Chlorine Lock ?

[Big Splash]

It's odd that CC is so high with all that bleach in there. You might want go ahead and double check your CYA test using the diluted sample mentioned earlier. In other words... if the CYA is truely at 80 it'll read 40 with a 50/50 sample of pool water and distilled water. You'll notice the testing tube is easier to read the differences in amounts at around 40 than at 80 due to the graduated scale of the test tube readings.

[mjsboone]

I am going to start a whole new testing round today so I have current, hopefully correct, numbers. It's a very rainy, hot day here in SC and when my #1 son gets home (and if it is not pouring) we will start from scratch and log the numbers on the guide provided by Pool Doc last night. This pool is not going to get the best of me!
Thanks to all for continued guidance.
-Jane

[Big Splash]

Some testing tips for you... If you're unsure of the CYA reading / result, you can retest with the same sample. Just pour what you got into the test tube back into the little dispensing bottle with the remaining leftover sample, shake, and then pour it back into the test tube for another look. No need to use more reagent for another test. Also, it is best to look down the tube in outdoor daylight with the sun at your back. Lastly, the pH reading will be artificially high due to the high amount of FC you have. So, don't let that surprise you.

[mjsboone]

Good evening. I did the full testing tonight and have posted on the guide PoolDoc gave me. My numbers are terrible-especially the CYA of 130. I tested with the diluted test using distilled water and pool water.
Other numbers:
25.6 ppm FC6
3.6 ppm CC
7.4 PH
150 TA

Feeling pretty bad that all this effort is not producing results. I'm ready to drain my pool...

[Big Splash]

Dont feel bad. Consider this all a learning experience that'll only help you later on. It figures your CYA was higher than the prior reading of 80.

If you want to drain, you'll need to do it in steps so you don't damage the liner. Drain leaving no less than about a foot of water at the most shallow end if your pool. Refill, retest, and redo if need be.

[mjsboone]

I have read that you should drain down to the bottom of skimmer and add water back. Do this several times until the water is sufficiently diluted. I guess that will be my next plan of attack. Wish I had done this to begin with. Am I correct in thinking that the CYA reading should be 50 or below when the water is diluted enough?

Two other things...I will never use those 3" tabs in my clorinator ever again (brand new chlorinator I might add!) and I should have bought stock in Chlorox.

[Big Splash]

You have the right idea. You can drain down as much as leaving a foot of water in the shallow end and you should be ok. I would guess you need to do 3x to get close to 50 cya. That is... if each drain equals 25% of your total pool water volume, the first drain will reduce your 130 cya to about 97. The next drain will take it to about 73 and the next to 55. Be sure to run the pump for a couple hours after each refill to mix up the old pool water with the new fresh refill.

You may still find yourself using those 3inch tabs at some point. So keep them handy for when you go on vacation and when you may need to add cya next season. Search the forum for proper storage tips. They will also reduce your pH with use. You reported a 7.2 pH reading correct? The pH test with your FC so high will be artificially higher than actual. To be safe, you may want to retest the pH by diluting it down to a 25% sample. Take a measuring cup and fill 3/4 cup with distiller water and 1/4 cup pool water for a full cup of test sample. Stir and then test the pH. If it reads less than before, your gonna want add some (20 Mule Team) Borax to raise the pH back into proper range.

[PoolDoc]

I'm sorry things have been so frustrating.

1. Hang on a little longer. Enter daily test results in the pool history spread sheet. Do NOT test CYA -- it's not going to change, and you'll run out of reagent.

2. Complete the equipment form: http://pool9.net/pf-equip-form/ Try to include your pump and filter models. Once you've got several days results posted, and have have the equipment form completed, I'll go back and re-read this thread from the beginning and see if I can make more sense of things.

3. Keep in mind that draining a vinyl pool is a HUGE issue, and can destroy your liner if done incorrectly.

[mjsboone]

Greetings to my pool experts in the cyber world. I have completed the pool equipment form and have also added my last 3 testings on pool history document and submitted. Maybe PoolDoc can take a look? I think maybe things have improved on the FC and CC front. Adding less and less bleach to get to that 25 number and the 1 CC. Pool is clear. Needs a good vac (to waste!). It looks good. I have not retested the CYA and will not because I will definitely run out of reagent. I did not drain at all and it rained about 1 inch yesterday. Does any of this sound like I might be making progress? Thanks for your continued advice and support!

[Big Splash]

Well if the pool is clear, you're at the last mile of all this. So congrats

I'm sure PoolDoc will take a look when he can.