Added bleach but FC didn't increase

[Lear]

Right now I only have FROG test strips. I have a K-2006 test kit on order.

The test showed my FC is 0. Makes sense because I just filled up a brand new pool. (15666 gallons)

Using the pool calculator, I added 70 oz of 8.25% bleach. Later I tested again and the test still showed 0 FC.

I am thinking the test strips just aren't good.

 

[wjr75]

If you have no CYA the FC is going to get consumed by the sun like really fast. Need to start to add CYA via sock method to at least 30ppm.

 

[jblizzle]

How long after you added the bleach did you test? As said above you might have lost it all to the sun. And of course on top of that test strips are pretty worthless anyway.

Use PoolMath and get 30ppm of CYA dissolving in a sock hanging in front of a return jet or in the skimmer.

 

[YippeeSkippy]

Right now I only have FROG test strips. I have a K-2006 test kit on order.
...Hope it gets there soon

The test showed my FC is 0. Makes sense because I just filled up a brand new pool. (15666 gallons)
... Ok, kind of understandable. Was this city or well water?

Using the pool calculator, I added 70 oz of 8.25% bleach. Later I tested again and the test still showed 0 FC.
... How long was "later"?? If it was lots later and a sunny day it might make sense. You need CYA to hold that FC.

I am thinking the test strips just aren't good.

...they're not. That's why we call 'em "Guess-Strips" :joker:

 

[Lear]

City water.

It was probably about 8 hours later. Overcast day with rain and hail.

How soon after adding a chemical should I retest the water?

I am really bad with color comparison, so the test strips are awful for me. I'm guessing pH is going to be tough for me.

 

[YippeeSkippy]

You can retest in about 30-60 min assuming your pump is on and mixing that water up good.

 

[Lear]

Thanks for all the replies.

It does seem like I both waited too long, and I must not have an CYA to keep the Chlorine around.

 

[ping]

CYA must be added to new pool water as it is not in water naturally.

A good place to start learning about the chemicals is ABC's of Pool Water Chemistry.

 

[Lear]

Again I want to thank all of you for the tips.

I used the pool calculator and raised my CYA from 0 to 30. Spent the summer pretty much just adding 30-60 oz of bleach every night to the pool. Had to constantly add acid because my pH number was always rising.

Pool did get cloudy. However, I found I was not properly backwashing my sand filter. I feel silly to say this, but I was just doing the 'waste' setting all summer. Well now I know!

 

[MarianParoo]

Glad you figured that out! Each pool is different. My pool is so algae-free that at the first sign of something wrong, I always run to my filter gauge. Uh-oh. Time to backwash for me. Some people find that it's their pH, for others it could be something else. When in doubt, there's always the OCLT to rule out organics.