Brand New Fill Water - pH issue

[chem geek]

I'm wondering if there's something else in the water that has caused this...there's something in my memory about a particular metal or salt that alters the color scheme of the pH reading....and it's just there at the edge of my memory....

According to the Taylor instructions "interference" for the pH test here:

Iron > 10 ppm may cause negative interference.

[elsie]

So that CC theory of mine doesn't hold water, rats. But this is the thing: the new water was added to the pool in the new, clean/pristine liner, and within 36 hours the pump was running. I chlorinated, but only to 2 ppm. Within two days I covered the pool. The water temp was probably in the high 70's. It just seems very unlikely to me that algae would develop in these conditions. Plus, when I took the one cover off and put the better cover on, the water was clear-clear-clear. It just doesn't seem that the chlorine would be eaten up so fast assuming algae because it would have to be so very low, if it was. Yes, I did test each time, never guessed the ppm.

It would be a good idea to remove cover, shock, let CL drop and recover, but boy, it's a lot of work to remove such a big cover (I have to enlist help of neighbor and though we're both strong, we usually screw up by the time we accordian the thing to the end), and then keeping it free of grass debris and leaves at this point, plus the leaves are starting to come down and with any wind at all I'll just be a slave to the water. And I'm just done (psychologically) for the season. I'm still betting (hoping?) that it was a case of old bleach. I'll run pump tonight and before turning in take another sample and report back tomorrow.

The pH in the meantime, IS holding within range.

[aylad]

Glad the pH situation is fixed....as for the chlorine, if you're finished swimming for the season, just polyquat it, cover it up and leave it alone--you can deal with whatever is under it when it's time to uncover in the spring!

Janet

[elsie]

Yes, so true, that's the option to fall back on. This said, I did check it last night and the ppm's holding at 4.5. I'll check again soon, and expect it to be the same. I *really* do think this was a case of old chlorine now. As always, thanks Janet for your advice. I'll wrap this up with one more post next Monday and hopefully will report 4.5 once again. And now, "sleep, pool, sleep...and sweet dreams along the way."