Chlorine Lock ????

[CarlD]

Thanks, Richard.

[poolrescue30]

I did do the stick test for ammonia, I will pick up the other ammonia test kit they had in the store that uses drops and a color card , similar to the pool 5 way test kits. I know for sure I put in 3 gallons of ammonia on start up by suggestion of the new pool guy (who I don't use anymore). Can 3 gallons in a 33k pool , do so much damage ?? How do we get rid if it is ammonia, maybe we should treat it as such even with the stick test showing negative. ??

[poolrescue30]

Ok, update: I purchased an Ammonia test kit with the drops and color card , goes from 0-8ppm. I will do it as soon as I get home and test the FCL and TCL again.

[poolrescue30]

Ok, the reults are in :
On the Lamotte kit, FCL is .41
TCL is 1.45
On the FAS-DPD kit it turned a tinge pink when the dpd powder was put in, then 1 drop of R-0871 cleared it up , which should indicate .5 FCL , then 5 drops of R-0003 turned it pink , then 2 drops of 0871 turned it clear which should indicate 1.0 of CC , I don't know if that means we are coming closer to solving this, I did put in the 10 pounds of Calcium hypo into the skimmers at 10:30 am before leaving to a meeting , and the pool is cloudy due to the chemicals. I did these CL tests at 4:45pm, the Ammonia test came out with 0.25 ppm (mg/L) so I don't think ammonia is the problem. There is no visible algae, no alge on the floor. I'm going crazy .....Should I use 8 gallons of 6% bleach overnight ???

[CarlD]

Did you measure that FC tonight? Did all the Cal-Hypo dissolve (that's why it's cloudy--don't worry about THAT for now)?

If so, it's now evening, then add 5 gallons of LC...I think you are fighting the organic, whatever it is. Check your FAS-DPD test in the morning, too--BEFORE you add more. If it's come up, you are making progress. But you'll need to add enough LC to get it to the shock level.

PATIENCE!

[chem geek]

I know for sure I put in 3 gallons of ammonia on start up by suggestion of the new pool guy (who I don't use anymore). Can 3 gallons in a 33k pool , do so much damage ??

Ok, the reults are in :
the Ammonia test came out with 0.25 ppm (mg/L) so I don't think ammonia is the problem.

I don't know the concentration of ammonia that was used, but let's say it was 10%. That would be about 2.5 pounds or in your 33,000 gallon pool that's 9 ppm which is a lot and would require a cumulative amount of 90 ppm FC to get rid of. Also, you could have had ammonia before you even added it, from soil bacteria converting CYA into ammonia.

The fact that you are measuring even a little ammonia along with CC probably indicates that this was the problem -- but the good news is that you may be close to done! I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

Richard

[CarlD]

Ditto, here!

Thanks, Richard--the ammonia issue is a very, very unusual one for our members.

[poolrescue30]

Update: I had to be out of town yesterday till this afternoon.I had a friend pour in two 174 oz jugs of 6% bleach , last night at 6pm .This afternnon when I got back i took a sample to the pool store , it showed FCL 0.1 ppm and TCL 0.6 ppm, I hope that means the CC going down is a sigh the problem is going away , although i'm not keeping any FCL in thr pool ?? They suggested 3 lbs more Calcium Hypo into the skimmers and check 3 hours later and then 8 hours later on the FCL level . Does it make sense ???
Thanks

[CarlD]

I have told you before: the Cal-Hypo is not better than the liquid chlorine. It even may make your pool cloudy for a while until it all dissolves in, and it will raise your calcium level, which may be harmless.

But unless the Cal-Hypo is seriously cheaper, there's not any point to using it.

The reason they keep pushing it is that is what pool store clerks do. They see a bag of "Shock" and it's full of cal-hypo so they think that MUST be what you use.

But, as I said before: In your water, chlorine is chlorine. And Liquid Chlorine goes to work FASTER because it doesn't have to dissolve first.

[poolrescue30]

CarlD,I appreciate your help. The pool store I go to is family owned an very expensive on their chemicals, but their computer water test, has been used by me for over 5 years. Sometimes I buy the chemicals there, sometimes I go elsewhere. The owner's son has been doing my test himself, he is trying to figure it out. In fact , when he said to throw in 2 carboys of LC, after having already.purchased 2 three daya prior, he threw in the second carboy for free. He had called his chemical manufacturer and spoken to the chemist there and went through all my numbers with him, they suggested the calcium hypo instead of LC,(which their company also sells to the pool store) they said to throw in the 3 bags tonight and test the FC 3 hours later and then tomorrow morning. I did the FAS-DPD test tonight after the 3 hours. It showed 1 ppm of FC and 1 ppm of CC. The chemist suggested 3 bags per 10k gallons of water over the weekend if the FCL doesn't stay in till the morning. I don't want anymore calcium hypo, my pool will be clousy for a month, how much LC should I put in ?thanks