What am I doing wrong?

[PoolDoc]

Just saw your latest post. Do NOT test pH; it will NOT read accurately at an 'ORANGE' OTO level. You've got an OTO kit, so you can ignore that bit in the post above.

Otherwise, the prescription still applies, EXCEPT that you can do the dose, brush, re-dose TODAY instead of tomorrow evening, since you added the shock.

[Triciab007]

Couple questions... At one point it says to add 2 gallons bleach, then another after brushing. So I am adding 3 gallons of bleach nightly? Also your post says 3.5 ft, my pool is 48" or 4 ft (not sure that matters?), but want to make sure dosage is accurate. I continue this nightly, till the pool is clear and blue or how do I know when the algae is gone? Alot of what I have read says to make sure ph is correct, how will I know if not by testing? Thanks so much for your help!

Tricia

[PoolDoc]

No, just add the extra bleach after the first time you brush. Sometimes, there's enough algae brushed up to 'eat' a LOT of chlorine, and if too much gets 'eaten', the algae may re-bloom. You do NOT want that to happen!

[Triciab007]

Okay, thank you. I will post pic in the AM and see how we go from there!

[Triciab007]

Okay, this morning the pool is blue, cloudy. Chlorine is deep orange, i know i was told not to check ph, but it shows 7.8, cya is 55. Whats next? Today is Day 2, i give 2 gallons this evening, brushing in between doses. Rinsing filters 3x a day. Anything else i'm missing? What do I need to prepare for once i get the okay to let Cl levels go down? Should I purchase an algaecide to add for preventative measures? Thanks again! Never thought this pool would turn blue again!
Tricia

[aylad]

No need for algaecides--you just need to keep the chlorine at appropriate levels for your CYA. With a CYA of 55, that means keeping it in the 5-10 ppm range at all times. Letting it get below 5 ppm for any length of time will give the algae a chance to come back. And as you can see, it's much easier to keep the levels up than it is to clean up the mess if you don't

[Triciab007]

Okay! Sounds great! And its fine to swim with it that high?

[PoolDoc]

Yes! Dermatologists prescribe "bleach baths" for even pediatric patients at levels 10x higher than that (and effectively, more like 100x higher, because the bleach bath water has no stabilizer)!