My Pool Looks Like An EASTER EGG!!! -- NOT a good thing!

[PopcornGirl]

Waterbear,
Ah, that makes sense! Thank you for explaining that; I had no idea the two were related. And I bet you're right about the tabs (pucks), too.

Ok, I retested everything this morning... no real surprises:
FC = ZERO
TC = < 0.5
pH = 7.4
TA = 100
CYA = 50 ??? Is it normal to drop that much in 2 days??? It was 65 on Sunday!
CH = 370

Ok, so I added 5 more gallons of bleach early this morning (right after testing). It's kind of overcast here this morning so hopefully it will have some time to work before the sun hits it... I was afraid to let it sit all day in the heat without adding at least SOME chlorine!
Going to the store to buy MORE BLEACH today!!

Side Note: It *appears* as though the stains are GONE so maybe *something* worked (or all of it). I realize they could come back as I continue to bring my chlorine up, but I just wanted to note that now...
I'll check in again later,

[waterbear]

sounds like you are on the right track..just get your FC up and keep it there. You might want to retest the cya...it's not the easiest test, it can be a bit subjective as to when that black dot dissappears! I try to do mine in the shade, hold the container at about waist level, and if the water is cold I let it come to room temp (indoor) because lower temp will slow down the reaction and could possibly casue a lower reading.

[PopcornGirl]

Oh, dear.
Only 5 hours after adding 5 gallons of 6% bleach (and yes, I checked to make sure it was still bleach -- not old/water), my FC is still ZERO and my TC is still <.5 !
And I STILL have a LOT of green algae on my walls and floors...
QUESTION:
Would it be ok to add a quart of polyquat 60% to the pool to help with the algae problem? I'm afraid I am combatting two MAJOR chlorine-demand problems here (the algae & all the other stuff [stains, metal out, high CYA]) and it's going to cost me a fortune if I continue using only bleach...

I won't do ANYTHING unless y'all ok it, but I have spent so much on chemicals this month, it's REALLY putting a strain on my budget!!
HELP!

[waterbear]

IMHO, you need to keep putting chlorine in there. What type of test kit are you using for FC and TC? Is it DPD (comparator cell with pink colors) or FAS-DPD (titration test)? The reason I ask is that DPD can bleach out with high chlorine levels. I don't think this is what is happening. I think you just have a big chlorine demand and the only thing that will take care of it is to satisfy your pool's "hunger" for chlorine right now but it is one possiblity that sprung to mind to explain your FC of 0. Bleach is NOT your only alternative. You might want to check around at the prices of liquid chlorine and cal hypo vs. bleach. Sometimes they can be a bit more economical (but usually not). Your CH is at the high normal end for a plaster pool but your TA is on the low side so I don't believe that cal hypo will be a problem. I personally would stay away from stablized chlorine with your CYA levels being as high as they are.

As far as polyquat, have never used it but my understanding is that it is more of a preventative than a treatment from what I have read on here.

Hope this helps. Keep the faith, you WILL be swimming soon!

[duraleigh]

Summer,

Remember my post calling for 4 gallons of bleach? Why are you putting in five gallons? Not enough is useless...too much is not good at all, unless you REALLY want to spend some money.. Just like Goldilocks, you've got to get your quantities "just right"?

Listen to the advice you're getting. Nothing is cheaper than bleach to fix your problems. Once your water is clear, you will use maybe 1-2 qts per day to keep your pool nice. Did you think you would have to use this much bleach all the time? If so, you need to do more reading.

Ben does not recommend polyquat for what you're trying to do. What makes you think it's cheaper, anyway?

Go get some more bleach and bring your Cl reading up to 18-20ppm.

Stay the course!!

Dave S.

[KurtV]

popcorn, Read through this thread on polyquat all the way to the end. It looks like another forum member had some success using poly to get rid of an algae infestation...http://www.poolforum.com/pf2/showthread.php?t=486

[PopcornGirl]

Dave,

You are right; I'm getting ahead of myself.
Sorry about that.
I'm just REALLY dying to use my pool (my kids are driving me nuts, too!); it is already so hot here! I saw where parts of the country were getting snow yesterday...

Ok, ok; I will stick with 4 gallons of bleach, but how often should I add it?
I added 4 last night, 5 this morning, and everything is still zero.

What type of test kit are you using for FC and TC? Is it DPD (comparator cell with pink colors) or FAS-DPD (titration test)? The reason I ask is that DPD can bleach out with high chlorine levels. I don't think this is what is happening. I think you just have a big chlorine demand and the only thing that will take care of it is to satisfy your pool's "hunger" for chlorine right now but it is one possiblity that sprung to mind to explain your FC of 0.

I am currently using a TAYLOR "Complete (High)" DPD drops kit.


I guess I will just "keep on, keeping on."
I really want to order Ben's test kit, but it will definitely have to wait until next month's paycheck! <sigh>

[waterbear]

Dave,

You are right; I'm getting ahead of myself.
Sorry about that.
I'm just REALLY dying to use my pool (my kids are driving me nuts, too!); it is already so hot here! I saw where parts of the country were getting snow yesterday...

Ok, ok; I will stick with 4 gallons of bleach, but how often should I add it?
I added 4 last night, 5 this morning, and everything is still zero.

I am currently using a TAYLOR "Complete (High)" DPD drops kit.

I wonder if you would run some tests as I describe and then post the results. I just want to eliminate something that I don't think is happening but I would like to be sure.
First, run a FC test and a TC test on your tap water...if both tests are 0 ppm then you can use tapwater for the rest of this...otherwise get a bottle of distilled water from the grocery.
If you read the instructions in the box lid of the Taylor kit (or is it in the book...haven't looked in a while) it describes a method of testing when the chlorine levels are high. If you look on the chlorine test comparator tube you will see a mark at 1.9 ml near the bottom and one about halfway (don't remember the measurement and am at work now so I can't look at mine)

The next test I would like you to do is FC ad TC using pool water to the half way mark and either the tap water that tested 0 or distilled water to the normal mark at the top and let me know what the readings are.
Finally , redo the FC and TC test filling to the 1.9 ml mark with pool water and the rest of the way with the tap or distilled water and post those results. I suspect they will all show 0 ppm chlorine BUT if you show readings higher than that as you dilute then it means the test is bleaching out. If you get a pink color on the dilutions please post the results and we can take it from there.

I guess I will just "keep on, keeping on."
I really want to order Ben's test kit, but it will definitely have to wait until next month's paycheck! <sigh>

I am pretty sure that this is NOT what is happening but I just want to be sure since you have dumped so much stuff into that pool at this point