Clear, but no chlorine???

[BigDave]

Pick up a cheap OTO / pH test kit. The OTO (yellow drops) it is reliable well outside normal range and will tell you if chlorine is high or low.
Do you have a K-2006?
Dilute a pool water sample 1:1 with tap water and measure CYA of diluted sample(then multiply by 2). If it's still over 100 (200) then dilute a pool water sample 1:2 with tap water and measure CYA of diluted sample(then multiply by 3).

[mary jo]

Good Morning. I have only ever used Taylor drop testing kits. Currently I have: K2006, K1004 (residential trouble shooter) and K1106 (phosphate). This morning I tested again: FC=0, Ph-7.2, TA=130. I ran the CYA test 3 times and took an average: 150.
My new filters have bee installed.

[BigDave]

I suggested the OTO kit because OTO will not bleach out in high chlorine.

How did youn test CYA 150ppm?

Congrats on the new filters.

[Watermom]

And, thank you for the subscription!

[mary jo]

The Walmart/Target stores in my area are all out of hth OTO chlorine testing kits (it's a short swim season here in Illinois). But I did read something in Taylor's manual about how to test for high levels: they suggested adding the 5 drops each of Reagent #1 and #2 into the vial and THEN adding pool water a drop at a time to see if there is any CL is present, so I tried this and the sample never turned pink.

[Watermom]

If you can't find an OTO kit at Walmart or Target, you can get one at your pool store but just do not let them talk you into buying anything else. They will try!

[mary jo]

Thank you Watermom!!! I think the problem is: the new post section does not show up at this time ( although it did earlier today).
Anyway- I did find some OTO from a neighbor who had 2- and tested for chlorine and got zero again. Just to see that the OTO was indeed fresh and working I added a drop,of bleach to some water and tested it and it came out dark orange. So I think we an say that my pool has zero chlorine in it, however LOTS of CYA.

[mary jo]

OK- I will try to get the OTO kit, but I did try diluting the pool water with bottled water (all I had) and testing using at different concentrations: 1:2, 1:4 1:9 and got zero chlorine reading all times. I got the CYA reading by diluting my pool water with tap water as you recommended: 1 part pool water, 2 parts tap and got around 50 so I tripled it to get 150.