1st Test with Taylor K-2006. Uh-Oh.

[merideth]

oh, Lord. i think i messed up. i'd been testing with the little kit that came with my intex 18'x48" round inflatable ring pool. i was using the pucks that came with my pool in a floating chlorinator until the last puck dissolved (yesterday) and adding some of the "super shock 'n swim" granules that came with the pool on an as-needed basis until they ran out (also yesterday).

my taylor k-2006 kit arrived today. i watched every taylor k-2006 "how to test" video (links found here somewhere), then watched each again as i performed the tests along with the videos. i think i'm in trouble . . . and i have no idea what my next steps should be. here are my results (i tested everything, but then i read here that only FC, CC, TA and CYA "matter," so that's all i'll include here):

*FC: 0.6
*CC: 0.4
*pH: 7.5
*TA: 140
*CYA: (never got cloudy, so black dot never disappeared)

ummm...i have city water, intex easy-set 18'x48" round inflatable ring pool - approx 5,755 gallons, intex 14" krystal clear sand filter pump 0.5hp.

am i heading for big trouble?

[Watermom]

First of all, use the 10mL sample instead of the 25ml so your reagents will last longer.

I don't think you are too messed up at all. If you did the tests correctly, then your numbers are easily tweaked.

Just to verify, when you put the scoop of DPD powder in and the water turned pink, you then add drops of the R-0871 and multiplied number of drops X 0.2. Correct? And, you then added 5 drops of R-0003 and the sample turned slightly pink? Then, added drops of R-0871 until it turned clear and multiplied number of drops x 0.2. That shows your CC level. A CC reading less than 0.5 is not a big deal.

On the CYA test, if the black dot never disappeared, then it means that your CYA is less than 30 since that is the lowest level that can be distinguished. You need around 40-50ppm of CYA. You have a few choices for adding it.

1. Use some trichlor pucks for awhile which will add chlorine and CYA. They are acidic and will push your pH down so you'll have to monitor pH closely and add Borax if it gets too low.

2. Use dichlor powder for awhile. It also adds CYA and chlorine and will build up your CYA level faster. If you decide to do this, buy it at Sam's only. Other places are selling blended dichlor with unwanted stuff in them. Again, will need to monitor pH with use of dichlor.

3. Add some CYA separately and use bleach as your chlorine source.

Let us know how you want to proceed. But, for today, you need to get some chlorine in that pool ASAP before it turns green! Get some bleach in there. Each quart of 8.25% bleach will add about 3.5ppm of chlorine. Since your CYA is so low, you are going to have a hard time getting chlorine to last. I'd go ahead and add 2 quarts now. Then, this evening, test again and add however much you need to get back up to around 6 or so. Until you do get some CYA built up, you are most likely going to have to add chlorine morning and evening so it won't drop too low.

By the way, I think I asked you on your other thread, but can't remember. Those pucks you used didn't have copper in them did they? And, tell me again what the ingredients of the super shock and swim were.

[merideth]

Just to verify, when you put the scoop of DPD powder in and the water turned pink, you then add drops of the R-0871 and multiplied number of drops X 0.2. Correct? And, you then added 5 drops of R-0003 and the sample turned slightly pink? Then, added drops of R-0871 until it turned clear and multiplied number of drops x 0.2. That shows your CC level. A CC reading less than 0.5 is not a big deal.

yes, that's the process. i wrote it all down the first time i watched the videos, made a spreadsheet with simple formulas, and then did/recorded the tests/results while watching a second time. i will absoLUTEly use the 10mL way from now on to conserve reagents! thank you for that - i'd wondered if i could when i watched the "if expecting high levels..." videos.

I believe I'm going with option 3 - bleach and cya separately. i have both on hand now.

the trash bin as already been taken out, so i don't have the super shock baggie, but it was the same ingredients/different percentages as the pucks, which are: calcium hypochlorite 47.6%, other 52.4%, min available chlorine: 45%. no copper.

again, thanks so much! off to add a couple quarts of bleach!

[merideth]

wait - i used two rounded/heaping scoops of dpd powder, as instructed in the video...

[Watermom]

You can use one scoop. It it turns the water pink, you don't need to second scoop. Makes your powder last longer.

[Cords]

You can use one scoop. It it turns the water pink, you don't need to second scoop. Makes your powder last longer.

Thanks! I didn't know that.