New Intex above ground owner - Psuedomonas?

[May76]

I hope so! I'm getting the nerve up right now. What's the bandage looking thing that comes with it for? It has a really strong chemical smell to it. I'm guessing I should only fill the large tube with 10ml of water since I suspect my chlorine is high?

[Watermom]

I'm not sure what the "bandage looking thing" is that you are referring to.

If you use a 10mL sample, it will make your reagents last longer. You'll multiply the number of drops by 0.5.

[May76]

Thanks!
Ok, did the Taylor test. I've only measured the FC, CC, PH, and CYA so far.
Filled to 10ml
FC=13 (took 26 drops to clear, it was mostly clear at around 16 drops, but still had pink at the very bottom swirling about, took 26 before I could not see one bit of pink at all.

CC=1(it was actually clear after I added the 5 drops of R-0003, but after SEVERAL seconds it turned a VERY slight pink, I added 2 drops of R-0871 for it to clear. So since it WAS clear for several seconds after adding the R-0003 and swirling before turning a very slight pink, should I have added the R-0871? Does that mean the CC was really 0?

PH- 6.8-7.0? It wasn't quite as dark orange as the 7.0 so that's why I'm guessing it could have been 6.8. I tried the method for high chlorine levels where you add 1/2 cup of distilled water to 1/4 of pool water before testing. Did NOT do the Acid or Base demand test for PH, should I have?

CYA- less than 30. I filled it all the way to the very tippy top of the container before I saw the black dot disappear completely out of sight. So would that make it around 20?

So, where should I go from here? Should I work on getting my CYA a little higher? I'm guessing I should raise my PH a little. If my CC IS 1, do I need to do something about that? and I'm guessing my FC level is good, if not high, should I leave the bleach alone for a while or continue adding in case I do have mustard algae or the Psuedomonas stuff?

[Watermom]

If the sample turned pink at all, you had a little CC.

For the dilution method of testing pH when you have high chlorine levels, you have to use equal parts of pool water and distilled water. Try that test again.

Don't retest CYA for awhile or else you'll just be wasting reagents. I assume you are using dichlor? (I didn't want to take the time to reread a 34 post thread to look and see.)

[May76]

Thank you. I will test PH again. I edited to add that "I did not do the Acid or Base demand test for PH, should I have?"
And "Should I work on getting my CYA a little higher? I'm guessing I should raise my PH a little. If my CC IS 1, do I need to do something about that? and I'm guessing my FC level is good, if not too high, should I leave the bleach alone for a while or continue adding in case I do have mustard algae or the Psuedomonas stuff?"

Yep, I've been shocking with the Dichlor I already had on hand (AquaChem), though I have not added anymore Dichlor since starting with the bleach. And using 3" Trichlor tablets in a floater(same brand as the shock). I still use those.

THANKS SO MUCH AGAIN! :-)

[May76]

Retested PH using 1/4c distilled and 1/4c pool water and it is close to 7.0, but a smidge lighter so it could still be somewhere in between 6.8 and 7.0. Did not do acid or base demand. I guess it's safe with CC of 1 and FC of 13 to get in there with the brush tonight or no?

I was reading on another thread that if there is CC present the water will turn pink immediately after adding 5 drops of R-0003, but this is not the case. It only started turning a very faint hardly distinguishable pink after sitting there at least 15-20 seconds AFTER swirling a while after the very last drop of R-0003, maybe longer(I wasn't really counting). Could it be just something it does if you let it sit a while?

[Watermom]

Add some Borax and bring your pH up some.

I have a feeling that you have no more than 0.5ppm of CC. Read the test immediately.

[May76]

I can add Borax tomorrow night(have to pick some up, do not have it on hand). How soon should I retest after adding the Borax and when can we swim? I DO have the Robelle PH Rise on hand, I've used it once before, weeks ago, but if you think it may have some yucky stuff in it I'll just get the Borax tomorrow. The kids have been driving me up the wall asking lol...is it okay to swim tomorrow before adding the Borax or PH rise?

Sorry for all the questions and thank you so much again!