My pool currently has an algae problem. I got my water tested at Leslie's, did some research and ended up here. At this point I zeroed in on results from the pool store that had my CYA level at 130. After further investigation this high level seemed to make sense, because I had been chlorinating my pool almost exclusively with dichlor 'shock' and trichlor tabs on the advice of said store. I decided on a plan of action:
1. get a decent test kit for SLAMing
2. drain pool as necessary to get CYA to a reasonable level
3. SLAM
4. Attempt to maintain chlorine levels with some tabs and liquid chlorine (or bleach) to prevent extreme CYA buildup in future.
The original Leslies test was on 7/13. Between vacations and just trying to let the temperatures cool a little here in Phoenix, I am just now getting to this process. My K-2006 kit showed up, and I went ahead and tried out the CYA test in the kit, this is the one where you add the cloudy solution until you can't see the black dot at the bottom of the container. I tried the test the first time with a 50% dilution (3.5ml pool and 3.5 ml tap water) assuming my value would be off the scale, but instead the water wasn't cloudy at all. I was able to fill the thing up and easily see the black dot. I tried again with the full 7ml of pool water and this time the water was slightly cloudy but I could still clearly make out the black dot when the vial was full. I was planning on draining my pool tomorrow (we have some cloudy weather forecast for the week), but now I'm just full of questions.
- I tested in the evening after the pool had been stagnant for 11 or so hours (it runs at night). Is this a problem? If it was I would hope the manual or test instructions would mention it.
- It isn't possible for CYA to go down like this on it's own, right? The test kit book says the only way it will go down is with splashing, backwash or draining the pool. I don't backwash since I have cartridge filters.
- I'm willing to entertain the idea the pool store was off, but their number makes more sense than mine given the stabilized chlorine I've been using.
- I got two bottles of the R-0013 with the kit, and I tried a different one for each test. They're within their printed expiration dates. Is it possible both are bad?
- I'd love to get another data point, but where? Is Leslies or another pool store too unreliable? I'd hate to have to order and wait for another test kit.
- I got this kit from Amazon, is there a more reliable place to get kits?
Thanks for any help you can offer!
Mike
1. get a decent test kit for SLAMing
2. drain pool as necessary to get CYA to a reasonable level
3. SLAM
4. Attempt to maintain chlorine levels with some tabs and liquid chlorine (or bleach) to prevent extreme CYA buildup in future.
The original Leslies test was on 7/13. Between vacations and just trying to let the temperatures cool a little here in Phoenix, I am just now getting to this process. My K-2006 kit showed up, and I went ahead and tried out the CYA test in the kit, this is the one where you add the cloudy solution until you can't see the black dot at the bottom of the container. I tried the test the first time with a 50% dilution (3.5ml pool and 3.5 ml tap water) assuming my value would be off the scale, but instead the water wasn't cloudy at all. I was able to fill the thing up and easily see the black dot. I tried again with the full 7ml of pool water and this time the water was slightly cloudy but I could still clearly make out the black dot when the vial was full. I was planning on draining my pool tomorrow (we have some cloudy weather forecast for the week), but now I'm just full of questions.
- I tested in the evening after the pool had been stagnant for 11 or so hours (it runs at night). Is this a problem? If it was I would hope the manual or test instructions would mention it.
- It isn't possible for CYA to go down like this on it's own, right? The test kit book says the only way it will go down is with splashing, backwash or draining the pool. I don't backwash since I have cartridge filters.
- I'm willing to entertain the idea the pool store was off, but their number makes more sense than mine given the stabilized chlorine I've been using.
- I got two bottles of the R-0013 with the kit, and I tried a different one for each test. They're within their printed expiration dates. Is it possible both are bad?
- I'd love to get another data point, but where? Is Leslies or another pool store too unreliable? I'd hate to have to order and wait for another test kit.
- I got this kit from Amazon, is there a more reliable place to get kits?
Thanks for any help you can offer!
Mike