It's the algae that is consuming the chlorine. When you want to test high chlorine with a kit not designed for it, just add 3 parts distilled water to one part pool water, mix and test. Multiply your result by four.
It's the algae that is consuming the chlorine. When you want to test high chlorine with a kit not designed for it, just add 3 parts distilled water to one part pool water, mix and test. Multiply your result by four.
Originally Posted by JohnT
THAT'S right!! Thank you so much. I couldn't remember exactly what the details were. I only have well water, will that work? Don't really have to worry about it at the moment because the cl isn't registering at all yet. But thank you for posting the instructions!!
Just be aware that you will lose accuracy in the process so consider those results more of a "ballpark figure".
Gotcha!I will keep that in mind. I'm making a notebook JUST for the pool stuff this year. On the inside of the front and back covers I have the "menus" for raising/lowering the various chemicals for the pool.
Soooooo, do I take care of the Alk tomorrow too and then put the bleach in tomorrow night? Will it hurt to wait that long to add the bleach?
In order to kill the algae, you're going to have to raise your Cl to 10-12, and keep it there--if you let it yo-yo up and down, you're just going to have a harder time killing it. You need to test in the evening, add whatever amount of bleach is necessary to bring your Cl up to 12, test again in the morning and add whatever you need to bring it back up, and (if possible) test and add again in the afternoons. Do this until the algae dies and turns gray. YOu also need to make sure that your pump is running and that you're backwashing as necessary during the process. Do not add any Borax to your pool, your pH is too high already, but you can go ahead and add the baking soda to raise your T/A.
Good to see you too!
Janet
In order to kill the algae, you're going to have to raise your Cl to 10-12, and keep it there--if you let it yo-yo up and down, you're just going to have a harder time killing it. You need to test in the evening, add whatever amount of bleach is necessary to bring your Cl up to 12, test again in the morning and add whatever you need to bring it back up, and (if possible) test and add again in the afternoons. Do this until the algae dies and turns gray. YOu also need to make sure that your pump is running and that you're backwashing as necessary during the process. Do not add any Borax to your pool, your pH is too high already, but you can go ahead and add the baking soda to raise your T/A.
Good to see you too!
Janet
If I add baking soda, won't that also raise the pH? Or am I thinking of it backwards again and BORAX does that? I am backwashing and the pump has been on nonstop since yesterday. I'm out of bleach today but I'm going to get some first thing in the morning. How many jugs of bleach and boxes of baking soda do you suggest I buy? If I'm using the alkalinity option in the calculator correctly, it says I need to add 18 pounds to get up to 115 ppm. That sounds like an AWFUL lot!!
Last edited by littleHeidi; 04-07-2006 at 01:09 AM.
you previusly posted that your ALK was 55 ppm. if it is still the same the directions on the Arm and Hammer baking soda box say you need to add 6 lbs per 10000 gal to get your ALK to the proper range. How big is your pool and what is your current ALk reading?
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