Adding chlorine, how much is safe

[Jeffski]

I am fighting cloudy water by adding chlorine and stabilizer based on the advice from this board, but how high can the chlorine level be before my kids need to stay out?

[mbar]

It depends on yuor cya level

[Jeffski]

Currently CYA=60, chlorine over 5. Have not added anything to water yet today.

[mbar]

With a cya of 60 you need to get your chorine up to 20ppms to reach shock level. I wouldn't swim in the water if there is combined chlorine, that means something is in the water that needs to be killed. You will need to get the chlorine up to 20ppms and hold it there until the chlorine holds overnight. Once your have no combined chlorine, it is ok to swim in the pool even with the chlorine at 20ppms. Read through this thread, especially chem geeks answer:

http://www.poolforum.com/pf2/showthr...3230#post33230

[Jeffski]

What should CYA be at? My 5-way test kit only shows chlorine levels up to 5.0 so there is no way I am going to tell if I'm at 20ppm or not. Plus determining FC versus CC is not going to happen with this Walmart kit.

I am so confused at this point I think I am giving up and calling my pool builder to balance this water like he was supposed to right from the start.

I'm sorry, but I've read everything on both websites and there doesn't seem to be a solid answer other than just trial and error suggestions.

[waterbear]

What you really need is a good test kit such as Ben's ps234 or a taylor k-2006. That would solve your problem of testing your chlorine levels. As a general rule of thumb if the FC is below 10 ppm you can swim. (it is actually safe to swim in much higher levels if the CYA is high. With your cya of 60 ppm normal chlorination is in the range of 5-10 ppm and shock is 20 ppm or higher so I would think that anything below 15 would be a good rule of thumb.

for a way to test higher chlorine levels with your kit do a search on the forum for "shot glass method"

BTW, most PBs don't have a clue about water chemisty and water balance. I work in a pool store and have seen the results of PBs balancing water for customers! (and giving them info on water chemistry and care!)