chlorine level keeps rising

[Watermom]

Skip adding dichlor tonight and see what your chlorine level is tomorrow morning. (How much are you adding each evening?)

[mommak]

I have been adding 1 1/2 cups. I did a quick test this afternoon, using the 3 way test (bought from Wal-Mart when we set up our pool in 2010). The color didn't look as bad as this morning's reading,but still much higher than it should be. I have been following the plan to the T. And following the advice from here.
Tonight I will skip the dichlor. I hope that in the morning my FC will be lower after the sun was on the pool for over 6 hours today.

[mommak]

Tested my pool today, I skipped adding the dichlor last night as recommended by Watermom
FC = 11.5
pH = 7.2
CYA = less than 30 (even filled to the top I could still see the black dot)

[BigDave]

I have been adding 1 1/2 cups. ...

A smaller dose is probably appropriate, chlorine usage will go down as CYA builds. Just be sure FC stays above the minimum throughout the day.

... I have been following the plan to the T. ...

No need to. You are discovering how to take care of the pool using your own judgment. This is really what "BBB" is all about. You found pH was too high - stop adding borax for a while. You found FC is too high - cut back on chlorine additions.

You're doing great!

[mommak]

Thanks BigDave,
You said "Just be sure FC stays above the minimum throughout the day". What do you mean by this? Since my FC is 11.5, isn't that above the minimum already?

[BigDave]

You are well above for now, but sunlight will bring it down soon enough. When we say minimum we mean minimum as per the Best Guess Chart:http://pool9.net/cl-cya/.
Add enough chlorine (dichlor for now, bleach later) at night to end up at or above the Best Guess Chart minimum the next night before adding more. I know is sounds non-specific, it's supposed to. We try to teach pool owners to find what thier pool needs and respond to it: measure - adjust - measure - adjust ...

BTW - chlorine is high but I think you'd be just fine swimming now - maybe wear old swim suits as high chlorine can bleach out swim gear.

[mommak]

I have not added dichlor for the last few nights, but I will begin adding it again to get the CYA up. I added 1 cup of borax last night to raise the pH level up, since yesterday the pH level was 7.2

[BigDave]

Great!

[mommak]

So after returning from our camping trip, the FC was 18.0 ppm, pH was 7.0, and CYA was less than 40. I added 1 cup of dichlor Thursday afternoon,just prior to leaving.
Our solar cover has been on continuously. I just took it off,in hopes that the sun will help to lower the FC.
I read about sodium thiosulfate, my children and I want to be able to swim today. What can I do so we can swim safely?

I did add 1 cup of borax last night to raise the pH level.