Walmart chlorine vs Chlorinator

[superburg]

I have read lots of different things on how to use walmart generic 6% liquid chlorine but am afraid to use it yet. We have an automated chlorinator that we fill with the trichlor tabs but the ph is low and alkalinity is low and chlorine is zero even though I keep putting chemicals in. The pool is a vinyl lined 20x40 inground. I just ordered a k-2006 but it has not yet arrived.

The store was sold out of borax so just put in 5lbs of alkalinity up the real stuff. Is it ok to use the liquid chlorine with the automatic chlorinator and why is chlorine not holding? is it because the other chemicals are off? alkalinity is at 60ppm and not sure exact ph reading.
How much liquid chlorine do I use and do I spread it over the deep end or in skimmer in this case?

thanks a lot

[PoolDoc]

Is it ok to use the liquid chlorine with the automatic chlorinator?

You can use bleach (aka 'liquid chlorine') with an automatic chlorinator --but don't pour it through the skimmer.

why is chlorine not holding? is it because the other chemicals are off?

Probably.

How much liquid chlorine do I use and do I spread it over the deep end or in skimmer in this case?

A 20x40 vinyl is usually around 30,000 gallons, with a PF of 4. Since 6% bleach is equivalent to 1/2 lb of 100% chlorine gas, 1 gallon will add about 2 ppm of chlorine to your pool (4 x 0.5). So, while you are having problems, adding 3 gallons (6 ppm) of bleach to your pool each evening will probably keep you out of trouble. Just pour it in to the deep end, when the pump is running.

Meanwhile, read the test kit info page (link in my sig) and get EITHER an HTH 6-way drops kit (no strips!) if your Walmart happens to have it, or a cheap OTO (yellow drops) kit. Then tell us what your pH and chlorine level are. If you get the 6-way, tell us what your CYA level is.

[Watermom]

FYI -- Those tabs are trichlor and they are very acidic and drive pH down.

Welcome to the Pool Forum!

[superburg]

I took it the store for testing. Cya is 75 ch was .5 ph 7 alkalinity 80 we had high phosphate How should we fix.? Thanks

[aylad]

Don't worry about the phosphate level, it's not important at this point. Re-read the advice that Pooldoc posted above, and follow those steps, then we can help you go from there.

[superburg]

one more question before starting to dump chlorine tonight. what about the Ph level, should I do anything to increase that first? or do I need to wait? I have baking soda tabs I found at walmart that go into a floater that I have in the pool to help the alkalinity stay where it needs to be.
Thanks again