Super high combined chlorine

[AndyJ]

So, do you think FC should be higher than 15 upon closing? I plan to have my CYA in the SWG mfr recommended range of 50-75 ppm. Looking at the best guess CYA chart on this forum, that would correspond to a shock level of about 20 ppm FC.

EDIT: not sure it matters, but I also have a Nature2 cartridge.

[chem geek]

I think the 15 ppm FC will work fine even with 50-70 ppm CYA. You can measure the FC upon opening next year to see how well it held up over the winter. If it's high, then you won't need to close as high.

You have a Nature2 cartridge for a pool? Ditch it (leave the cartridge holder empty). It's obviously not providing any benefit preventing bacterial growth and the metal ions it releases can stain pool surfaces if they get high enough to do any good and if the pH gets too high for whatever reason (which can happen over the winter).

If you wanted to have any form of supplemental algaecide, then use 50 ppm Borates in the pool. I don't know if that's enough to prevent bacterial growth -- probably not -- but it will slow down algae growth and at colder temps might be enough to slow down bacteria if the FC went to zero for whatever reason.

In my own pool I had some metal staining over this last winter due to iron that is still getting into the water from some stainless? steel mounts that got rusted when Trichlor pucks in a floating feeder parked nearby 7 years ago. The acidity of the Trichlor rusted the mounts (they are for holding stainless steel bars that are just under the waterline). I cleared this up with an ascorbic acid treatment and metal sequestrant (lowering the pH back down from when it rose over the winter also helped).

[AnnaK]

I would like to jump in with my personal experience (and method) of closing late and opening early.

We drain some of the water from our AGP so we can disconnect the plumbing because all freezes solid by January. I close with FC at 18 ppm and CYA at 50, usually at the end of October. By then, the water temp is at or below 50 F.

As soon as most of the ice has thawed at the end of April I take a sample and let it come to room temp before testing. My water has always been clear in the spring. FC will be around 3 ppm and CYA will be below 30. We don't reconnect the plumbing until we're past the last hard frost times at night but because it can get prety warm during the days the water temp quickly moves above 50 F.

So, I add chlorine and mix it in manually by using the brush or the leaf net on the long pole. This is very effective in distributing chlorine when you don't yet have the pump running. Once the pump is back on line I use trichlor in the feeder for a few weeks until I have the CYA where I want it and then go back to liquid chlorine.

From my observation, the trick is to get chlorine into the water while it's still very cold to inhibit the growth of CYA-destroying bacteria.

[AndyJ]

Thanks AnnaK, that post is very helpful. I am possibly going to attempt winterizing my pool this fall for myself for the first time on our 4-year-old pool.

[Watermom]

Oh, sure! You can do it. We'll still be here in the fall if you need some help and encouragement then, too! Glad to have you as a part of our forum!

[themaccs]

I am ready to quit. Seem to be going backward. Still loosing about 6-7 ppm FC over night and 1-2/hour during the day. Now at close to 100 gallons bleach. This morning my CC was back up to 2. I need to have a life besides my pool! I have not allowed the FC to get below 10, keeping it most of the time between 12 - 18. Everytime I think we are making progress, i get another high CC reading! One possibility - the birds like our backyard and we have noticed a fair amount of bird droppings on the pool deck. We do cover the pool with an opaque automatic cover at night, but if droppings are getting in the pool during the day, could that be adding to my problem? I thought the sun was supposed to help the CC go dissipate quicker, so I have been uncovering it during the day - should I try leaving it covered?

[aylad]

If you get an occasional bird dropping in the water, it's not going to cause the kind of CC's that you are experiencing--I have swallows that drink out of my pool and regurg stuff on a regular basis, and my CC never goes above 0.5.

Other than keeping the pool at shock level to burn off the CC, I don't really know what to tell you to do other than try to identify where they're coming from. Is it possible that the pool surface is degrading and causing it? Are you positive that your testing methods are correct and that you're using fresh reagents? I know those questions are redundant, but I'm just muddling over your situation trying to figure out what other approach we can take. I understand your frustration and would feel the same way--but don't give up on it yet...

Janet

[Watermom]

Your thread in particular was one we discussed with Ben. He says if you are losing chlorine over night, then you just have to keep hammering it with bleach. I know it seems like it will never end, but one morning you're gonna get up and find that you haven't lost chlorine overnight! There is nothing else to do but keep at it. Every day consistently and you will win. (Please know that we understand your frustration. We are frustrated, too, because there is nothing new to tell you that we haven't already said. Now it is just time to stay the course and don't give up. I'm sure that doesn't help much, but there is no other easy cure. Wish there was ...

[themaccs]

I Is it possible that the pool surface is degrading and causing it? Are you positive that your testing methods are correct and that you're using fresh reagents?

Janet

Just received fresh reagents in the mail yesterday, and the ones I have run all the way through trying to keep up with this were new 2 weeks ago. Pretty sure my method is correct. How would I know if my pool surface (vinyl liner) is degrading? There are no areas of discoloration or other indication of damage. Guess I'll try to keep up the bleach. How safe is it to take it up close to 30 in the morning so it doesn't get as low during the day when I can't be here?