Looking for pool shocking information from Ben Powell.

[burtom]

Hi:

Came here from pool solutions looking for pool shocking information from Ben Powell article on operating your pool at a high pH. New pool owner and took advice from someone who had me over shock with Trichlor now of course I am having trouble getting my Chlorine level down and my pH level up but am working on it. He mentioned a method of shocking that has improved results and I would like to know where that discussion is located.

Thanks
Burtom

[Watermom]

Hi and welcome to the Pool Forum. We'll need more information to be able to help. First off, we need actual current water testing results. What kind of kit did you use? Test strips don't count. The only kit we truly recommend is the Taylor K-2006 or 2006C which you can get through the test-kit page in my signature below. But, it is only available online so you need something to use in the meantime. Get a cheap OTO (yellow drops) / phenol test kit, or if available at YOUR Walmart (check availability), get the HTH 6-way DROPS test kit, which is compatible with the Taylor K2006. Test the pool as soon and you can, and post the results. If you get the 6-way kit, ALSO test the water you FILL the pool with, especially if it's a well, and post THOSE results as well. (The HTH is the best available kit you're likely to find locally, but it's not the K-2006. It can only provide rough measurements chlorine levels above 5 ppm, and it measures "TOTAL" hardness, rather than "CALCIUM" hardness, which is not ideal.)

It's much easier to answer your questions, when we know something about your pool. We often 'waste' the first few posts back and forth collecting information. So, please complete our new Pool Chart form -- it takes about 30 seconds, but will save much more than that.

Pool Chart Entry Form
Pool Chart Results

Once we have the requested information, someone here can try and help you get your pool in good shape. Hope this helps!

[PoolDoc]

I wrote that page about 15 years ago, and need to re-edit it again.

The better shocking method requires that you have a sand filter and use calcium hypochlorite, which is MUCH harder to find than it was 15 years ago.

Also, it won't do anything to solve your current problems. You need to start adding a box of 20 Mule Team borax (slowly, via the skimmer, pump running) every 4 hours for every 10,000 gallons in your pool, till you get your pH above 7.0.

And, you probably do NOT want to bring your chlorine level down. If it's been at all sunny, and your chlorine level hasn't dropped on it's own, it's probably because your stabilizer is very high . . . and in THAT case, you NEED high chlorine. Read the "Best Guess" page linked in my signature, for the explanation.

And get a kit. You can NOT do a good job with your pool, without good info, and 'guess strips', even when read by a dealer, do NOT count!

[burtom]

I have posted everything but the pump model. I have been using guess strips and a drop kit for Chlorine and PH. I will be looking asking my wife about buying the K2006 or K2006C from Amazon this weekend.
Current readings from guess strip are PH 7.2 after adding a box of Borax, Total Alkalinity 120, Chlorine about 9 and Stabilizer 100. With the drop kit Free and Total Chlorine both are off scale and PH reads about 7.5 after a box of Borax. Next question are the chemicals good for more that one year in the K2006C?

Thanks
Tom

[Watermom]

Next question are the chemicals good for more that one year in the K2006C?

Yes.

Also, your stabilizer could actually be much higher than 100. Tests can't differentiate readings past that value. Order the K-2006 and then run the CYA test on a diluted sample. Take one part pool water and mix it with one part distilled water. Use that water for the CYA test and then multiply the results by 2. If you still get a reading of 100, repeat it but use one part pool water and two parts distilled water and multiply the results by 3. That will help to give a better idea of what your CYA level actually is.

[PoolDoc]

I'd recommend starting with a 1:3 dilution (multiply x 4). He'll use up his CYA reagent getting there, otherwise. (One of the weak points in the K2006A is that it contains only 6 x CYA tests.)