New User & New Pool Owner - Chemical Issues (Chlorine & Stabilizer Issues)

[Watermom]

I am assuming by CA you mean CYA (cyanuric acid, also called stabilizer). You are fighting against yourself on your CYA level. You said you drained to try and reduce it but then filled the chlorinator back up with more trichlor tabs. Apparently, you are not aware that trichlor tabs have CYA in them.

You are ok with a CYA reading of 80 but you don't want it any higher, so no more trichlor tabs for your pool. I do not know the ingredients of Zappit but if it has dichlor in it, you also don't want to use that since dichlor also adds CYA.

What kind of pool is this and what is the volume?

Your K-2005 kit is not going to allow you to test the high chlorine levels you are going to have to run as a result of your CYA of 80. (Please read the Best Guess Chlorine Chart in my signature below for more about the connection between CYA and chlorine levels.) But, if you add on the DPD-FAS test (which you can get through the test kit link in my signature) it will basically give you a K-2006 kit which is the one we recommend. The kit you want to pick up is the K-1515.

Go to Walmart and pick up several jugs of their generic unscented bleach. Once you tell us the volume, we can help you figure out how much you need to add.

Repost with the requested info and someone will help you go from there.

By the way, thank you for the subscription. We really appreciate the support!

[mrsfish]

Thanks Watermom!

Yes I did mean CYA! I know the trichlor tabs have stabilizer, but I was just going by the best advice I was getting at the time (knowing in the back of my head this probably wasn't correct). I have now upon reading your response removed all extra tabs & turned off my tab dispenser.

I just tested the water myself using my K-2005 test kit. My chlorine is now very high, but prob as a result of the shock (Zappit does not have any stabilizer, that much I did confirm). My levels were above what the test would allow, so per the kit's instructions I used the dilution method and used 1.8ml of pool water filling the remainder of the 9ml sample with my house drinking water (we have a filtration system that is supposed to remove most of the contaminants and chlorine). I read the result to be about 1.5ppm which I am supposed to multiply by 5 giving me FC of 7.5.

I also used my test kit to check the CYA levels and I think I read it to be about 100 ppm

I have read the "Best Guess Chlorine Chart" page. I have some concerns about running high levels of chlorine to compensate for the high CYA levels b/c I have three young kids of which one has skin sensitivity issues. We also regularly have friends over who also have little ones and I guess I would feel like I had to issue a disclaimer before we invited anyone to swim. Am I over reacting?

In a best case world, wouldn't it be better to lower the CYA and run Chlorine at 1-3ppm?

Is there any way to lower CYA other than draining the pool? I called my pool company yesterday and they passed me on to a service company. After a brief conversation with this professional, he mentioned that rather than draining the pool I could have used a CYA reducer, but I didn't inquire further b/c I assumed my initial draining of 4 inches would have been enough. When I asked about this product this morning at the pool store, they said there wasn't such a thing.

Our pool is 16,250 gallons, plaster, attached spa, runs 10 hours per day with a variable speed pump at 2500 rpm. We also have an Ozone system attached to the pool (I honestly am not sure what this does for us, all I can remember is that is is supposed to help us use our chlorine more efficiently). I hope this is the type of info you need!

Thanks so much, I am so ready to start enjoying our pool again!

[mrsfish]

Is it true that the stabilizers in the water rest at the top? I have been draining down to the skimmer, refilling, then rest 6-8 hours and repeat (I was not sure how much time to give the stabilizers to settle at the top after refilling). I have done this three times now. I am not sure I trust my testing abilities, but I think I have dropped the CYA 15ppm to about 80ppm.

I went and bought generic 8.25% liquid bleach and think it is probably time to add as my FC level is now down to 6, I am trying to keep it high while we are in the process of lowering CYA. I was wondering about the procedure of adding bleach. Do I need to dilute before adding, and do I add it straight to the skimmer or poor over the pool surface?

[Watermom]

Is it true that the stabilizers in the water rest at the top?

Now that is one we haven't heard before! Not true.

As far as adding bleach, you can just pour it slowly into the skimmer while the pump is running.

By the way, you seem to be scared of higher chlorine levels with higher CYA levels. Dont be. It is not a problem and no more dangerous.

[mrsfish]

Thanks! I have been trying to find a table I saw before which tells how much bleach to add based on its % and how much you want to raise FC... but I can't find it now...

[Watermom]

The bleach calculator is in the Forum Q & A section. It is one of the stickied threads at the top.