Want To Switch To BBB; Shock Question

[Snowymoon]

Wow. The TC level took about a day and a half to come down to around 10 to 12 from 20. Level of 10 is what I needed to be able to swim again at my CYA level. I guess that means my pool did not have much to shock out. Is this the reason y'all suggest not to shock unless it absolutely needs it?

I wonder if I could figure CC by using the TC reading versus free chlorine reading via the strips until they are gone? Is CC figured TC minus FC?

[aylad]

You can figure the CC by subtracting FC from TC--the question is, are your strips accurate? Most aren't....

Janet

[amyinraleigh]

Is the Walmart drop test at all accurate for figuring CC? OTO drops are added, the color is read immediately for FC, then I'm supposed to wait 2 min. to read for CC. They are both always identical.

Thanks!

Amy

[amyinraleigh]

Snowymoon - Your water looks great! This is my first year too and I have the same pool. I'm having trouble with slightly cloudy water unless I run my pump all the time. How long do you run yours?

Thanks!

Amy

[Rangeball]

Is the Walmart drop test at all accurate for figuring CC? OTO drops are added, the color is read immediately for FC, then I'm supposed to wait 2 min. to read for CC. They are both always identical.

Thanks!

Amy

Amy, my OTO test kit (not from walmart) instructs the same thing. However when I asked basically the same question, I was told no, OTO will only reliably read TC.

[amyinraleigh]

Thanks Rangeball, I was afraid of that..... I started a thread asking about how to tell when I need to shock using an OTO test and only got one reply - telling me I needed a different tester. How do all the people using these tests know when to shock?!?

Snowymoon - I tried your rigged water-sprayer to try to get the temp down in my pool I had thought of something similar but was waiting till I could order another adapter and length of hose so I could use my skimmer at the same time. Saw your pic and thought "why wait?" I LOVE the sound more than anything, I think!

Thanks, Amy

[Snowymoon]

Amy, I have been running my filter pump nearly 24 hours a day, except for when we are actually in there swimming. I take the filter out and the filter screen out of the intake part of the pump and hose it off daily. The screen gets more clogged if I run the surface skimmer, but I love the surface skimmer. I should just order another hose thingie so I can run the skimmer and the "aerator" at the same time. I also like the sound.

As for the test strips, I know they are not accurate. They are the AquaChem from K-Mart, and they are way more variable and more inaccurate than the Wal-Mart HTH 5-way strips. However, the WM strips do not show FC versus TC. Based on that, I probably did not need to shock, but rather my chlorine level was just too low for my CYA level. It is all good, though, as the water is heavenly right now.

Can't wait to dig up enough $$$ to order one of Ben's kits. I can really see how essential good, accurate testing is.