Clear, but no chlorine???

[mary jo]

Good Morning! I just checked the bucket of test water and the bucket is white- no staining at all. I added 1 jug of bleach to my pool yesterday morning, and 1 last evening and this morning the FC=0, CC=1, pH=7.2
What do you suggest now?

[BigDave]

I recommend that you bring the FC to shock level. At CYA 150ppm, 20% shock level is 30ppm FC. In 26K gallons it'll take 10 jugs (not jubs ) of 8.25% to get there from FC 0ppm. All at once. Pour the bleach around the pool so it's not concentrated in one place.

Keep the filter running 24/7. Keep FC at 30ppm until you lose less than 1 ppm FC overnight, you have 0 or nearly 0 CC and the pool is clear. Run the pump 24x7 while shocking. Leave the pool cover open if you can - some of the byproducts produced while shocking the pool may damage the cover.

[mary jo]

OK- bought 12 jugs of bleach this morning. I have 15,000 gallon pool. Should I wait until tonight (after sundown)? Also- how exactly do I test for FC of 30- dilute a pool water sample like I did for the CYA test?

[BigDave]

I just re-read about the Tuesday pool party - perhaps you should wait until after the party to shock. In that case, pour 5 jugs 8.25% and be ready to add more. Test FC/CC twice daily (early morning and evening). Add bleach as needed to keep FC at 15. If it drops below 8, test / dose more often. FYI each jug of 8.25% bleach will add about 3ppm FC to your pool.

Don't add any more tabs to chlorinator.

I just noticed that you pH is a little low - Add a box of Borax (20-Mule Team - laundry aid). You won't get accurate pH readings while FC > 10.

Keep us posted.

P.S. Why do you cover the pool at night?

[BigDave]

OOPS! I thought you said pool was 26K gallons - 15K is different.
I'll post again in a minute.

[FormerBromineUser]

BigDave: while you're calculating, is there any additional issue with her CH being so high (750)?

[mary jo]

Oh- I forgot to respond earlier to this: When I tested for CH it turned purple (after about 40 drops) instead of blue, so I just kept adding drops until I saw blue (with small particles of purple swirling around). I looked this up in the Taylor booklet and it said this is caused by metals (copper?) in the water… btw: My city water is supplied by 3 city wells treated at a city water plant, and is characteristically HARD. Alot of homes have water softeners.

[BigDave]

... this is caused by metals (copper?) in the water ...

Maybe it would be safer to add a half cup of bleach to the test bucket to be sure we can't force the metals out.

[BigDave]

BigDave: while you're calculating, is there any additional issue with her CH being so high (750)?

I asked if that could be testing error

@mary jo: Did you retest CH? Perhaps you should add a Tablespoon of Borax to test bucket to see if it clouds before putting it in the pool. Put something dark in bucket - you may not be able to see a cloud in a white bucket.

[BigDave]

OK. So...
To start shock, add 6 jugs 8.25% bleach to go from 0 FC to 30ppm FC.
or
To get through party first, add 3 jugs 8.25% bleach to go from 0 to 15ppm FC.

Each Jug will add a little over 5ppm FC.

I would add a half box of Borax.

Also:
Sorry about that! Your first post said "15,000 SF rectangular" then I scanned for a volume and, apparently, found FormerBromineUser's volume - My Bad.