Hi Jim,
Yeah, that CYA test just takes a little practice to figure it out sometimes. A lot of people have problems at 1st reading it, but it's great to hear that you're understanding it better now. Yes, It's amazing what a little CYA can do for helping the chlorine to hold, isn't it?
Everything sounds good. You have good holding chlorine, .5CC, clear water.
So it sounds like you may be ready to attempt an overnight OCLT test (If you haven't already),to see if you pass so you can start bringing that chlorine down some.
Are you aware of how to do an OCLT? If not Here's what you do. (1st thing is don't add any pellets today at all because I'm not certain but I know if a person has a SWG they have too turn it off to test OCLT and I suspect the salt pellets that you are using could alter the results too?
Anyway, Tonight before going to bed check your FC and CC levels (or at least 30 mins after adding chlorine, but you said you've not needed to add for a few days so I suspect you shouldn't need to add tonight either),and document them.
Then in the AM before the sun begins to hit the pool, Again check your FC and CC levels.
There are 3 criteria you need to met in order to pass OCLT
1) An overnight FC loss of <1.0ppm
2)A CC of 0.5ppm or less
3) A Crystal clear pool-(You're already meeting this one) so 1 down, and 2 to go
.
Here's the TFP directions link if you need it
http://www.troublefreepool.com/content/136-perform-the-overnight-fc-chlorine-loss-test-oclt
If you do met all 3 of those criteria YOU PASS OCLT!!!.
Once you pass OCLT that will show that any algae that was present has hopefully all been killed off. Then you can start letting your FC level naturally drop down to 3-5ppm and MAINTAIN at that level never allowing the FC to drop below 3ppm to help prevent another algae bloom. (I generally run mine 1-2ppm above Target just to prevent it from dropping below minimum from the sun's depletion. etc. So instead of running yours say at 3-5ppm, Target it at 6- 7ppm).
The 3-5ppm is your Minimum and Target ranges for your 40ppm CYA per the Chlorine/CYA chart.
http://www.troublefreepool.com/content/128-chlorine-cya-chart-slam-shock
I definitely agree with Skippy about not using the pukes routinely (Using them when you go on vacation or something is fine, but routinely at TFP we do not recommended daily use because they add so many unnecessary things to your clear water) The ones you have as long as you seal them in the container good will last a long time.
You are correct, that is possible with your high FC that the pH is possibly not correct, so you really don't need to check pH, or anything other than FC and CC, again until your FC level drops below 10ppm. Just save your reagents for now. Once you pass OCLT and your FC levels drops to below 10ppm then you can retest everything and we will adjust as needed at that time. Good luck on OCLT (I suspect you'll pass with no problem). Have a wonderful night.
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