Hello everyone –

I live near Dallas TX and I have a 7 yr. old pool – I had never had one prior to this so I have been going along with whatever the pool store told me to do. But this spring I haven’t been able to get the algae under control and had to shock it every few days or it would show up in the corners or sides almost overnight. When I took a sample in recently they said I had high CYA which is what was causing the chlorine to not work and that I would have to continue to add a lot of it or drain the pool and start over. I drained about a third of it the other day and refilled but the CYA was still the same as before according to the new test (over 100 ppm). I ordered the Taylor 2006 last night so hope to get that in the next few days but in the mean time I was wondering what I could be doing as I don’t want to introduce anymore CYA but the water is getting pretty green. I’d like to try the bleach to shock it but not sure how much and how often since I don’t have a way to measure the levels yet myself (but could take a sample to the store each day I suppose to get me down the road until I get the test). BTW, I found some great YouTube videos showing how to use the K2006 so I’m feeling a little empowered today and can’t wait to get going with this new program.

I also have some other issues with this pool that I hope I can tackle myself. I would like to try to re-plaster this pool in the next year or so and will be gathering information about that, and hope you have some helpful tips for me there as well.

Back to the CYA, the results of my last test were:
FAC and TAC were 0 (we had three days of hard rain and hail so I didn’t run the pump knowing I would have to shock anyway).
PH 7.5
TA 120 (I use trichlor tabs)
CYA 100
Phosphates 100

My pool stats are: 17,000 gallon in-ground pool, A.O. Smith Century, 2 speed pump, 1.5 – 2.5 HP, RPM 3450- 1725, 190 series cartridge filter.

I had read on the Pool Solutions website that I needed to take the tabs out of the chlorinator and clean that out before I add the bleach or it could explode – yikes – so will do that after I hear back from ya’ll.
Thanks a ton and look forward to hearing from you.