Low Chlorine Levels

[BigButz]

OK here are my numbers:

Free Chlorine 2.0
Combined Chlorine 2.0
Total Chlorine 0
pH 7.8
Total alkalinity 110
Calcium Hardness 400
Cyanuric Acid 60


Keep in mind I got to these numbers by adding over the past few days 1 gallon of pool acid and 3 lbs of shock.

Thanks.

[CanuckPool]

are you sure you didn't transpose your combined Chlorine and your Total Chlorine numbers? With a CYA of 60 youo should be in the sweet zone for your SWG to create lots of Chlorine. Did you try and test the water at the one of the returns when the SWG is on, you should get a high chlorine reading from there. Maybe you should check your salt level.

[BigButz]

As I mentioned before I don't have a very good test kit so I took my water to the pool store. The guy who tested it said my FC was 2.0 and Combined Chlorine was 2.0 so he said that would make my Total Chlorine 0. Is that correct? I didn't take the water sample near any return and the pump wasn't on. I'm going to test my chlorine again in the AM to see what it reads.

[CarlD]

As I mentioned before I don't have a very good test kit so I took my water to the pool store. The guy who tested it said my FC was 2.0 and Combined Chlorine was 2.0 so he said that would make my Total Chlorine 0. Is that correct? I didn't take the water sample near any return and the pump wasn't on. I'm going to test my chlorine again in the AM to see what it reads.

Nope. Simple rule forever and ever: Total Chlorine = Free Chlorine + Combined Chlorine.

If they don't add up the test is faulty.

The BEST investment you can make in pool care is a good test kit.

Some WalMarts have an HTC 5-way drop test kit for about $10- $15. It's pretty good and the best value in test kits. It has some limits but it's still pretty darn good.

But better by far is an FAS-DPD test kit. Chlorine tests fall into 4 types: Strips, OTO, DPD and FAS-DPD. You can buy strips, OTO and DPD at most pool stores, but you'll need to go on-line to get an FAS-DPD test kit. It's worth every nickel.

There are two best places to get a kit.
You can go to taylortechnologies.com and order their K-2006 or K-2006C test kit

or you can go to Leslies On-Line and order their FAS-DPD Chlorine Service Test kit.

Plan to spend between $60 and $75 on a kit (but the 2006-C is a lot--about $125 because you get a lot more of each chemical)

Now, Assuming your FC and TC are 2.0 and your CC is 0, but your CYA is 60, you should keep FC between 5.0 and 10.0 at all times or you will get algae.

If you have algae, you need to shock it up to 20ppm and keep it there until you are clear.

Another pool site sell a proprietary kit that looks similar to these that you can investigate.

I'd stay away from Calcium based chlorine as your Calcium level is at the top of the good range. I'd stay away from Tri-Chlor pucks and Di-Chlor as your CYA is getting high.

Your pH is a tad high at 7.8 but still acceptable. However, if you are fighting algae, lowering it to 7.3 to 7.5 will help the fight.

So you should only chlorinate with bleach/liquid chlorine, or your SWG.