is this normal?

[boscogabby]

i just opened the pool yesterday and found about 200 dead worms and a couple of other dead critters at the bottom. despite the dead stuff the water was fairly clear. before adding anything to the pool i brushed and let it filter about 24hrs. i tested the water and had these numbers- fc 0 ph 7.0 ta 50 cya 25-30. the pool is 12,000 gal inground vinyl liner with an aquarite swg. this morning i put in about 5 gallons of bleach waited a few hours and tested again with these results- fc 30 ph 8.0+ ta 50. is this normal for the ph to rise like it did? what should i do next? the water is crystal clear. thank you.

[chem geek]

The Taylor test kit says the following about this:

FALSE READINGS: high levels of chlorine (usually > 10 ppm) will quickly and completely convert phenol red into another pH indicator (chlorphenol red). This new indicator is a dark purple when the water's pH is above 6.6. Unfortunately, some pool operator mistake the purple color for dark red and think the pool water is very alkaline and wrongly add acid to the pool.

It is true that adding chlorine will make the pH rise and that when it gets consumed the pH will come back down, but the above effect may also be what is happening in your case. This is nothing to worry about.

Richard

[aylad]

i just opened the pool yesterday and found about 200 dead worms and a couple of other dead critters at the bottom. despite the dead stuff the water was fairly clear. before adding anything to the pool i brushed and let it filter about 24hrs. i tested the water and had these numbers- fc 0 ph 7.0 ta 50 cya 25-30. the pool is 12,000 gal inground vinyl liner with an aquarite swg. this morning i put in about 5 gallons of bleach waited a few hours and tested again with these results- fc 30 ph 8.0+ ta 50. is this normal for the ph to rise like it did? what should i do next? the water is crystal clear. thank you.

After your chlorine level comes back down and you verify that the pH is still in the normal ranges, I would use a little baking soda to get the TA up to around 100, then go swimming!

Janet

[cleancloths]

Worms and critters are not totally unusual - I typically find many. I don't know about pouring in 5 gallons of bleach all at once. My pool holds about 33,000 gallons and I sure as hell would never think about pouring in 14 gallons of bleach in one shot - but that is just me.

[fcfrey]

I've posted this before but it is worth repeating:

Worms HATE alkaline soil.
I spread a heavy coat (15' band all around) of ground limestone all around the pool twice a year and have eliminated the problem almost completely. It takes me about 300# to do what I have but at $3.00 per 50# bag it is well worth it and won't hurt the grass.

A couple of years ago I opened the pool to find close to 50# of dead worms on the bottom Talked to the local Ag extention office (PSU) and got the tip from them ---- IT WORKS!!