Opening Pool ran out of test reagent

[Aymerz]

Help! We open our pool 5 days ago. I began the Slaming process, but have run out of the titrating reagent to test for chlorine. The water is still cloudy and slightly green. I last tested yesterday afternoon and these are the results:

FC=11
cc=1
pH=7.8
CYA=0
TA=100

I checked our local store and they do not carry it. I do have the OTO test, but that only tests chlorine levels up to 5. I do still have the FAS DPD powder and it is a dark pink. the OTO test is dark yellow, so I know I'm at least at 5 for TC. Any suggestions until my new set of reagents arrives? It will not be here for 4 more days!

Thanks!

 

[jblizzle]

Sorry you fell for the "cheaper" K-2006 ... this is a very common occurrence that may end up costing you more in the long run and one reason we always recommend the TF-100. You should also order more CYA reagent.

Who did you order from? Surely you could have gotten overnight if you were that concerned.

Is your CYA really zero? Was this a fresh fill and you have not added any?
That is something you can do while waiting, get the CYA up to 30ppm. With 0 CYA, the FC will be lost to the sun everyday.
Then just keep the FC up around 5ppm the best you can.

 

[Richard320]

You have two options: dilute the sample 50-50 with some bottled water that has no chlorine and double the reading, or try to guess using the extended colors on the OTO test.

From my own research (which I hunted down here using search) Blinding yellow is about 10. School bus yellow is about 12-13. Hunter orange is around 18, up around 25 it starts to look pumpkin orange. I never went any higher than that, but it's been reliably reported that it eventually will turn brown if you get high enough.

Neither method is really adequate for the SLAM process, but it will keep things from regressing to green until your refills arrive.

Why is your CYA level so low? You'll be losing most of your FC to the sun before it can kill algae. Right now your shock level is 10; with 30 CYA it will only be 12, and it will last longer.

 

[Aymerz]

I do have a sock of CYA in the pool right now. I tested it twice so far and at the beginning it was 0, now I can see some cloudiness in the test water, but the black dot never disappears.

I also ordered more of the CYA reagent.

I thought the K-2006 was one of the reccommeded kits, that's why I ordered it.

- - - Updated - - -

Thanks for the info about the OTO test. I figured I was above 5 since the yellow was so dark. I will keep levels at least to the 5 or above, until my reagents arrive. Thank you!

- - - Updated - - -

Thanks for the info about the OTO test. I figured I was above 5 since the yellow was so dark. I will keep levels at least to the 5 or above, until my reagents arrive. Thank you!

 

[Aymerz]

Sorry you fell for the "cheaper" K-2006 ... this is a very common occurrence that may end up costing you more in the long run and one reason we always recommend the TF-100. You should also order more CYA reagent.

.

Is there something that I am missing that I can order to add to my test kit? Or do I really need to have the TF-100?

 

[jblizzle]

The K2006 is fine, it just does not have as much of the reagents that you actually use so you run out and have to spend more on refills.

 

[Richard320]

Is there something that I am missing that I can order to add to my test kit? Or do I really need to have the TF-100?

They're the same reagents. The TF100 has bigger bottles of the stuff you use the most. The K-2006 has them all the same size so they fit in that blue case. You also have the acid and base demand tests that aren't all that useful when you can use poolmath. There's no reason to spend more money on a whole new kit. Just order refills.

psst: you can get K-2006 refills here

 

[Aymerz]

Thank you for the replies. We're having unusually warm weather for NYS, so I am anxious to get the water swimmable!

 

[pooldv]

The fastest way to get your water ready is to follow the process for SLAMing Your Pool closely. The more often you test FC and bring it back to shock level the faster you will kill the algae and the sooner the process will be complete. Every few hours if you can.

 

[SCon36]

I believe the CYA test is easier to read on the TF-100 than it is on the Taylor kits. Taylor makes those dots so small that it is hard to determine if you see it or not.