Digger's Pool

[Watermom]

The reason for the dilution method (shot glass) is to force a test kit to read higher if your chlorine level is higher than the maximum the kit can read. It does lose some accuracy with the dilution, but is better than nothing. Glad you ordered the good kit. That will make things a lot easier for you.

You have a large volume pool at 25,000. You can go ahead and add all 5 gallons at one time, but just pour it in very slowly in front of the return jet. Bleach is denser than water and if you pour it in too fast, it will sink and can damage the liner. By pouring it very slowly, it quickly disperses into the water. After you add it, wait a couple of hours and then retest. (Your chlorine should be pretty high so this is when you'll need to use the dilution method.) Then, you can add more bleach --- however much you need to get it back up to 10-12 ppm. The more often you can do this, the faster this pool will clear and those grandbabies can swim!

I don't know where else to get sand. Maybe someone will chime in with ideas about that but you do need to get pool sand. "Play sand" like you would use in a child's sandbox will not work. Sounds like you got a good price on that bleach.

Gotta run and be a mom for a bit so off the forum for a little while. But, I'll check back in later and see how you are doing.

By the way --- no apologies needed for putting posts in other places and don't feel like a duh. This is a pretty big forum and sometimes it is a little confusing trying to decide where to post. That is one of the things the moderators do --- moving things around to help organize threads. Not a problem.

[Digger]

Thanks so much for advice, I have a hard time following where my replies are so thanks for the guidance. I will only put 5 in like we have been doing. Thanks again. The times are always off from the posting, or are you in California, maybe? Okay, later!

[Digger]

I checked my readings about 2:30, it was a light yellow, so read about 3?? I don't get it? I put another 5 gallons in. The water is no longer green, it is a cloudy blue. Can't see the deep end yet due to cloudiness. I never got around to posting this, smile? I checked the water again, it is still not real high, maybe pushing a 3 1/2-4 at the most? We put the Kreepy back in. Someone gave me info. on a place that has liquid chlorine that is 12% at a giood price, what about that?

[Watermom]

12% liquid chlorine is the same thing as bleach only a higher concentration. That would be fine. (But you'll put less of it in the pool.) Keep adding chlorine. Go ahead and add 7 gallons and see what that does for you. It is being used up so quickly that I doubt it will take the chlorine level high enough to be bad for your liner. Keep at it. Retest after 3 hours and add more bleach if it isn't high. Keep doing this -- testing and adding bleach every 3 hours if you can. Hopefully over the weekend, you'll finally get it clear. Are you watching your filter pressure and backwashing as needed? (Backwash whenever the filter pressure increases 8-10 psi over your clean filter pressure.)

It takes a lot of chlorine to convert a baq. pool to a chlorine one. Keep at it! And, run pump 24/7. Also watch your pH.

[Digger]

thanks for your reply, we added more, and are going to check again, here before retiring tonight. I have been checking my filter pressure, and backwashing, thanks for reminding me though. I prefer alot of information, than not enough, LOL! I have kept with it all day, and been testing and adding, we are going for the 12% tom., it seems like it will be economical. I am questioning the potency of the Big Lots bleach, hard telling where it was stored/ Thanks again, hopefully we will see more of the bottom this week-end. I feel positive about it.

[Watermom]

Good for you for your efforts to read and learn a lot about pool care this week. You are doing a great job. Let us know how things look tomorrow and what your numbers are. Especially important will be how much chlorine you lose overnight so be sure you write down what your cl reading is before going to bed so you can compare it to the early morning testing.

[Digger]

Well I thought I posted a reply here today, but don't see it, so here goes again, please forgive if repeat! Our pool is looking good, it went from greens to cloudy blue to cloudy to WE CAN SEE THE BOTTOM DRAIN!! Yeah!! I didn't read about your request for posting my readings night and day. Basically they are very low at night and I do more chlorine and in the morning about 10-15, with dropping during the day. I am wondering what we do now? I was maybe pool stored again? Saturday I went to get the chorline, we got a 5 gallon of 12.5 per cent at a rural pool store. I was talking to the owner, big mistake, I asked than about stablizer. I ended up buying a container of Cyanuric Acid. Did I do the wrong thing. What is next with us? Time to change the sand? Thanks for you help in advance!!

[Digger]

I need help in deciding what to do next? Trying to understand posting here? Maybe I should post somewhere else? I tested this morning and readings are almost nothing. I put the rest of the chlorine in and have to run for more. I am thinking maybe I need to put a sock with the cyanuric acid in it from reading other posts, but don't know?

EDIT by Watermom:
Digger -- I copied what you wrote in the new thread you started and am pasting it here. Please keep all your posts within this thread. It is much easier to help somebody if all the "history" and previous advice given about a situation is all in one place. Below is your other post.

I am converting from Baqucil and doing pretty good, I just need help in my next step. I have a 25,000 gallon 20x40 inground vinyl pool. I now have almost totally cystal clear water. My readings for the cholrine have been up and down, not consistant, but are they ever? It has went from many colors of green to cloudy blue and now what I would say pretty much crystal clear. The bottom drain became visible late Sat. I have not gotten my test kit yet, but will soon, I ordered the Taylor one rec. I started with 12.5% chorline on Sat. and used a 5 gallon cont. I have to go and get more here in a few hours. I did buy a container of Cyanuric Acid, hoping I was not Pool Stored again? Readings this morning were almost nothing?? PH has been good in the normal range. Should I change the sand now? I am not really sure that my levels got consistently up to 15 without dropping 1-2 ppm overnight? Does it matter when it is so clear? Please help me, I have to make the trip here in about an hour, thanks so much to all who work so hard to keep this going!!
I read alot, but still not sure if I am doing right here to post my request, so correct me if I am wrong?