Help Chlorinating

[rlanthony@excite.com]

I've been reading the threads and have learned a lot. Using the newest test kit form here. I may be more confused than before, however. I am using Chlorine bleach 6% to chlorinate and shock. This is a pain. I can't get to the pool everyday. Plus my pH keeps rising, I think due to the high pH of the liquid chlorine. I have a cartridge filter, with in-line chlorinator. Not the best combo, I know. Is there a solid non-stabilized puck or stick I can use somehow to automatically chlorinate? Chlorine level today is after 1.5 gal added.
Rick
15,000 gal, in-ground, pebble sheen, remodeled 3 months ago
pH 8.2
cal 190
CYA 90
Cl 6
CC 0
TC 6
Temp 92 (yes that's right)

[duraleigh]

How often have you been shocking and to what level are you bringing the Cl when you do?

[rlanthony@excite.com]

I usually bring the level to about 12 fro shock. Still looking for a solid non-stabilized chlorine.
Rick

[Watermom]

Take a look at this chart.

Ben's 'best guess' FC/Stabilizer table for algae free operation of OUTDOOR pools -- as of July 2003 --

Use the info in this chart to help you figure out what levels of chlorine you need to maintain in your pool based on the amount of CYA (cyanuric acid, also called stabilizer) that you have in your pool. (FC = free chlorine)

Stabilizer . . . . . . Min. FC . . . . Max FC . . . 'Shock' FC
=> 0 ppm . . . . . . . 1 ppm . . . . . 3 ppm . . . . 10 ppm
=> 10 - 20 ppm . . . . 2 ppm . . . . . 5 ppm . . . . 12 ppm
=> 30 - 50 ppm . . . . 3 ppm . . . . . 6 ppm . . . . 15 ppm
=> 60 - 90 ppm . . . . 5 ppm . . . . . 10 ppm . . .. 20 ppm
=> 100 - 200 ppm . . . 8 ppm . . . . . 15 ppm . . .. 25 ppm

With a cya of 90, you aren't shocking the pool when you raise the cl to 12.

And, as far I know, there isn't a solid form of non-stabilized chlorine.

Also, you're going to need to bring that ph down. Use some muriatic acid - add a pint at a time slowly in front of the return jet. Aim for 7.4-7.6, although anywhere 7.2-7.8 is OK.

[duraleigh]

Well, I guess we're even....I didn't answer your question about Non-CYA tabs and you didn't answer mine about how often you shock.

Watermom answered your shock level...you're not gettin' there. In fact, with your high CYA, you need to be at 25+ to shock your pool.....30 won't hurt.

I do not know of any non-stabilized pucks but you're gonna have to get off the tabs to start controlling your CYA level. It's too high now and will only increase as you use the pucks.

If your pool is clean, you should be losing 2-3ppm per day to the Sun. That means you could bring your Cl up to 14 or so and let it drift down to 8 over the next three days, then redose to 14....solving your issue with daily additions. Bleach will cause pool water pH to rise but very slowly. If you'll get your pH down to 7.2, I'll bet it'll be weeks before you have to lower it again.

[Watermom]

Bleach will cause pool water pH to rise but very slowly.

I'm going to rephrase that. Bleach MAY cause your ph to rise, but it doesn't in all pools. I use bleach exclusively and always have and it has never caused my ph to rise. In other pools it sometimes does.

[ubalr1]

I confused. I must be missing something here. His Total and Free chlorine numbers are within Ben's best Guess range for a CYA of 90. Okay he's on the lower end of Ben's scale. He has no Combined Chlorine at all. Why does he need to "shock"? I would think he needs to first bring his Ph down to within acceptable range, and then raise his chlorine levels as mentioned to 12ppm to allow the days he can't get to the pool. Again, why should he be shocking?

[rlanthony@excite.com]

Thanks for the info. To answer your shock question, about every one to two weeks. Bather load is light. And we are in a drought, so no to much rain water. I will get the pH under control. This pool has always had a high pH. Even before the re-model. I'll add a pint a day and test to get it down to the right levels.. I bought a polaris fountain before I knew it would raise the pH. I love the fountain, but too much aeration I guess. Very little scale, previously a big problem. Now I have a Polaris fountain for sale. Here is the plan. Keep chlorine where it is for now. Get pH down to 7.2-7.4. Raise chlorine to 14 and let drift down to 7-8 then back to 14, etc...By the way I haven't been using the pucks for about 1-1 1/2 months now. CYA has been stable at 90 every since I got the test kit. Did I miss anything?
Rick

[Simmons99]

No - you haven't missed anything. Just be aware that when you bring your chlorine levels to 14ppm - you are not shocking. I assume you are doing this because you cannot devote time to your pool everyday to add chlorine.

You may want to consider a salt water chlorine generator - they save on the daily chlorine add - but they tend to raise the PH level.

[gonefishin]

Hi,

I can understand that it's difficult to get to the water every day. But if it's possible...try and get to the water several times a day, at least an early morning and a night time reading for several days in a row. Also, WITH this information...keep a log of chlorine added.

This may be inconvenient at first...but getting acquainted with your pool will pay off later. Making it much easier to "know" your pool.

I am using Chlorine bleach 6% to chlorinate and shock. This is a pain. I can't get to the pool everyday.


Chlorine level today is after 1.5 gal added.
Rick
15,000 gal, in-ground, pebble sheen, remodeled 3 months ago
pH 8.2
cal 190
CYA 90
Cl 6
CC 0
TC 6
Temp 92 (yes that's right)

According to the bleach calculator 1.5gallons of 6% would raise your 15,000 gallon pool 6ppm. You say that your cl was 6 after you put the 1.5gallons in...were you at zero before adding the bleach? Are you losing 6ppm a day?

I'd try to keep a log for a few days and find out how much chlorine your losing during the day (from morning to night)...and then if any is lost from night to the next morning. Then repeat for a few days. Then you can see how much cl your losing and when. You can also see exactly how much chlorine you need to maintain disinfecting levels for your cya. Doing this for a few cycles can really give you a good grasp on how your pool is acting.

Also...try adding the maintenance dose of chlorine once the sun sets...letting it circulate a good while before getting your (before bed time) night reading. Then...get the other reading when you first wake.

Also...is there a reason that your shocking every one to two weeks? and what levels are (were) you bringing your cl up to when shocking.

Do you find a fair amount of leaves or debris in your water? How often is vacuuming necessary? How often do you vacuum?

How old are the swimmers? Do you have any little ones that could be requiring a little more chlorine usage


happy swimmin',
dan