Chlorine question for Intex 22'x 52" pool

[Jewlz]

Ok another question . . . in reading the SS recipe it says that once the pool is full (and I have my dichlor now as stated above) I should "add one dose of dichlor each evening. Do NOT skip! And then add 1/2 dose before each group swims. Add borax in equal quantities as dichlor (ie, if you add 1 cup of diclor, then also add 1 cup of borax)"

I did put in one dose yesterday and I'm getting ready to go test the water today in a minute. I've got the HTH 6 way test kit for now and I'm not sure how to test the CYA level as I don't see any instruction on the sheet that came with the kit on how to do that. Just trying to determine how much dichlor I should put in (or if I need to) and when I can get to the once a week recommendation that is on the bag?

And is it an absolute need to get the Taylor test kit? I see it's about 3 times more expensive than the HTH kit I have and just wondering. If I really need it I will get it, but just curious as to why the HTH kit won't do for me.

Thanks!
Jewlz

[Watermom]

Don't bother running the CYA test until you have been using dichlor for about a week to 10 days. Before then, you won't have enough in there yet that can even register on the test so you'll just be wasting your testing reagent.

Just keep following the SS recipe. You want the daily doses of dichlor until your CYA is between 40-50. Then you'll want to stop using it and switch to just using bleach. You will never get to the "just one bag of dichlor per week." Long term use of dichlor will cause your CYA to get too high.

The Taylor kit can test chlorine levels past 5ppm, the 6-way kit can't. If you only have the 6-way, it is imperative that you do not let your CYA get too high nor get any algae. Both of those things call for high chlorine levels and you won't be able to test.

Another option you have since you have the 6-Way kit is to just buy the FAS-DPD add-on kit. That will give you the test you will be missing in your kit. Click on the test kit link in my signature and you'll find it. It is the Taylor K1515.

[Jewlz]

Hello, after putting in my 2nd dose of dichlor yesterday evening, I checked my water this morning and the chlorine is all the way up to 5 on the HTH tester. The Ph is at 7.6 or 7.8.

We have been getting rain for the last couple of days and no sun. Since my chlorine is so high, should I still but the dose of dichlor in tonight and then keep doing it for the 7-10 days?

My concern is you said that I have to keep an eye on my CYA levels and not let it get to high but I may not have a CYA level yet since I just started putting in the dichlor a couple days ago, then I don't even know HOW to test for the CYA level with my HTH 6 way kit. I see the vial in my kit but unsure how many of those drops I put in there??

I guess the pool is still safe to swim in currently once the weather allows seeing as the chlorine is high right now?

Thanks,
Julie

[Watermom]

This chart can help you decipher colors higher than what your chlorine test (OTO) can show: http://pool9.net/oto-chart/ After you look at the chart, let us know what you think your chlorine level is.

The directions for your 6-Way kit: http://www.archchemicals.com/Fed/HTH...structions.pdf Let me know if you have more questions about the CYA test after you look at that link.

You don't have a high enough CYA level to bother with testing it yet.

[Jewlz]

I believe it matches the 5 ppm on the tester, and not higher than that as of this morning. It's definitely not the color of anything on the chart you sent me the link to

Should I put more dichlor in tonight??

Thanks again,
Jewlz

[Watermom]

Maybe put in a half a dose and then try and run the chlorine test within an hour of sunrise tomorrow before any of it is lost to the sun. That way, it will help you figure out how much chlorine was added and you can use that info to adjust future dichlor doses if needed.

[Jewlz]

Ok thanks, I put in 1/2 dose of the dichlor and borax as well. We will be having rain AGAIN tomorrow as we have had for the last several days. I'm sure since the sun hasn't been out, the chlorine isn't burning off as fast. I'll see what it's like tomorrow morning.

How soon until I can get a CYA reading? And in the meantime is the pool safe to swim in if the chlorine level reads over 3 ppm? At least until I can get a good CYA reading?

Thanks,
Julie