Quote Originally Posted by rastoma
So the method you described of putting half pool water/half distilled water.... do I still use that full amount in my vial as if it were all pool water? The test says use 5 drops of the OTO solution, so still use 5 drops? Is this the same thing as the shot glass method? I keep seeing posts that say search for it but I can't find the actual description anywhere, just more posts saying to search for it

Use the diluted pool water exactly the way you would use regular pool water. Fill to the line, same # of drops, timing, etc.

Also, the water does have a fairly strong chlorine smell.

Once I do get a more accurate number for chlorine, how do I lower it? I tried draining about 25" of the water and refilling and the chlorine level stayed the same.
If your stabilizer (or CYA) is 50, you need to keep 3-6ppm of Free Chlorine. Your test only measures Total Chlorine, which is Free chlorine (the stuff that is available to work and keep your pool sanitized) plus Combined Chloramines (the stuff that is busy killing off junk) TC=FC+CC. If you are smelling chlorine, you have combined chloramines, and therefore less FC available to sanitize your pool.

Test your chlorine using the shot glass method and postyour results. Then someone can help you further.

Don't drain your pool. You need chlorine to keep your water sanitized, and the sun will destroy the chlorine fast enough.