Digger's Pool

[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.