Waiting on Taylor kit.Need help with test strips.

[dncellis2]

Hello.I have a Taylor-2006-C test kit and 2 unicel cartridge filters due to arrive on 05/13/2014.In the meantime I am useing OTO/PH kit and test strips.You guys got me thru my spring time start up procedure in the, spring time start up problems with algea and slime thread.Our kids are ready to swim. My water is light cloudy but looks great.(26 ft. X 54 in.)If at all possible, I do not want to floc.Any other way to get the rest of the light cloud out? And also, how do these chemistry numbers look and what do I need to do?Auqua chem test strips tested this A.M.;( TH=100. TC=3. FC=10 PH=7.8 TA=120 Stableizer=0. Thanks very much for this web site, Barry.

[CarlD]

If you have a WalMart nearby, they sell a 6-way drop kit by HTH that's between $20 and $25 that's very, very good for the price and will test pH, T/A, C/H and CYA nearly as well that K-2006. It tests total chlorine--OTO to 5ppm, rather than 3ppm. If you get a gallon of steam-distilled water, you can double or triple the OTO range.
For grins, for years I've called my version the "CarlD Patented Shot Glass Method". Take a clean shot glass and a clean pyrex measuring cup. put in one shot of pool water and one shot of distilled. Mix and pour into the OTO cell. Now, when you test it, if it reads "5" it's really 10ppm. If you mix one shot of pool water with 2 shots of distilled, the range increased to 15ppm. See?

[dncellis2]

here are my numbers for my test this morning.TH=100,TC=3.0,FC=10,PH=7.8,TA=120,CYA=0. My water still has a light cloudiness to it after spring start up. Any suggestions other than floc? If I must floc, what is the best chemical to buy? I have pleatco cartridge filter and waiting on unicel and Taylor test kit. I used Aquachem test strips for my test.Thanks for any and all help.Barry.

[Watermom]

Don't use the floc just yet if at all. If your chlorine readings are correct (though I'm a little uncertain about them since you used strips), then you still have an issue that you haven't yet defeated. FC + CC = TC so that would mean that you have a CC reading of 7. Very high and not good! You also report no CYA. Did you have a CYA reading when you closed the pool last fall?

What sometimes happens is that CYA biodegrades over the winter and leaves ammonia as a byproduct. Having a huge chlorine demand in the spring along with high CC is often a sign of this.

Add 1-1/2 gallons of bleach each evening. Run the pump 24/7 and clean your filter as needed. When do you expect your Taylor kit?

By the way, what all have you added to the water so far? Ingredients, please, not just product names.

[Watermom]

I just noticed that you have two threads going with basically the same question, one answered by Carl and then the other answered by me. I have merged the other thread into this one. It is best not to start multiple threads with the same questions as it makes it more difficult to help. Thanks!

[CarlD]

Can't have TC=3 and FC=10. Not possible. TC= FC + CC always by definition.

[Watermom]

Good catch, Carl. I misread their post as FC 3 and TC 10.

dncellis2, please confirm your chlorine readings.

[CarlD]

dncellis2 has to be using guess strips. I notice sometimes a batch will consistently read LOWER on TC than FC.

[dncellis2]

I just noticed that you have two threads going with basically the same question, one answered by Carl and then the other answered by me. I have merged the other thread into this one. It is best not to start multiple threads with the same questions as it makes it more difficult to help. Thanks!

Learning pains. Thanks watermom, dncellis2.

[Watermom]

Not a problem!