Re: Spring Start Up
Sounds to me like the CYA was converted to ammonia over the winter. This stuation creates a HUGE chlorine demand as almost all the chlorine added to the pool will combine with ammonia (shows up as CC) until the ammonia is used up. At this point the CC readings shoud stop rising. Shock level chlorine (and sunshine) is required to clear the CC.
Swimming is probably safe once an FC level can be maintained and the pool is clear but CC stinks (chlorine smell) and can irritate the eyes and skin.
Several member here had this issue last spring and the amount of chlorine required to clear these pools was shocking (that's a little wordplay). Be prepared to use alot of bleach. You could try to clear a sample, 1 tsp bleach in 4 gallons pool water is about 6.5 gallons bleach in 10,000 gallon pool. If you do this, do not add the entire calculated dose to the pool at once - no more than half then let it mix then test and see where that gets you.
You're right about bringing up the pH first - 7.0 is as low as the K-2006 reads and lower pH can be damaging. Adding bleach at night is no problem but trying to maintain a FC level during the day with no CYA could be challenging. The pool will need CYA at some point soon - many of us put it in an old sock and hang that in front of a return jet to help it dissolve.
Run the filter 24/7, Brush Brush Brush - Bleach Bleach Bleach.
12'x24' oval 7.7K gal AG vinyl pool; ; Hayward S270T sand filter; Hayward EcoStar SP3400VSP pump; hrs; K-2006; PF:16
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