A pool that hates chlorine

[koffey]

Today has been partly cloudy and hazy all day so no strong direct sunlight.

9:15a - 1:15p: lost 3.5 ppm (0.9 ppm / hour)
1:15p - 5:15p: lost 2.0 ppm (0.5 ppm / hour)

That's promising!

Partly cloudy days do not really block much UV, even cloudy days like 90% of UV gets through. So all things considering, this is a pretty good number.

 

[kul]

This is a big improvement from what you were losing before. I feel like you’re super close. If possible, I recommend testing and not guessing how much chlorine you’re adding. Especially once you get to losing less chlorine. That way you can be confident that the slam is done.

 

[Mdragger88]

Do a real
Overnight Chlorine Loss Test tonight & in the am in the dark to help better see where you stand.

 

[FrankieKat]

This is a big improvement from what you were losing before. I feel like you’re super close. If possible, I recommend testing and not guessing how much chlorine you’re adding. Especially once you get to losing less chlorine. That way you can be confident that the slam is done.

Yeah. I can do that 30 minutes after I add new chlorine?

The other good news is that CC is consistently less than 0.5 ppm. When I add 0003 there's a slight change to what I call "pink lemonade" and one drop and it's totally gone. There's no practical way to do a 25 mL 0.2 ppm/drop CC measurment during the SLAM right?

Also, I just got my CYA replacement, so I'll be doing that later today when I re-check. I know a pH test is unreliable during SLAM, but are there any other tests I can or cannot do? Curious about calcium and hardness and all...

Do a real
Overnight Chlorine Loss Test tonight & in the am in the dark to help better see where you stand.

Will do that tomorrow as soon as I'm up. Taking the little one to summer camp in the morning usually means I don't get to do pool stuff until I'm back at 9:15a

 

[Newdude]

There's no practical way to do a 25 mL 0.2 ppm/drop CC measurment during the SLAM right

You'll blow through a ton of supplies doing it everytime. It's reasonable for one OCLT if you wish.

are there any other tests I can or cannot do? Curious about calcium and hardness and all...

The others can wait with no imminent rush. If you need to feel like you're doing something, go brush. Then go inspect anywhere algae could be hiding in plain sight, like all up in the skimmer, ladder rails, light niches, the trim around the stairs, etc

Literally every inch is sus, until proven otherwise

 

[FrankieKat]

Okay, 10:15 - 12:45 only lost 1.5 ppm (0.6 ppm / hour) in full sun.

Also tested CYA and would say that the black dot because totally invisible from any angle just under 50 so if that's accurate we're right where we want right?

Now... I just found this in my skimmer. That wasn't there yesterday. Is that algae?

 

[Newdude]

Also tested CYA and would say that the black dot because totally invisible from any angle

Only the top one counts but we all have to fill it from the side when only testing the 10s.

I just found this in my skimmer. That wasn't there yesterday. Is that algae?

Could be but usually it's just the body oils/sunblock collected there and then got filthy quick.

 

[kul]

For chlorine I always measure using 10ml. Not sure if there’s that much more value with doing the 25ml.

 

[Mdragger88]

maybe scum from oils. Scrub it!

 

[RLP]

Clean your test tubes and the magnetic spinner with alcohol or bleach.

 

[FrankieKat]

Only the top one counts but we all have to fill it from the side when only testing the 10s.

I should clarify, I meant "below 50" as in the ppm measurement. The test water level would have been *above* the 50 line in the vial.

 

[FrankieKat]

Well, I think I have some good news. From 9:15pm last night to 7:15am, it only seems to have lost 1 ppm! That's 48 drops vs. 50 drops which would seem to be pretty much the error margin for the test (eyeballing filling 10mL of pool water, was-it-really-completely-clear-or-ever-so-slightly-pink, etc). Water is totally clear and CC is less than 0.5 ppm!

Don't want to count the chickens, but would that be considered "done"? At 24ppm, it's still above SLAM levels for the ~ 50 CYA so it will continue for a while longer.

Think I should I go ahead and close the cover and perhaps check on it over the course of the day?

Assuming everything still holds, I should just let the FC burn off naturally over time? At what point should I re-enable the tab chlorinator and (possibly) the UV/ozone filter?

Thx everyone!

 

[kul]

Woo hoo! You might be done. Let FC fall on its own and tonight do one more OCLT test to double check. Then you can continue with routine TFP methods and make sure all the other chems are at appropriate levels.
I recommend not using the ozone filter or the tab feeder. Use liquid chlorine or a SWG if you have one.

Pool Care Basics
FC/CYA Levels

 

[BDY]

I’m not sure i would ever renable the ozone…..

See the wiki on ozone/uv

 

[FrankieKat]

Woo hoo! You might be done. Let FC fall on its own and tonight do one more OCLT test to double check. Then you can continue with routine TFP methods and make sure all the other chems are at appropriate levels.
I recommend not using the ozone filter or the tab feeder. Use liquid chlorine or a SWG if you have one.

Don't have an SWG, I guess they figured the tab chlorinator (plus ozone/uv) was sufficient. I recall from "pool school" when I moved in they said between those two, will maintain enough and require only adding a gallon of liquid shock once or every other week. They did say that the ozone/uv was not a replacement for chlorine at all, and the effectiveness was far too small (so that part at least checks out!).

I'll definitely monitor closely and see how it goes and do another OCLT tonight.

The only thing is that I'm going to be out of town for all of next week so I'll either have to rely on it taking care of itself or bring in a #PoolStore or the cat sitter to watch it. (That was the big reason I was asking about the chlorinator ).

 

[kul]

Before you leave I recommend bringing it to slam and then if you have a cat sitter just have them add a gallon of chlorine a few times during the week and you should be good. pH adjustments can wait until you return from your trip.

I also don’t have a SWG so rely on liquid chlorine. It’s not ideal, but it’s what I can afford at this time. I’m leaving for 5 days next week and my plan is to bring it to slam levels and deal with whatever happens. I don’t expect algae since I lose about 2-3 each day so I should have a buffer when I return. Regardless, if I come back and have to slam, then that’s what I’ll do.

 

[RLP]

Congrats.

lets see a picture.

 

[FrankieKat]

Before you leave I recommend bringing it to slam and then if you have a cat sitter just have them add a gallon of chlorine a few times during the week and you should be good. pH adjustments can wait until you return from your trip.

I also don’t have a SWG so rely on liquid chlorine. It’s not ideal, but it’s what I can afford at this time. I’m leaving for 5 days next week and my plan is to bring it to slam levels and deal with whatever happens. I don’t expect algae since I lose about 2-3 each day so I should have a buffer when I return. Regardless, if I come back and have to slam, then that’s what I’ll do.

Sounds like a great plan! Hopefully if I can start to cover it again it'll prevent the daytime loss and might even still be at or close to SLAM levels before then. With all the rain and everything I have no idea what the pH is right now... you cannot accurately test it when you are at SLAM level right?

 

[kul]

You are correct. pH readings are inaccurate when FC=10+
Wait for it to come below 10 and then check your ph

 

[FrankieKat]

Congrats.

lets see a picture.