Tale of my battles with cloudy water! I'm finally winning...

[Bleach=Chlorine?]

I'm sure hindsight is 20-20 but it sounds like draining and re-filling would have been cheaper and quicker!

[ladybug_3777]

I'm sure hindsight is 20-20 but it sounds like draining and re-filling would have been cheaper and quicker!

Oh trust me.... the thought crossed our minds... but the idea of having to fix ALL the chemicals again, not just the CL made me feel dizzy!

[CarlD]

Nice Job, LadyBug!

The shock you were using is nothing more than double-strength Ultra Bleach--one gallon gives you the same chlorine as 2 gallons of Ultra....Except that unless it's VERY new, it breaks down rapidly and probably was no more than 10%. Still, if 1 gallon of 12.5% is cheaper than 2 gal of 6%, it's a good price.

You were going to need a lot of chlorine no matter what you did, but the reason we push, push, and push the high-end test kits, like Ben's, it that they allow to know EXACTLY how much shock to add. If you add the right amount 3 times a day, it will be more effective than adding all 3 doses at once.

You did the big one--lots of chlorine and persistence, but to make it easier you test 3x/day and add chlorine until it tests at the shock level (I think 15 for your CYA level).
You brush and vacuum to waste everyday, too.

It kills the algae and less chance of bleaching the liner. But I think Dave is right--you had SO many organics that the chlorine was being consumed very rapidly.

Enjoy your pool! Now stay ahead of it and NEVER have to do that again!

[ladybug_3777]

Enjoy your pool! Now stay ahead of it and NEVER have to do that again!

Oh you better believe I will. I was getting to the point where the next additive I was going to try was dynamite! LOL

Quick question: Do the tests kits ever go on sale (say in the winter time?) I would love to get one for next season! Here in upstate NY our swimming season is so short that I'd probably only get about 4 weeks of use out of it (at the most) for this season. Thanks!

[CarlD]

Oh you better believe I will. I was getting to the point where the next additive I was going to try was dynamite! LOL

Quick question: Do the tests kits ever go on sale (say in the winter time?) I would love to get one for next season! Here in upstate NY our swimming season is so short that I'd probably only get about 4 weeks of use out of it (at the most) for this season. Thanks!

I don't know. I was in a local Leslie's one day and they had the FAS-DPD test kit Taylor made for them--it's only the chlorine test, and it was about $20. But that was the last one they had.... Online, though, they have it.

I'm not sure you want an on-sale test kit--it means it's older which means the chems may or may not be dated...

[ladybug_3777]

I'm not sure you want an on-sale test kit--it means it's older which means the chems may or may not be dated...

True! You get what you pay for!

Well considering THIS month I won't be putting extra $ into lots of extra shock, I can put it into my "super duper test kit fund" instead right? haha!