New pool owner with a chlorine problem

[CarlD]

First off, you need your own test kit. We recommend the Taylor Technologies K-2006 and K-2006C test kit. And you need to do your own testing.

Secondly, your pH is high so you need to add some acid.
Your CYA/Stabilizer level is a bit low.

BUT, with 17,000 gallons and a CYA level under 30 I would immediately add 2 1/2 gallons of 8.25% liquid bleach. Wait 1 to 2 hours and then test your chlorine level. If it's 0 you are going to have to add ALOT of bleach to your pool, until you get a reading of 12ppm of Free Chlorine.

Given your low CYA, high pH and low FC, I would (if it were me) fill a floater with Tri-Chlor tablets. Trichlor adds chlorine, CYA (for every 10ppm of chlorine it add 6 ppm of CYA), and is very acid and will bring down your pH.
You can easily do the same by shocking with bleach, adding CYA powder, and using Muriatic Acid or Dry Acid to lower pH.

[PlatinumPool]

Thanks for the response Carl. Do I need to do the bleach AND the Tri-Chlor or will just doing the Tri-Chlor suffice?

Thanks again,
Aaron

[CarlD]

Personally? I'd be pouring bleach or Liquid Chlorine (same as bleach, only stronger) in to get the FC up. The Tri-Chlor tabs take longer to release their chlorine. BUT DO NOT POUR THE BLEACH ON THE TRI-CHLOR. If there's a floater or you have tabs in the chlorinator, it's OK to pour the bleach into the return stream so it goes into the pool, but do NOT pour it into the skimmer!

[PoolDoc]

As Carl said, you need to add chlorine now. Bleach will give you a predictable dose; trichlor won't since it has to dissolve, and you can't control the rate of dissolution directly.

Do this:

1. Order (as Carl told you) a K2006 => http://pool9.net/tk/

2. Go to Walmart and get 8 gallons of PLAIN 8% bleach, 10 pounds of baking soda (BAG, not box) and a cheapo OTO / phenol red kit

3. Go to Lowes, Home Depot and get a gallon of 31% muriatic acid and a set (or a box) of nitrile gloves (blue or purple, usually)

4. Test your pool with the OTO & phenol red. Confirm the zero chlorine and pH > 8.0

5. If chlorine < 1 ppm, add 2 gallons of plain bleach (about 10 ppm on your pool). Test chlorine after 15 minutes and again after 1 hour.

6. If pH > 7.8, read http://pool9.net/ma/ and then (READ FIRST) add approx 1/4 gallon of muriatic. Retest 1 hour later. Your pH needs to be below 7.8.

7. Retest pH & chlorine the following day. If there is no chlorine, turn off your ozonator, and add 2 more gallons of bleach. Test at 15 minutes, 1 hour, and 24 hours.

8. Report results.