar and Oak tree overhanging the pool as well as arborvitae shrubs about 10' from the pool. The Poplar trees have been releasing a long skinny "thing" when their leaves come out and collect in my skimmer, I dont know if that will effect the pH.)

My water is now clear without any real odor.

Thanks for your help

InGround Vinyl pool, 18x36, 22,000 gal, sand filter, heat pump, Live in PA, overhanging trees over the pool

[Watermom]

This is a long thread. So that I don't have to reread 40-some posts, can you remind us what your CYA level is, when was the last time you added any and how much did you add, and what kind of test kit are you using.

[mreesept]

I am using a Taylor 2006 at your recommendation. My CYA was 0 when I started but I did add 4lb of stabilizer a week and a half ago which should be enough to get to 20 ppm, but have not tested it because I only have the basic start up re agents for the Taylor which has only enough for a few tests. I was going to wait until I got my CC to 0 first but I just cant seem to get there.