20k gal pool in Sol Cal. .....needs to be drained.

[pmaru77]

OK, the pool was completely drained and it took 24 units of city water to fill the pool and spa. So far I have added 1 and 1/2 gallons of liquid chlorine and about 1/3 gallon of muratic acid. I also have the floater loaded with a few pucks. I'm using the pucks to get chlorine and more importantly the triclor so th CYA will come up to something readable. I have checked the pH before adding the muratic acid, and the pH was high, but it only took a few drops of #3 to get the test ok. That is by far the best I've had (easiest) since testing prior to the refill. So as it stands now, the chlorine is aok right now, and I think the pH is ok, but need to test after things settle down. So the plan is to monitor the chlorine and pH levels twice daily...in the am and in the pm. I figured I would wait and see how things go before I thest the CYA, becasue I assume there is none to speak of except what comes out of the pucks in the floater.

I have in stock, liquid chlorine, liquid muratic acid, tricoloro-s-.... pucks.

So what other tests should I do at this time that would be of use?

[pmaru77]

UPDATE:

I am a subscriber now. ($14)

I decided to run some more tests. K-2006 test kit

TA 15 x 4 = 60

CH 20 to 25 drops x 10 = 200-250

pH 7.9

FC 6 drops x 3 = 1.8 ppm ?

CC nothing

CYA nothing as expected

I'm on day 1 of pool refill.

How many days do I have to get things right before having trouble? No pool useage until May 1st.

Already getting nervous about no CYA. Should I go get product? and what? (HD or LOWES) and not Leslies.

[PoolDoc]

At this point, if you dump 1/2 gallon of bleach in the pool nightly, you'll be fine. Do it late though: the sun will strip the chlorine quickly!

Also, start adding acid AND baking soda. You need higher TA (or really, carbonate alkalinity) since you have a plaster pool, and a pH that's at least a little lower. Read the muriatic acid page, linked in my signature block. MA is better for your pool, and cheaper, but the fumes are BAD!

Do you have access to a Sams Club? If you do, see if they have the PoolBrand dichlor or trichlor there. Meanwhile, get a floater (Walmart!) and start using your tabs. Tabs are very acidic, so don't push your pH below 7.6.

[pmaru77]

I have HD liquid chlorine a $7 per 2 gallons. If I use 1/2 gallon a day, that is $100 month. Where am I wrong here? Is regular bleach cheaper?
Or is the daily chlorine temporary?

[Watermom]

What percent sodium hypochlorite is your liquid chlorine?

[pmaru77]

10 %

I did the calc's on 24 units of water and it turns out to be 19.8K gallons so I was spot on at 20K gallons.
I probably did the same thing 10 years ago.LOL

[BigDave]

I would keep the floater full of pucks and supplement FC with bleach in the evening as needed. You won't have measureable CYA until you've used most of your supply of pucks so don't waste the CYA reagent.