Need Help!

[wxwmn02]

I won't have my test kit for awhile since I ordered it on amazon so I'll just have to wing it with the cl (assuming that stands for chlorine level?) I am going to go add bleach to my pool now. How long after I add it, can I swim in the pool? Just curious since I know with shock you have to wait awhile.

[Watermom]

If it is just a maintenance dose of bleach you can swim maybe 15-30 minutes later. Just want to give it time to disperse in the water so you don't swim through a "hot pocket" of bleach. It is actually ok to swim in higher cl levels than you think but you just don't want to wear a new suit. Better to wear an old one that you won't care if it fades. There is no magic number to swim in. I probably wouldn't swim if it was higher than 10 in my pool but there is no set cutoff number.

What kit did you buy from Amazon and what price? I have always had really fast service any time I have ordered things from Amazon so hopefully your kit will be here soon.

[wxwmn02]

This is the kit I bought...
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...ef=oss_product

I added 1.42 gallon bottle of bleach to the pool. I added a little bit at first and then a couple of hours later I checked the level (with a strip), but the color wasn't a bright purple for a high level so I added the entire bottle. I will check it in the morning to see what the level is.

[Watermom]

Yep, that's the right kit, but not as good a price as we've seen at other places. At any rate, hope you get it soon so you can start playing chemist!

[wxwmn02]

Here is the tool kit I bought.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...ef=oss_product

I added about 3/4 of a 1.42 gallon bottle of bleach and then tested the water about 2 hours later and the strip didn't show enough in there so I added a little more. I will go out this morning and see how much is in there.

I thought of something over night. When I first started shocking the pool I added the shock to skimmer forgetting that I needed to add it to water first to let it dissolve. Could that have something to do with it?

[CarlD]

That's the right kit, the Taylor K-2006. You MIGHT have been able to get it for $20 cheaper but over this year alone it will save you that many times over. The main tests you'll use are:
FAS-DPD for FC and CC
pH
T/A (total Alk)
CYA (Stabilizer)
CH (hardness)

I think they have an acid and base demand tests as well but you won't need to worry about them much, if at all.

Since you have a vinyl pool you'll probably not need to run the CH test more than once or twice during and ONLY if you suspect your calcium levels are too high. I run it at the beginning of the season for a baseline, but only occasionally run it a second time during the summer.

So go ahead and use your new kit! BTW, the FAS-DPD needs only enough powder to turn the solution red. More does nothing. If one scoop is enough, it's enough.
Post results for:
FC
CC
pH
T/A
CYA
CH

[aylad]

I thought of something over night. When I first started shocking the pool I added the shock to skimmer forgetting that I needed to add it to water first to let it dissolve. Could that have something to do with it?

If you have backwashed the filter since you added the "shock", then it has been washed away and won't be available for your pool. If you have not backwashed the filter, then it will dissolve and eventually make it into your pool--after it finishes sanitizing anything that may be in your filter, if there's any left. If you use granular chlorine in the future, you might want to pre-dissolve it in a bucket of water and pour it in , very slowly, in front of a return so that you get the full benefit of it in the pool instead of in the filter.

Janet

[wxwmn02]

The kit has shipped so hopefully I'll get it in the next couple of days. I have kept the chlorine level high as you suggested, but still no change. I am beyond curious to know what the calcium level is so if that's the problem I can fix it.

[Watermom]

Be consistent with keeping the cl level high and don't let it yo-yo up and down. Sustain it which means you have to test multiple times a day and each time shock it back up.

[wxwmn02]

Just got my test kit and the Calcium level or CH is 690ppm. From what I have read in the book that is way too high. How do I bring that down?