Chlorine Lock ????

[waterbear]

the FAS-DPD test will go up to about 50 ppm FC! You want a Taylor K-2006 or the TF100 from TF Test Kits (google TF Test Kits).

[CarlD]

the FAS-DPD test will go up to about 50 ppm FC! You want a Taylor K-2006 or the TF100 from TF Test Kits (google TF Test Kits).

Don't forget that Leslie's On-Line sells their FAS-DPD Chlorine Service Test Kit that is a twin to the K-2006, just re-badged for Leslie's. About $60 or $70. Sadly, they no longer have the vast range of single kits--you could buy just a FAS-DPD test or just the reagents from them but it doesn't seem so anymore. I read that Taylortechnologies.com got hacked so C/C purchases on line are closed there. I don't know if it's true.

All 3 kits are equivalent--whichever you get will pay for itself VERY quickly. I bought my PS-232 when I still had a 15'x3' Intex Donut and it STILL was worth its weight in gold to me.

[chem geek]

The least expensive source for the Taylor K-2006 I believe is this link while the TF100 kit at tftestkits.com that waterbear talked about is at this link but has 36% more volume of reagents so is comparably priced "per test" to the first link. The Leslie's kit is also sold online here. Of course, you need to add shipping costs to compare what it would be compared to driving to Leslie's, though with gas prices these days just driving around is a factor to consider!

Yes, it's true that Taylor no longer accepts credit cards online since they were hacked, but they do take credit card orders over the phone (during business hours). Another alternative for individual kits, such as the Taylor K-1515-A for just the FAS-DPD chlorine test if you've already got the others, is poolcenter.com here.

Richard

[CarlD]

The Leslie's kit is also sold online here. Of course, you need to add shipping costs to compare what it would be compared to driving to Leslie's, though with gas prices these days just driving around is a factor to consider!

Not a worry. I've never seen the FAS-DPD Chlorine Service Test Kit in a store, just online. I once, in one store, in White Plains, NY, found the FAS-DPD powder. The clerk didn't know what it was, how to price it, etc. so he just gave it to me! In the store in Greenbrook NJ, they had the combo FAS-DPD test--not a full kit, just FAS-DPD and Monopersulfate (which uses the FAS-DPD reagents + 1) for $20 so I grabbed it--Taylor sells this one kit for $65!!!!! But that's all.

[poolrescue30]

I got my chlorine lock down a bit, pool store still says it's at a 1. I did do the 8 gallons of 6% bleach TWICE already . The pool looks great and the water's fine, but my free chlorine is being "eaten up". i ordered a FAS_DPD kit as well as a Lamotte color proq7, hey it'll be more accuarate than the 18 year old at the pool store .What is the proper CYA level for a 33,000 inground vinyl liner pool ? where is my chlorine going?
Thanks

[CarlD]

CYA level is measured in parts per milion (PPM). That means that the size of the pool is irrelevant. Your local weather conditions and how your water retains chlorine will determine the ideal. As a WAG, in the NE, 30-50 is a good level. In the deep South a higher level of 50 to 70 is preferable.

But you MUST retain the correct residual levels of chlorine for your level of CYA.

[poolrescue30]

OK, I just used the lamotte kit. my numbers are real bad..... Can you please tell me what to do first !!!!

.05 FCL

.96 TCL

7.1 PH

16 ALK

211 CH

92 CYA

THANKS !!!

[CarlD]

First off, there is no such thing as "Chlorine Lock". This is a bit of pool store nonsense and even if there was, you have to have CYA above 150 to 200ppm before you get it--or something that looks like chlorine lock.

How did you get your CYA to 92 from 40????

If that's correct, you need 11 gallons of Ultra bleach....or if you have a pool store that sell 5 gallon carboys of nominal 12%, you'll need the whole thing.

Have the pool store test your water and see if the numbers match your Lamotte test. Electronic testers look cool but they are notoriously inaccurate. You'd do better with a simple WalMart HTH 5-way drop test kit. Don't buy anything the pool store guy tries to sell you but the liquid chlorine--you'll need to put a deposit on the carboy but you can use the empty as the deposit next time.

You need to go back to our various threads on algae fighting--and stick to it. You have been dumping a bunch of stuff in, and hoping it will magically clear it up.

There's no magic, there's no mystery. You need to consistently shock your pool ONLY WITH BLEACH OR LIQUID CHLORINE until the TC and the FC match and your FC levels don't keep dropping rapidly. Some loss over 24 hours is normal, but to go from 15 to 1 in a 8 hours means you are fighting organics. So you should be checking your water 2 to 3x a day and immediately adding chlorine if FC is low and/or not matching TC (remember: TC = FC + CC always and forever--and you want CC to be 0).

The pool store will sell you clarifiers, algaecides, mineral erosion kits, non-chlorine "shock", cal-hypo "shock", phosphate removers, calcium increasers, but they won't sell you what you need: an FAS-DPD Chlorine test kit. So use them for what you can, and buy from them what you cannot get elsewhere. If you find a good, knowledgable pool store salesman, give him your business if his prices aren't TOO unreasonable...I know one and only one of the 10 stores I will go to.

I know you've been working hard. Ordering the FAS-DPD test kit was smart.

I think the hardest two things about fighting algae are:
1) Not panicking
2) Being patient and persistant.
Otherwise, the rules for fighting are very simple:

1) Adjust pH and measure CYA (if you can).
2) Keep your FC at the recommended shock level for that CYA (See the "Best Guess" chart).
3) Use only bleach or liquid chlorine to maintain that shock level, and test it and adjust it 2x to 3x (better) per day. You can do it 4x or 5x a day--you'll use more chlorine but you may kill the algae faster. Expect to use lots of chlorine.
4) Run your filter 24/7.
5) Once a day, vacuum to waste and brush your pool.
6) Be patient and persistent.

*7) Establish a daily regimen of pool maintenance that prevents this happening again.
a. Just test pH and chlorine every day, and adjust if needed.
b. Once a week run all the tests in the FAS-DPD kit (FC, CC, pH, T/A, CYA).
c. If you have a hard pool, test CH too, weekly.
d. If you have a vinyl pool, test CH 2 or 3x a summer--no more is needed unless you have a problem.
e. (you can skip acid and base demand tests--they vary widely depending on conditions and you don't need them--I don't believe the TF-100 even has them, instead having larger amounts of the other reagents).