Open Pool, Shocked But No Chlorine Level

[waterbear]

I agree with Carl 150% on all points! The strips are useful for a quick check on your levels to make sure they are in range. Accuracy of the strips are not in question. They are extremely accurate and based on excellent chemistries. The problem with them is the precision (or rather the lack of) and the amount of human error in using them reading them because of the procedure that needs to be followed and the lack of resolution on the scale provided. There is a big difference between accuracy (is the test giving the proper results?) vs. precision (is the scale precise enough that I can determine whether the pH is actually 7.4 or just somehwhere between 7.2 and 7.8?). This is the biggest problem with strips! They aren't as easy to use as most people think. If you look at the instructons on the LaMotte 6 way strips, for example, they tell you to hold the strip HORIZONTALLY in the water, swirl it three times with the pads face up, remove them from the water without shaking off the excess, and give you a time frame of seconds in which to read each test in order starting with CYA which is to be read immediately for accurate results. IMHO, I think this is actually harder for most people to perform correcty than a test with a drop based kit!

[karenk]

tested the pool again today and says no chlorine...hmmm.

PH was 7.2, Alk was 180 and CYA was around 85.....

Could lack of chlorine be from simply using the algecide? This is driving me crazy...I want to go in my pool!!!

[alr582003]

As you can see from the enclosed JPG I am battling a foam monster. It has
been a week and I can't seem to get rid of the cappuccino look that my pool
has, please help summer is here and I want to enjoy my pool. It was
suggested to me to have the copper level check... What else can I do?

[karenk]

As you can see from the enclosed JPG I am battling a foam monster. It has
been a week and I can't seem to get rid of the cappuccino look that my pool
has, please help summer is here and I want to enjoy my pool. It was
suggested to me to have the copper level check... What else can I do?

Is that photo for real? OMG!! Not sure your post belongs under this "no chlorine" topic...maybe someone can advise you where to post so you are more likely to get responses you are looking for.

[alr582003]

Yes, I am afraid it is very real... I use test strtips after adding the chemicals the pool store told me to add and the only thing that did not register was the Chlorine. I am thinking of opening a Starbucks in my back yard.

Is that photo for real? OMG!! Not sure your post belongs under this "no chlorine" topic...maybe someone can advise you where to post so you are more likely to get responses you are looking for.

[karenk]

Yes, I am afraid it is very real... I am thinking of opening a Starbucks in my back yard.

that was sooooooooo funny, I laughed so hard when I read this.....good luck to you!!!

[karenk]

fyi... I just took a test strip, dipped it in the chlorine puck floater and yes, it turned dark dark purple...so the strips are working.......
Maybe I'll just take a sample to the pool store today.....thanks everyone.

[aylad]

In answer to your original question, yes it's possible that the algaecide is creating a huge demand, depending on what he used and how much of it. The only thing you really can do is keep pouring the bleach to it until it oxidizes whatever is causing the demand. I'm just hesitant to do that until I have test results I can rely on.

Janet