Am I on the right track?

[Sam_I_am]

Thanks everyone for you comments... they have been encouraging and helpful (except for Doggie's)

I did post the numbers that I have... taken from my Test kit and corraborated with the pool stores testing - not the kind of numbers strips provide.

As I explained, unfortunately, my test kit only shows Chlorine to 3ppm... I have tried the shot glass technique and that was somewhat useful, but still not accurate - nor able to show me beyond 6 ppm. Yes I bought some strips as a quick and dirty way to monitor my chlorine cause it shows me up to 10 ppm.

The pool store in my community doesn't carry a kit that shows the difference between free and total chlorine (nor anything above 3 ppm). When the pool store tests my water... the test always indicates that the Free & Total Chlorine is the same (so I am suspect of these numbers).

There is a possibility that there is copper in my water as I have used an Algicide that is composed of Elemental Copper... however, the pool store readings show no copper in my water.

This is the end of day two with the Bleach at 15 ppm (or above) and my water is much less green now... I'd almost go as far as to say it is bluish... however it is very cloudy blue - but that is progress I believe.

[doggie]

Thanks everyone for you comments... they have been encouraging and helpful (except for Doggie's)

I did post the numbers that I have... taken from my Test kit and corraborated with the pool stores testing - not the kind of numbers strips provide.

As I explained, unfortunately, my test kit only shows Chlorine to 3ppm... I have tried the shot glass technique and that was somewhat useful, but still not accurate - nor able to show me beyond 6 ppm. Yes I bought some strips as a quick and dirty way to monitor my chlorine cause it shows me up to 10 ppm.

The pool store in my community doesn't carry a kit that shows the difference between free and total chlorine (nor anything above 3 ppm). When the pool store tests my water... the test always indicates that the Free & Total Chlorine is the same (so I am suspect of these numbers).

There is a possibility that there is copper in my water as I have used an Algicide that is composed of Elemental Copper... however, the pool store readings show no copper in my water.

This is the end of day two with the Bleach at 15 ppm (or above) and my water is much less green now... I'd almost go as far as to say it is bluish... however it is very cloudy blue - but that is progress I believe.

Sorry, I wasn't trying to be anything but helpful. And I still suggest getting a good test. One that only tests up to 3ppm isn't the best to use.

[CarlD]

While Doggie's comments are discouraging they are bang-on correct.

You have a problem and you are trying to get by using minimal testing tools, then relying on the pool store to find any problems. What THEY do is figure out what they can sell you. We always recommend that every pool owner get a good FAS-DPD based test kit (this means the chlorine test is FAS-DPD--the best. It measure Free Chlorine up to 50ppm, Combined Chloramines to 50ppm, and is the most accurate). They run from $50 to $80 depending on where you buy them (on-line is really the only option) and are worth every nickel. They are not an extravagence, they are critical to caring for your pool.

Other than that, Aylad's comments are what you should follow.

You MAY want to invest in a copper test kit--they are about $20 ro $30 from Leslies, but they will ENSURE whether you have excess copper in your water. At that point, we'll ask our metals specialist, Marie, to help you.

[Spensar]

The other thing, in the absence of your own kit, is get the pool store numbers for combined, total chlorine, and leave without buying anything more. They will give their recs, listen and say "thanks". If they are pushy say you have what you need at home.

[doggie]

I remember the first time we went to the pool store for water testing. This was a few years ago. We handed her our jar of water, and she simply stuck a test strip in, looked at it, then said 'your numbers are fine' !! I couldn't believe it!

The other pool place here in town did it with a test strip, then used some computer program to analize. When our alk was high, the program suggested adding 15+ gallons of muriatic acid! I didn't do that needless to say.

[aylad]

This is the end of day two with the Bleach at 15 ppm (or above) and my water is much less green now... I'd almost go as far as to say it is bluish... however it is very cloudy blue - but that is progress I believe.

If you're going from green to cloudy blue, that is great progress...keep the chlorine at 15 and keep your filter running....the cloudiness is dead algae that the filter will have to eliminate.

I would not put any more copper-based algaecide in the pool...once the copper gets to a certain level, if you don't keep the pH and alk low, it will start staining your pool, and from there pool care gets quit a bit more difficult. CarlD is right--at that point, Marie is the one who will need to help you since she's our resident expert at staining.

Janet

[doggie]

We used to speed up the clearing proccess by using a flocculant. When you are sure you have the algae dead, you might want to try it.

We never had the patience to wait for the filter to clear it up and that helped it along.

[Sam_I_am]

Thank you everyone again for your assistance.

I just vacuumed the pool and backwashed. It actually looks more cloudy now... and am thinking that the filter is struggling a bit with clearing up the dead algae.

I may take your suggestion Doggie (thank you) and add a floc - I have used them periodically in the past with mixed results... but it may in fact help the process (perhaps I'll buy a skimmer basket sock as well?). Does anyone recommend a specific Floc. I have seen the granular type you pour into your skimmer, the puck type that sit in your skimmer, and also the blue liquid (polysheen or something).

Any recommendations?

As for a good test kit... this has been somewhat difficult for me, because I live in Canada, most online companies will not ship to Canada. So getting a quality test kit in a timely fashion has proven to be difficult.

I am currently looking at purchasing one through Waterwarehouse (but I'll have to have it delivered to my mailbox south of the border) then bring it accross the line. I'm considering duraleigh's Troublefreepool.com site as it looks like they have a good kit for sale.

Any comments about kits and where I could purchase one (I'm particularly interested in one that shows free and complete chlorine and up to 50 ppm.

Any assistance would be greatly appreciated.


Dave

[doggie]

The floc we use is this: http://outdoor-living.hardwarestore....nt-656270.aspx

Being in Canada, I have no idea if you can get it there. But it's most def a liquid treatment. It's worked very well for us when we used it in the past.

Sorry to hear it's such a pain to get stuff delivered to you there! I hope you find the things you are looking for.

edit: I'm sure you know this already, but be sure to vac to waste if you use the floc treatment

[jhm]

Here's who Taylor says to contact for Canada:

For all Canadian orders, contact Lowry & Associates in Newmarket, Ontario:
905-836-0505 (voice)
905-895-4539 (fax)
mlowry@lowryassociates.ca

I'm not sure the right Taylor test kit (I still have Ben's), but they'll have what you need.

What others have said is right though. You need to sustain the high levels to effectively kill off the algae and you can't judge 15ppm by the seat of your pants.

Jim