Open Pool, Shocked But No Chlorine Level

[ivyleager]

Did pool store give you a print out, and if so, please post the number values here. My doctore once told me my cholesterol was fine, but when I asked to see the lab print out, it was 2 points above normal......not so fine.

It just seems odd that the pool guy continues to have you add stuff, which is why you got into this predicament in the first place.

CaryB
Go 'Canes

[waterbear]

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???
Breakpoint clorination has nothing to do with nitrate and phospahte levels. It is just another term for shocking the pool to get rid of combined chlorine. It is usually considerred 'breakpoint' if the FC level is raised to 10 times the CC level.
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....

any pool with a lot of organics in it will have a high chlorine demand and your chlorine will not hold until the organics are burned off!

[prh129]

Actually this could all make sense - don't some test strips bleach out at high chlorine levels? And didn't someone at Leslie's say you were at breakpoint chlorination? If so, that would mean you were at shock levels and maybe your strips are bleaching out and showing 0. Did Leslie's give you a number reading for your free chlorine?

A cheap OTO kit will be able to identify roughly where your chlorine level is at so that might be be a simple way to test this theory.

Peter

[aylad]

I don't see anywhere in this thread where you have posted a calcium hardness number, but if it was already high, and your alk is high, then adding that much cal hypo is likely to raise it to the point of precipitation and perpetually cloudy water. I really think you'll be doing better with bleach....it's all chlorine, but the bleach won't give you any unwanted side effects (like an elevated calcium level)

Janet

[karenk]

any pool with a lot of organics in it will have a high chlorine demand and your chlorine will not hold until the organics are burned off!

Exactly, and Leslies was right, I just added the 2lbs of that shock and so far, two days later, there is a normal chlorine reading!!! 4 hours after the shock, i tested and it was dark dark purple..too much, of course but the next day and today the level is where it is supposed to be, so I will just do the standard shocking once a week. The guys in the store were right..!

[JohnT]

so I will just do the standard shocking once a week.....

Why would you do that? I haven't shocked yet this year, and don't foresee any need to anytime soon. Routine shocking is overkill and a waste of money. Keep your chlorine where it's supposed to be and you won't need to shock.

[waterbear]

I am a pool store guy also but I am not trying to sell you chemicals right now. If you get a good test kit that will test both FC and CC, preferably one that uses the FAS-DPD titration test and not the colometric DPD test with a comparator block you will KNOW when you need to shock. You shock when your Combinde Chlorine is over .5 ppm. Every pool is different, you might need to shock weekly, monthly, or hardly ever! Either Cal Hypo or sodium hypochorite is fine for shocking. Cal Hypo can make your calcium levels go up and can cause your water to cloud but it is easier to transport than liquid. Liquid is usually cheaper and readily avaialbe at any grocery store, walmart, kmart, etc. as 'plain unscented regular or ultra bleach'.

There are some of us pool store guys who do 'get it right', btw!