Digger's Pool

[Watermom]

Copied and pasted from the PM you sent me:

Digger wrote:

I still don't understand how to post a question, and if I am doing it correctly. Bear with me please. I really needed an answer though today, so hopefully I can get through to you? I will try to go back and post again. I will be in and out, but the grandchildren are planning on swimming today, and I want to make sure it is safe, even though I allowed it the other day, but levels appeared to be 0? (which I read in the Taylor booklet, it could be false??) Okay, first off I have crystal clear water, I don't remember the last time it looked so good? I know that doesn't mean nothing I got my test kit and used it for the first time this morning, so may have done it wrong? I read all the directions, but? When they say it will turn red, do they mean at the first hint of pink, or bright red? Same with the blue? I did the readings at light pink and light blue. Some back ground, I have been putting 12.5% liquid chlorine in, and did so late last night. I also did the two socks with cynauric acid in them. I was suppose to put in 6 lbs. I put less than that in. I did put a small amount into the skimmer also. The guy ( I know I still pay attention to some they say) at the pool store said to put it all in there. He laughed at me about putting in a sock, and said it would take forever. I don't agree, I am a patient person, it was working suffciently, and was gone this morning. Okay that is all I added. My readings are:PH: 7.5, Alkalinity: 130 PPM, that was when it was a light pink color, Calcium: light pink, 90 PPM, Cyanuric Acid, it never turned real cloudy, and the black dot never disappeared, even when liquid was added to the top. Okay Chlorine: FC was bright pink, I added 11 drops at 0.2 PPM which would equal? 2.2?, that was when the test sample was light pink. The CC I added 2 drops for crystal clear, but it cleared up at 1 drop., so I guess that would be.4? Please let me know if the water is safe for precious water Grandbabies? Someone told me somethign that scared me for them, about the chlorine soaking into their skin and and could harm them??Thanks so much.

[Watermom]

Here are the directions for the chlorine tests:

Chlorine (Free, Combined, Total) Test

1. Rinse and fill large comparator tube to desired mark with water to be tested.
NOTE: For 1 drop = 0.2 ppm, use 25 mL sample.
For 1 drop = 0.5 ppm, use 10 mL sample.
2. Add 2 dippers R-0870. Swirl until dissolved. If free chlorine is present, sample will turn pink.
NOTE: If pink color disappears, add R-0870 until color turns pink.
3. Add R-0871 dropwise, swirling and counting after each drop, until color changes from pink to colorless.
4. Multiply drops in Step 3 by drop equivalence (Step 1). Record as parts per million (ppm) free chlorine (FC).
5. Add 5 drops R-0003. Swirl to mix. If combined chlorine is present, sample will turn pink.
6. Add R-0871 dropwise, swirling and counting after each drop, until color changes from pink to colorless.
7. Multiply drops in Step 6 by drop equivalence (Step 1). Record as ppm combined chlorine (CC).

So, if you used a 25ml water sample, then yes, your FC reading of 2.2 is correct. On the CC reading, if it cleared at 1 drop, then your reading would be 0.2.

If the CYA test never turned cloudy, that just means that you don't have much cya in there. I can't guess what your CYA reading actually is not knowing how much you put in there. About a week after you added the CYA, run the cya test again, but not before then or you'll just waste your testing reagents. Then, if you find that your CYA level is less than 30, you'll probably need to add some more. Repost at that time with the reading and we'll advise you.

I think you are ok for the kids to swim today, but just add a little chlorine. If your FC is 2.2, I'd add enough to take it up to 5ppm. (Probably about 2 quarts of the 12.5% chlorine.) Then, you will know that the water is sanitized for them to swim in. Also, your grandchildren are perfectly fine swimming in a chlorine pool. What would be dangerous to them is swimming in a non-sanitized pool. Relax and enjoy the day with those little ones!

(By the way -- you need to follow the advice given here on the forum and not try and follow our advice AND the pool store's advice. OK?)

Regarding how to post: From the forum home page, go down to the section called "Using Chlorine and Chlorinating Chemicals" and scroll down in the list of threads until you find the one called "Digger's Pool." Then, go to the last post in the thread and click on "Post Reply" which will open a window where you can type. When you are finished, click on submit and it will show up in the thread.

[Digger]

Watermom, thanks so much for all your help. Sorry for the anoyance in learning to use this forum correctly. I guess I am a slow learner all the way around. I will get it sometime soon, hopefully. As far as the CYA you said to wait later to check my levels again, I didn't totally put the 6 lbs. in, only about 4-5, I am guessing. Should I put the rest in to get me to where you said before? I didn't put it all in yet because I filled two socks up and that was all they held. I will add the bleach before children swimming today. How long do they need to wait to swim after adding? Also what do I do next? I have not changed the sand yet. Thanks again!

[aylad]

I would wait a few days more and retest your CYA, to see where your initial dose got you, and then decide on adding more or not. You don't want to overshoot it, because the only way to reduce it is drain and refill.

Add the bleach at least an hour or so before the kids get in, just to be on the safe side. Add it slowly into a return stream, or pour it around the perimeter of the pool as far away from the walls as possible, following it up with a good stir from your pole brush or a broom. The idea is to dispurse the bleach as quickly and efficiently as possible so that the kids don't swim into a "pocket" of it. With the pool circulating for an hour or so, it'll be fine for the kids to swim in it.

When you're not losing any chlorine overnight, then it's time to change the sand. You can test this by checking the chlorine at night right before bedtime, and then checking it again early the next morning before the sun hits the pool. If you have no chlorine loss overnight, and the water is clear, then you know the conversion process is over, and then you can change out the sand.

Janet

BTW, your post this time showed up exactly like/where it should have!!

[Digger]

Oh No! I exhausted Watermom, she passed me off in frustration! I am trying, sorry, I do appreciate all of your help and assistance. I will sit down again here tonight when swimmers leave and educate myself some more. Thanks again all for help. I did disperse the chlorine like suggested, and figured out on my own the stirring! Have to let you all know I am not totally out there! Have a good day, all, I intend to enjoying my crystal clear pool! I ve alot to share about Baqucil usage, and the waste of money!! After 14 years. I am here to tell you the conversion is worth it, don't wait until you have to practically remortgage your home to swim like we did! Well, not that bad, but cost was about $500-$1000 easially a season!!

[aylad]

Don't worry, you haven't exhausted Watermom-we just kind of jump in and out of threads because we're on the forum at different times. Since we all give the same advice, that way a poster doesn't have to wait until one particular person comes back to the forum. She's still around, I promise!

Go enjoy your pool and the babies, and now you can help us when others come to the forum asking whether to go chlorine or Baq!

Glad it's clearing up for you.

Janet

[Digger]

Janet, I appreciate all the help I can get, trust me!! Okay, I need more advice from anyone? I tested my pool today and retested it to make sure. First of all this is a dumb question for you pros, but I want to make sure. When testing cholrine levels and you have all the drops in, to multiply, I have been multiplying either X 0.2 if using 25ml. or x 0.5 if using 10 ml., that is correct isn't it. I don't multiply x the 10 ml or 25 ml? I am sure I don't, but need to make sure! Anyhow, today I got FC levels as between 11 and 12.5, I know that is a fluctuation, but that is what I got when testing again. I could NOT get a CC reading at all! It was clear and colorless! PH was 7.5, and Alkalinity was the same as the PH was too, reading at 130. Thanks in advance. Oh, sorry, prelimanary, 25,000 gallon 20x40 vinyl in-ground, changing from Baq! Water is crystal clear!