Famous Chlorine

[Watermom]

Read the following thread. I'm wondering if you are having the same type problem as that guy. Sometimes pools have huge chlorine demands upon opening. That is what this guy's problem has turned out to be. I'm wondering if your pool is having the same thing going on.

http://www.poolforum.com/pf2/showthread.php?t=9547

We'll get this figured out one way or another.

Now that your ph is above 7.0, I want you to start aerating to make the pH rise. (Aim the return jet upward to create as much bubbling and splashing as you can get.) The reason I want you to do this is because your alk is high. Not critical but when your ph gets up to about 7.6-7.8, we're gonna work on your alk. But, that is not a priority for now.

Keep adding bleach. What is the most bleach you have added at one time so far?

Glad you didn't buy the phos out.

[gfritz1]

Most Bleach was 5.6 gals of the 6 % which should have raised the ppm by 17ppm -what do you suggest ?

I now understand the aeration and will add the nozzle and point upwards .Presently no eye ball nozzle on the return

[Watermom]

OK. Unfortunately, this pool situation is not responding like normal pools do to the advice you have been given so far. I suspected that this high chlorine demand is due to stabilizer biodegradation to ammonia and/or urea like we are helping another member deal with in a different thread. (That is why I asked you to read the thread link I posted above.)

I consulted with Ben as to what advice to offer next. A few questions we need to know to help us solve this mystery:

1. Have you used any type of chlorine remover such as peroxide or thiosulfate in this pool?

2. You don't have massive amounts of floating algae, do you?

3. Have you ever used any products such as Yellow Out or Yellow Treat, etc. in this pool?

Can you timeline the pool from opening for us. What water was like when, and what the readings were. What you added when, etc. A timeline so we can see the progression more easily without having to keep scrolling back and forth through the entire thread. In addition, having it be more concise will make it easier to pinpoint the problem.

Also, can you tell us what your cya level was upon closing last fall and what it was upon opening this spring before you did anything to the water? Answer these questions and hopefully we can get this solved.

[gfritz1]

ok will try to answer
No never added a chlorine remover
No floating algae
Never added any yellow out or yellow treat
Did not take any readings last fall when closed thus unsure of cya reading
Do not have copy of initial readings but when pool place opens in morning will see if we can get copy-ok
Today added 6x1.42 gals of 6% and was able to get a chlorine reading with the strips as a quick check about 30 minutes after.
3 hours later none
Added another roughly equivalent to 20 ppm - checked and was able to see on strip
3 hours later none on strip but on chemical tester appears free chlorine was betrween 2-3.
Will hit it again once done mowing the lawn

Have added areator or will plan on treating every 3 hours until bed and then give you complete set of readings in morning-OK

Last shock it did load up the filter so something came out of the water

[Watermom]

Good. Use the tester instead of strips. Keep slamming it with bleach often and watch filter pressure. Backwash as needed. Did you read that other thread I linked above? Sorry you're having such a hard time. This isn't usual. Most of the time it clears up pretty quickly. Make yourself a note to check all levels upon closing this fall in case you need them next spring. That is good advice for everyone.