New Intex owner from Texas

[Rockwall]

I'll rig up a 1lb sock tomorrow morning. I have an OTO kit that I am taking the CL and PH measurements with. Water is very clear but the yellow of the test was very, very light, about .5 it read.

I put in a gallon late this afternoon, and will put 1/2 gallon in each evening until I get to dark yellow.

Thanks!

[PoolDoc]

You're welcome.

[Rockwall]

Okay, I have my K-2006 kit in hand now. I've been adding chlorine regulary to my pool to keep it in the strong yellow range. I was using bleach but my wife was very leery of the concept of 'bleach' in the water (even after I explained to her that bleach was basically chlorine and water) but am now using hth Chlorinating granules (calcium hypochlorate).

I followed the directions for the CYA test, but wasn't sure about one thing - how much should the dot "disappear"? It went from black to a light greyish but never really disappeared. Or is that how it should be? I had added 2 lbs of CYA about 10 days ago via the sock in the return stream method.

[PoolDoc]

It has to disappear completely; that is, when you look down, you can't see that there is a black dot there at all.

Tell your wife that bleach adds salt to the pool, which goes nicely with your SWCG (saltwater chlorine generator); but that calcium hypochlorite adds calcium, which tends to kill the plates on a cheap SWCG. Her choice, though.

[Rockwall]

Should I add another pound of CYA via the sock, wait a day or two and then redo the dot test?

[PoolDoc]

If you are going to use an SWCG, bleach and/or cal hypo -- you need more than a pound or two. The general recommendation for SWCG's is CYA=80. On your pool that will take 4 lbs of CYA, or 9 lbs of dichlor chlorinating granules.

[Rockwall]

Alrighty, I'll add another 2 pounds after work then on top of the two I already put in there.

[Watermom]

Ask your wife is she would feel better if you used pool store liquid chlorine instead. Odds are that she will say yes. Then, tell her that pool store liquid chlorine is usually 10 or 12.5% sodium hypochlorite and bleach is 6% sodium hypochlorite. If 10 or 12.5% strength is ok for your pool, then surely 6% will be! (It's just the word "bleach" that scares people.)

[Rockwall]

Hi!

Got busy but I'm back. Glad to see the pool plan for the Intex owners!! I checked my CYA again today and it was 60. I had bought a 5 b jug of the HTH chlorinating granules, and used it up. I don't want to use the calcium based stuff again, so I will probably get the recommended PoolBrand dichlor shock bags at Sams.

My question is, will the dichlor continue to add stabilizer to my water, and bring it up to 80 (from 60), or, should I get some of the same CYA from Walmart ad bring it up to 80, along with the dichlor? I just don't wan't to overdo it on the stabilzer?

I'll start adding bleach until I hear which way I shoul dbe going with this. Thanks!

[Watermom]

Dichlor does have CYA (stabilizer) in it. It adds 10ppm of CYA for every 9ppm of chlorine it adds. So, it will raise your CYA quickly! You won't want to use it for long and then you can switch to bleach.

(It also is very acidic and will drive your pH down, so keep an eye on it so it doesn't go below 7.0.)