Newbie to Forum...Looking for help

[fairfieldmania]

also...new water is only 5 days old....why are you thinking there is something that is creating that demand on chlorine?? something in the city water??? there can't be algae since pool was completed cleaned...I opened the DE filter and washed it with water and MA...

[aylad]

also...new water is only 5 days old....why are you thinking there is something that is creating that demand on chlorine?? something in the city water??? there can't be algae since pool was completed cleaned......

If you added 5 pounds of chlorine, and saw no chlorine bump, then yes, I think there is something (probably a nascent algae bloom) that is creating a demand on the chlorine. I'm not saying there was anything in the city water to begin with, but I am suggesting that it only takes a day or so with a chlorine level of zero for algae to start growing. That's why I want you to test your chlorine levels as I described above, to rule out or confirm a chlorine demand.

[PoolDoc]

Chlorine demand or not . . . don't take a chance. Add 6 gallons of PLAIN 6% bleach ASAP, and then every evening till your kit is here!

Alkalinity and calcium are NOT urgent issues. Given your pH, nothing bad's about to happen on that front. Run your filter 24/7 and ADD THAT BLEACH!

And, please fill out the chart:

Pool Chart Entry Form
Pool Chart Results

For now, keep the chlorine high, the pH between 7 & 8, run the filter 24/7 and don't worry about anything else till later.

[fairfieldmania]

a little concern on the bleach...this was the first year i used bleach as opposed to shock...and it was the same year I had stains on the walls I couldn't get rid of....and had to do the acid wash...still not clear what caused the stains...whether it was the pool company adding alk and CYA at the same time...or me using the "wrong bleach" (I know I bought the unscented plain 6% one)...or lack of closing chemicals...i do have the shock in hand...will add it now...

[fairfieldmania]

Doh...newb alert...so when I added 5 lbs of shock the other day and it didn't dent the chlorine level...I actually added 5 lbs of Dupont Multifunctional Shock with 15% sodium dichloro-s-triazinetrione and 9.53% available chlorine...it is mostly a oxidizer meant to be "added weekly for sparkling clarity.." no wonder it didn't move the chlorine level...so I just added 3 lbs of granular shock...let's see what happens in the morning.....if the level holds...then I/we could focus on ph and alk...

[aylad]

One thing that most folks don't realize is that "shock" is a verb, not a noun--to shock the pool means to raise the chlorine level higher than normal. The chemical companies package various forms of chlorine (and whatever "mystery goop" they want to add) and call them "shock". So...I have no idea what's in the "shock" that you're adding, except some dichlor. I would not add any of that to the pool. What is the ingredient in the "granular shock" that you're using?

I doubt very, very seriously that the bleach is what stained your pool. Bleach is sodium hypochlorite--the exact same thing that liquid pool chlorine is. When you add it to your pool water, it breaks down into chlorine and a little salt water. That's it. Nothing that would stain the pool. Now....the other "multifunctional shock" you're using? There's no telling....

Janet

[fairfieldmania]

I am using ortex algae pool shock...68% calcium hypochlorite (provides 68% available chlorine)...
doubt it was the dupont treatment....as I was exclusively adding bleach when the stains showed up (stains showed up same day pool co had added the alk and CYA, coincidence???)..

i had grabbed the dupont thinking it was shock...only after I had drained the pool and refilled it...meaning within the last few days...

[fairfieldmania]

ok, checked pool this morning with test strips (I know, I know)...and the pool held wonderfully the chlorine level over night...now I just need some guidance on the ph and alk and hardness...I believe the recommendation is to wait until I have the Taylor test kit...so I will wait to report test results until then..and keep an eye on chlorine levels....

[PoolDoc]

One caution: usually people overestimate their pool's volume, but if your dimensions are correct (25 x 50 x 4 + 12' deep end) your volume is closer to 42,000 gallons, with a PF:3

That means one gallon of plain 6% household bleach only adds 1.5 ppm of chlorine to your pool, and that one pound of stabilizer only increases your CYA level by 3 ppm.