Looking to "convert" to BBB? Have questions though.

[kjmelak]

Were you kidding about the 1243 gallons of bleach?

[Mom2Czars]

I'm a new pool owner and started out with BBB. I got an FAS/DPD drops based chlorine test kit at Leslie's for a reasonable price and I use it religiously. I'm to a point where I know I'm pretty much going to need to add enough bleach to increase my ppm by 1 each day. For my 13.5k pool, that's about 3 2/3 cups of bleach each day. SO easy. I'm in the process of adding stabilizer so I'll have to adjust a bit accordingly.

I think you only have to do a partial drain/fill if your CYA is astronomically high. Otherwise just refer to the 'best guess' chart and dose the chlorine accordingly.

[troykristoffer]

Were you kidding about the 1243 gallons of bleach?

What? It won't take that much?

Didn't get to the pool store today, but Im not really done reading up yet anyway.

I was looking at the PS234 and I'm very intimidated by it. Any tips? Its a bit out of my price range too, which if its worth it, I'll buy it, but I'm just afraid that I'll hate it cuz it certainly looks very complicated.

[Watermom]

Very easy to use and well worth the price. If you can read and count, you'll be fine! You won't be sorry if you decide to order the PS234.

[waterbear]

The ps234 is a much better value than the Taylor K-2006 which is the closest kit to it! The taylor kit gives you a lot less reagents so you have to buy refills much sooner! (The CYA reagent in the Taylor kit is only enough for about 5 tests!)

If you are going to take care of your pool you NEED a good test kit! No way around it!

[troykristoffer]

Okay

I'll get it. The worst that will happen is I have to ask for help on here lol.

I made a spreadsheet in Microsoft Excel for anaylizing my testing. I did a test with the color test strips and used the values on the color chart and now realize why you all say that I cant trust it.

My total Alk is 0 and my CYA is either 0 or ideal at 30, but I cant tell which.

I used bleachcalc to see how much stuff I'd need to raise the Alk to 90ppm (Which the pool guide I bought says is midrange of ideal) and it said 31 pounds! That cant be right can it? Of course, this is all assuming the test strip is accurate which I dont really.

Ordering the PS234 now...

BTW... we went to the grocery today to get bleach... and it was only 1.89 a gallon. My partner was like "Lets go to the self-checkout... " cuz he didnt want to get strange looks with us buying 20 gallons of bleach hehe. I thought it was funny. I told him that I've read stories on this forum of people's partners acting the same way and to relax.

BTW, he thinks its great that I found this forum though.

[waterbear]

Okay

I'll get it. The worst that will happen is I have to ask for help on here lol.
That'e exactly what the forum is for!
I made a spreadsheet in Microsoft Excel for anaylizing my testing. I did a test with the color test strips and used the values on the color chart and now realize why you all say that I cant trust it.
Bingo!
My total Alk is 0 and my CYA is either 0 or ideal at 30, but I cant tell which.
Double Bingo!

Ordering the PS234 now...
You won't regret it!
BTW... we went to the grocery today to get bleach... and it was only 1.89 a gallon. My partner was like "Lets go to the self-checkout... " cuz he didnt want to get strange looks with us buying 20 gallons of bleach hehe. I thought it was funny. I told him that I've read stories on this forum of people's partners acting the same way and to relax.
You can always tell people you run a meth lab!
BTW, he thinks its great that I found this forum though.

We think it's great you found us too...and when you realize how easy and inexpensive your pool will be to take care of you will REALLY think it's great!

[troykristoffer]

You can always tell people you run a meth lab!

Shhh! Thats a secret! I dont want to have to move again...

[troykristoffer]

Okay, so in the interest in trying to get my pool swimable before my PS234 gets here, I went to NAMCO and bought their most complicated chemistry set.

Unfortunatley it doesnt test for CYA or Hardness but it does test for FC, TC, pH, and Alk, so Im at least better than the strips, until PS234 gets here.

So... here are my drop based readings from this kit:

FC: 0.4
TC: 0.4
pH: 7.6 (Yay!)
Alk: 190 (Whoa..)

Interestingly my strips still say my Alk is ZERO. Probably cant register it cuz its so high.

If thats not enough to tell me exactly why I shouldnt use strips, I dont know what is.

Are there detrimental effects of swimming with alkalinity this high? I sorta understand that Alk is the stability of your pH level, or how easy or difficult it is to change. What I dont understand is how to lower it...

I read the sticky in the alk forum, but I dont want to lower my pH, I want to lower alkalinity... my pH is at a good level isnt it? Confused on that.

Added a gallon of chlorine which bleachcalc tells me should bring my Chlor to 2.5.

I still have some major suds on top of my pool which wont seem to go away, and some cloudyness after the algeacide nightmare. I tried a anti-foam product and that helped but only temporarily. Tried a clarifier, and that didnt do anything. (The only reason I tried it, is cuz it worked beautifully before.)

I'm hoping the chlorine spike may zap the suds. We'll see.

And the "Conversion" goes on...lol

[duraleigh]

Hi, Troy,

Reading from your first post to your last, it looks like you decided to get serious. That's great...you will love Ben's kit and love your pool as a result.

1. I can't see where you've posted whether your pool is vinyl or gunite...that's important.

2. Your priorities are a little off.....focus first on getting your Cl level right up in the 3-6ppm range. My thinking is it's gonna drop pretty quickly and you're gonna' have to replenish frequently with bleach. It's important that you keep it at least 3ppm 24/7.....higher won't hurt a bit, it will only help.

3. Stop putting ANYTHING else in your pool. No "magic bullets".....patience, balancing your water, and testing and dosing correctly will clear your pool. Other folks who have used the foamy algaecide report it will go away in a few days. For now, simply run your pump 24/7 and keep your filter clean. Is it sand, cart, or DE?

4. Lastly reread the Alk lowering process when you get all the above done. Your in no harm with the Alk @ 190. It'll be best to address that last.

5. Your probably gonna' need to shock, but we can't tell you how much bleach until we get a trustworthy CYA test result. I suggest going to a pool store (remember, no more "magic bullets") and have them test for you and post the results back up.

Synopsis: Clean your pool up by running the pump 24/7, keeping the Cl at 3+ppm, and giving it some time. May have to shock but a CYA result is in order first. Adress your Alk after everything is cleaned up...you're in no danger.