Test results on new pool in Tucson

[FormerBromineUser]

Since you lost about 6ppm FC overnight, you have a chlorine demand that will take time, energy, and faith to get rid of.

I actually did calculate based on your post-times but that WAS a hassle and I might very well have been making incorrect assumptions. Lesson learned. However, if my assumptions were correct that you lost 6ppm from sundown to sunrise, we know that something is going on with your pool. Follow PoolDoc's recipe tonight and tomorrow morning and we will know for sure:

1. Raise your chlorine level to a tested 15 ppm or higher at 7 pm.
2. Add nothing else. Make sure your pump is on all night.
3. Test again after sunrise, but before 8 am.
4. Report BOTH results.

I would clarify that a "TESTED 15ppm..." means that you wait one hour after raising CL level in #1 above, and then perform FC and CC tests again. This is just to make sure of the exact effects of any additions. These would be the numbers we need for your morning post.

Remember to record your TIME

[Wilco]

Ok , here's the last 24 hrs. Not encouraging. Yesterday 7 am, cl at 4, I added a gallon of bleach. Retested at 4 pm, it's at 5 ppm, with 1ppm cc, added a gallon retested at 5 pm it's at 10 ppm, added another gallon, an hr later at 7 pm it's at 16 ppm. Ran pump all night. Test this am showed 6 ppm, zero cc.

[Watermom]

With a CYA of 100, your shock level would be about 25ppm. Let's see if going up to shock level will get you past this chlorine demand faster. Instead of adding bleach multiple times per day, add enough this evening to get back up to shock level. An hour later, test and record FC and CC and then within an hour of sunrise in the morning, test both again. In the morning, take it back up to shock. Just try and add enough bleach morning and evening to take it back up to 25ppm instead of trying to add bleach so many times per day.

I know this is frustrating. We see this on some pools every year. High chlorine demand that seems relentless and seems as if it will go on forever. It is usually the result of CYA biodegrading causing byproducts such as ammonia that you have to get rid of. I know it feels that you'll never get past it, but you will. Hang in there.

[Wilco]

Ok. I suppose kids need to stay out of pool if I am shocking that high? Also, I am going to start spreading my bleach purchases around. I already had comment from checker about how many bodies I was trying to get rid of. ( I know that's lime, but we are talking walmart here)

[Wilco]

Also, this is a dumb question, but when doing the cl testing(10cc) do the 2 scoops of powder need to be close to exact? Going over or under affect the testing? It seems not, but assumptions .."...

[FormerBromineUser]

Let them swim, especially as your CC is low. Just don't wear expensive swimwear. And don't worry about green hair!

[FormerBromineUser]

Personally I would recommend only using 1/2 scoop of powder. Whatever you do, just be consistent.

[Watermom]

No, the scoops of powder do not have to be exact at all. In fact, if one scoop turns the sample pink, you don't need to put the second scoop in.

[Wilco]

Allright, will repost results tomorrow am, ty

[FormerBromineUser]

Ok , here's the last 24 hrs. Not encouraging. Yesterday 7 am, cl at 4, I added a gallon of bleach. Retested at 4 pm, it's at 5 ppm, with 1ppm cc, added a gallon retested at 5 pm it's at 10 ppm, added another gallon, an hr later at 7 pm it's at 16 ppm. Ran pump all night. Test this am showed 6 ppm, zero cc.

Carl, in Wilco's overnight test he lost 10ppm FC. That's why WaterMom took him to shock level.

Wilco, we originally said 15 because with your CYA level, 8-15 is your maintenance range. Now that you have determined that you are losing FC overnight, we know you are fighting something unusual in your pool and need to shock it at 25.

Yes, you need to add bleach in the morning too. Your goal is to get it to 25 and keep it there as much as possible. If you can, make additions mid-day too.