Here are some answers to questins that were asked:
- I use the
Trouble Free Test Kit (TF-100) for my
FAS-DPD test. This is my third season (season = May to September) with thaty kit. It was always kept indoor (house), in a warm place and not exposed to sun light. I use the 10ml sample size as indicated in the TF-100 Kit.
- My OTO chlorine test is done with my brand new (first season) K-1000F (F = Frencn). I ddin't know it had to sit for 3-5 mins before reading (not in the instructions included with TF-100). I will do that from now on.
More info about the pool problem this year:
- This is my third season having a pool, I learned almost everything I know here
- During my two first seasons I have never shocked the pool and never had algae. The micro shocks happening in the cell (when generating chlorine) were doing the job I guess (instead of shocking the pool weekly).
-
This season I always have some deposits of green sand at the bottom of the pool (algae I guess).
- During the two first seasons, I noticed that when the cell was generating chlorine it made a bubble noise (7up) that I could hear from under the water. Plus, I could see (when generatong chlorine) a cloud of bubbles coming out of the water return. This year I still hear the noise (when generating chlorine),
but I do not see a big cloud of bubbles (just a bit of bubble) coming out of the water return. Is my cell getting old (third season)?
- During the two first seasons I used to set my cell between 15-25% for 12h/day (pump on) and would always get 4ppm during the day and a very crystal clear water. This year I have to let it run for 24h/day and set it to higher level (30-40%) to still get (from OTO test) 4 ppm (DPD-Fast says higher number, pool store says 4ppm). My water is not as clear as the first two years. This is why I now test with DPD-Fast (that gives me 9ppm with 10ml sample). Again, is my cell getting old and not working properly?
- Two days ago, even if the cell didn't look too dirty, I decided to clean it (for the first time) with a product meant for that from TABEX. Since that, I didn't look under the water to see if there is more bubbles now coming out of the water return when it is generating chlorine.
- It seems now, that if I don't shock the pool weekly I will get green sand deposite at the bottom of the pool. when I shock the pool (with liquid chlorine), the water gets clear and the green deposites will only come back in around 7-10 days :|
I'm starting to think that the cell does not shock the pool enough
(micro shocks are weaker) anynmore and that I have to shock the pool myselft to get clear water and no green sand deposites.
This is the story behind why I started to test with DPD-fast and saw the difference with OTO test. So:
1) why the difference between the two test? I will test with a 3-5 mins sit today and see how it goes. I will also return to the pool store to see what they read (they use Taylor drops to test).
2) why do I have problem (green sand) with my water this year? Is my cell (third season: May to September) getting tired/old?
Am I going nuts with all those green sand deposites, 7up bubbles and high ppm reading stories? :?
BIC