never ending chlorine demand help

[Watermom]

You do need a good kit. Test strips aren't all that accurate. Here is a link to a place that has a good price on the kit we recommend.

http://www.amatoind.com/taylor-k2006-test-p-555.html

Don't be afraid to use bleach in your pool. Bleach is the same thing as chlorine. Pool store liquid chlorine is the same thing but at an even higher concentration. (10% sodium hypochlorite vs. 6%.)

You are getting what we call around here "pool-stored." They are selling you all kinds of expensive things that are doing nothing to solve your problem but are putting a big dent in your wallet.

Stick with the bleach. Janet has given you some good advice above. If you will follow it consistently, you're pool will clear up just fine. Good luck. Let us know if you have more questions.

[aylad]

The strips are probably bleaching out due to the chlorine, so you actually have some when they indicate that you don't, which is one reason why they're no good for clearing up a pool with problems--they just are not accurate. If the bigger test kits are not in your budget, even if you go to WalMart and get the quick OTO for $6 that only measures chlorine and ph, you're still better off. Even better than that, there's a 6-way for $15 that measures most everything else you'll need. However, if you can afford it, the Taylor K-2006 is still THE best kit to get, and will save you money tenfold.
You don't want the kids in the pool during the time the shocking is happening. Keep them out of it until it's blue and clear--if you'll consistently keep your chlorine up to "shock" level, it won't be long before they can enjoy a clean, clear pool.

Janet

[cloudy water]

ok wil go to pool store tom to get the kit they have a decent one for 25 bucks I think, I have put the first round of bleach in I got the big jugs of clorox 1.84 gal I put two jugs in will see what it looks like in the morning.

[cloudy water]

Ok I got a 3 way kit from walmart for now not ready to face pool store lady right now..lol my free CL is reading above the 5.0 as is total CL my PH is at 7.2 and BR is at 11.0 it is still a cloudy white?

[Watermom]

Here is a little trick to make your test kit show a higher scale. (It does lose a little accuracy by doing this, but it will at least give you a ballpark figure.)

Since your chlorine level is reading above 5, which is the highest reading your kit can handle, you can use a dilution method. Take one part of pool water and one equal part of distilled water. Mix together and pour some into your test vial. Test as usual and then multiply the result by 2. If you find that you are still "topping out" the scale, go higher by taking one part pool water and 2 parts distilled water. Test with this and then multiply results by 3, etc. This will at least give you a ballpark number of how high your chlorine is.

PH at 7.2 is fine, but if it goes any lower, you'll need to add a little Borax to raise it. It must stay above 7.0 or it can damage your pool.

Since you said your cya (stabilizer) level is 60, you'll need to shock up to 20. (Go back and re-read post #2 in this thread where Janet gave you advice about shocking. If you will be very diligent about testing at least twice (and 3 is better) per day and each time, raise your cl level back up to 20, you'll get this pool clear. Keep running the pump and filter and backwash if the filter pressure rises by 8-10 psi over your clean filter pressure.

Hope this helps.

Oh -- by the way -- you don't have any bromine in your pool. You can just ignore the BR on the test block.

[cloudy water]

Ok how long do I have to keep it at 20 I havent gotten it there yet because it has been hot and the kids want in the pool so I havent gotten it up to 20 yet but once I do how long should I leave it there?

[Watermom]

Until you can go with not losing more than 1ppm of chlorine from sundown to sunup, you need to try and keep the sustained high cl reading.