Open Pool, Shocked But No Chlorine Level

[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]

[QUOTE=CarlD]I have two of the best kinds of test strips you can get as a pool owner, and they are fresh this season.

I also have PoolDoc's PS232 and PS233 kits. I have the WalMart HTH 5-way kit, and Leslie's FAS-DPD test kit (made by Taylor) AND Leslie's full test kit for all the other tests (again, made by Taylor).

Wow that's alot of different test kits to have...why so many? WE have a walmart and Leslies here in NJ as well, I would like to try one of those....any thoughts?

Karen

[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.

[kevincad]

I have two of the best kinds of test strips you can get as a pool owner, and they are fresh this season.

I also have PoolDoc's PS232 and PS233 kits. I have the WalMart HTH 5-way kit, and Leslie's FAS-DPD test kit (made by Taylor) AND Leslie's full test kit for all the other tests (again, made by Taylor).

I can flat-out state categorically, that there is NO WAY these strips compare in accuracy or reliability to the drop kits. These new strips are now good enough to give a reasonable BALL-PARK view of the water--but no more.

This is a huge improvement. Previous strips have ONLY been able to say if I have lots of chlorine, or little to none--no more.

Greg, I have no idea what you are basing your statement on. Certainly it cannot be from day-to-day comparisons, like I have made over the last 7 years.

I have found LOTS of pool stores using and pushing strips for one reason, and one reason only--they are EASY TO USE--apparently. Oh--and they are expensive, too. But that is deceptive. You have to use them and read them VERY carefully. And most importantly, you have to be VERY skeptical of them and know when the SLIGHTEST thing off means you cannot trust it.

I can and do use strips--I'd rather not but with two kids and school, I'm lucky some days to have the 30 seconds for a strip, much less the 2-5 minutes I need for drop-testing--which I ALWAYS prefer.

If you use strips, use them wisely. Be skeptical of them. And do NOT use them instead of drop testing.

My case is exactly as you've stated. I do have, and do use strips on occasion, because I have two kids also! I have actually done side-by-side testing with the strips, and they just weren't accurate. Like you, I can tell if there is little, or some or no cl in the pool.

[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.

[CarlD]

[quote=karenk]

I have two of the best kinds of test strips you can get as a pool owner, and they are fresh this season.

I also have PoolDoc's PS232 and PS233 kits. I have the WalMart HTH 5-way kit, and Leslie's FAS-DPD test kit (made by Taylor) AND Leslie's full test kit for all the other tests (again, made by Taylor).

Wow that's alot of different test kits to have...why so many? WE have a walmart and Leslies here in NJ as well, I would like to try one of those....any thoughts?

Karen

Well, part of it is because I'm a moderator and like to have as much knowledge as I can absorb (in certain areas like "Feet of Head" it isn't much!) and I found that the little OTO kits can vary widely. I have a bunch of them, too. I also like to know what people can get. The Leslie's pair of kits isn't offered anymore, but they have on their website a full kit with FAS-DPD testing for chlorine. It's functionally the same as PoolDoc's but it's not as easy to use at first. Once you get the hang of the Taylor kits, they are all pretty easy to use. The WalMart HTH 5-Way seems to be readily available in some parts of the country, but no longer here. Now they are pushing the HTH 6-way test strips instead--pure garbage. The 5-Way drop kit is not nearly as good as PoolDoc's kits, Taylor's or Leslies' FAS-DPD kit. But for $12 to $15 it's the best bargain in testing you can get and is far better than any other kit I've seen (including the BioGard ones).

I'm not sure what to do with all that foam. I suspect the basics: lots and lots of bleach, and filter 24/7--and patience.

Algaecide is ONLY usuallyl good for prevention, and then only PolyQuat, not the others.

[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

[karenk]

Just got back from Leslies water testing. The water is balanced, as far as PH, alk, CYA etc....he said that it's called Chlorine Breakpoint, where sometimes you can have more nitrates and phosphates??? and that the pool could have just been dirtier than in the past (though it was clear)...and that I just have to add 2 one-pound packages of Power Powder Plus (its fast-dissolving shock treatment and superchlorinator..73% calcium hypochlorite)--....wait 4 hours and then test...if still no chlorine registering...do same again ...wait 4 hours, test, etc...then once the level is where I want it to use just one 1lb package per week. (seems like alot cause the one-pound bag treats 16, 500 gallons and we only have a 9,000 gallon pool)....but here it goes....