FC and TC Too High and won't come down

[PoolDoc]

The BBB Method is not primarily about using bleach, borax OR baking soda -- those just happened to be the pool chemicals that were available in the grocery store when I started PoolSolutions. The BBB Method is about using chlorine to manage your pool in the cheapest, most efficient and most effective way possible. SOMETIMES bleach is a part of that, OFTEN borax is a part of that. Baking soda is, too -- if you need it, and you do NOT!

Your test results are amusing (Taylor / BioLab)

FC: 4.0; 6.9
TC: 4.0; 9.5
pH: 7.6; 7.1
TA: 119; 107
CH: -; 60
CYA 70; 121

You don't need: Alk up, pH up, Calc Hardness up, Oxysheen. You might need a box of borax, but it can wait till you get a kit.

You SHOULD continue to use what you have to maintain chlorine levels -- do NOT let your chlorine get low.

Tell us the EXACT brand and product names of what you have, and we can tell you what the best option for using them is.

[GAPool]

I posted my chemicals, but haven't seen it on the thread and was wondering before i open the $80 tub of chlorine tabs if i should take them back and use bleach and how much or just keep them and use them up. Thanks!

[PoolDoc]

Sorry, we haven't seen them either. Occasionally, something goes wrong and posts get lost.

I can't tell you whether to open or return, without knowing what you've got. You CAN use bleach, while we work that out, however.

[TheWags]

If your CYA is above 100 already, I'd return the tablets and stick to straight chlorine.

[GAPool]

I'll try again: Here are the chemicals I have: The shock has been opened, but the chlorine tabs have not. My chlorine has been going down and was at 3.0 yesterday so I'm sure I'll have to put something in today, just not sure what.

PoolTime 4-in-1 Sanitizer & Shock: Trichloro-s triazinetrione 71.8% (avail Chlorine 65%), Boron Sodium Oxide 8% (B4Na2O7) pentahydrate/clarifier/filtration enhancer/sunlight protector 20.2%

3" Chlorine Tabs: Trichloro-s triazinetrione 94.05%, other 5.95% (avail Chlorine 86.65%) kills bacteria & controls algae, prevents corrosion and metal staining, reduces scale formation, softens water, buillt in sunlight protector

My Taylor kit should be delivered today.

[aylad]

Those are both trichlor. Both will push your pH downward and continue to raise your CYA. If the tabs haven't been opened, I would go ahead and return those. Otherwise, if you can store them in a cool dry place, they'll keep until next year. I wouldn't use any more of the 4-in-1, either...switch to bleach. It's cheaper, better for your pool at this point, and won't keep raising your CYA.

[PoolDoc]

Yeah.

Return what you can.
Use bleach for now.
Do NOT put the 4n1 in the garbage!! We'll need to figure out how you can use it up.
If you can't get bleach tonight, use the 4n1 till you do -- you do NOT want your chlorine to get low.

[GAPool]

How much bleach?

[Watermom]

Check the Best Guess Chlorine Chart in my signature below for the correlation between CYA and needed chlorine levels. In your pool, each gallon (4 quarts) of 6% bleach will add about 2.5ppm of chlorine. Use that as a reference to help you figure out doses of bleach.

[GAPool]

Got my Taylor kit: What to do now? Here are my readings:

FC = 8.2 (I still haven't put any chlorine or anything in it for 8 days now and I took the tablets out last Sat.)
CC = 0 (because it didn''t turn pink when I added the 5 drops of R0003 - it stayed clear!)
pH = 7.4
TA = 130
CH = 280
CYA = ~ 110-120 (I kept redoing it with what was left in my little squirt bottle to re-check and that's where it was when the black dot was completely gone)
Sat Index = .1