Time to get serious

[parteecia]

So after 10 days and 25 gallons of bleach, my pool is a cloudy blue-ish with about 12" of visibility.

Here's my dilemma. Back on April 4th, CYA measured at 50 along with pH 7.2, TA 90, and no chlorine, and the pool was very green. At that time I had added at least three bags of Chlorox shock and two 3" tablets. Since then CYA has consistently tested at 0.

Because of those results I used the one CYA of 50 and aimed for a SLAM FC of 20 which is very conveniently about a gallon.

Today I let FC drift back down to 0 and retested CYA. Results are still clear like water. pH is still 7.2. I do not want to add any more CYA because we are in severe water restrictions so draining and replacing is not an option.

The good news is that CC is now 1-1.5.

Does anyone have any suggestions?

 

[mknauss]

Is the sun a factor? Should I deploy my umbrellas?

That implies 0 CYA. The half life of FC with sun on the pool with 0 CYA is 50 minutes.

 

[wireform]

I'm not sure how you picked 50 for the CYA but without a minimum of 30 CYA you're letting the UV get the better part of the chlorine before ot can accomplish much for the pool. You absolutely need the CYA.

 

[parteecia]

I was under the impression that CYA can only be removed by draining. Based on what I've added it should be at least 30. Why would the test results go from 50 to 0? Should I get new reagents? Again, I don't want to add any CYA unless I am absolutely sure since I won't be able to drain and replace if I add too much.

Thank you.

 

[mknauss]

So after 10 days and 25 gallons of bleach, my pool is a cloudy blue-ish with about 12" of visibility.

I suspect you had ammonia. I know we discussed it early. The mention of a strong 'bleach' smell implied high CC which is created from the destruction of ammonia by chlorine.

If you wish, take a sample to a pool store. See if they detect any CYA.

 

[parteecia]

Good idea. I will let FC drop below SLAM and take a sample to the store. CYA is making me crazy.

 

[setsailsoon]

So after 10 days and 25 gallons of bleach, my pool is a cloudy blue-ish with about 12" of visibility.

Here's my dilemma. Back on April 4th, CYA measured at 50 along with pH 7.2, TA 90, and no chlorine, and the pool was very green. At that time I had added at least three bags of Chlorox shock and two 3" tablets. Since then CYA has consistently tested at 0.

Because of those results I used the one CYA of 50 and aimed for a SLAM FC of 20 which is very conveniently about a gallon.

Today I let FC drift back down to 0 and retested CYA. Results are still clear like water. pH is still 7.2. I do not want to add any more CYA because we are in severe water restrictions so draining and replacing is not an option.

The good news is that CC is now 1-1.5.

Does anyone have any suggestions?

PH results are not reliable above FC 10. Not even worth testing for this 'till you finish with Marty's advice completely. Hang in there!

Chris

 

[parteecia]

Here is my conundrum:
At my last Leslie's test in July 2021 before getting my fancy test kit, CYA was 38, pH 7.9, TA 92, and FC 0.11.

I have not removed any water. I have only added water to compensate for evaporation since then.

I have added 3 bags of Chlorox powdered shock and 2 3" tabs in the interim.

On April 4th my CYA tested at 50, pH 7.2, TA 90, FC 0. The pool was green.

Starting on April 10th, CYA has been testing at 0. All I did between those dates was add liquid bleach.

Today's Leslie's results were CYA 5, FC 0.18, CC 0.49, pH 7.2, TA 77.

Has anyone else had CYA disappear?? I see these results but still fear adding CYA because of my old results since I can't drain & replace yadda yadda. Looking for reassurance that it's not "hiding" somehow and will suddenly be too high if I add some.

 

[mknauss]

From all the data you have presented, your CYA was consumed by a bacteria that converted it to ammonia. That ammonia was then eradicated by the large (25 gallons in 5000 gallons of water) amount of liquid chlorine you have used.

So, you should add 30 ppm of CYA. Follow the SLAM Process until you pass all three criteria.

I suspect it would have been more cost advantageous to drain the pool before using 25 gallons of bleach, but what is done is done. Move forward.

 

[wireform]

I concur as per post #25 . I doubt that you have or they detect 5 CYA. The way to tell if you rid the water from ammonia is to see if you can hold some FC. Once the pool consistently holds some FC then you know there no ammonia and can put back 30 CYA safely in order to slam.

 

[parteecia]

Ah! Thank you. Perhaps they should market that bacteria for people whose CYA is too high but they can't replace water.

 

[mknauss]

Ah! Thank you. Perhaps they should market that bacteria for people whose CYA is too high but they can't replace water.

They have tried. But it does not live well in a package. Typically is associated with dirt getting in the pool.

 

[parteecia]

Typically is associated with dirt getting in the pool.

Yeah, my poor pool had a lot of dust and detritus. Thanks again. I enjoyed learning something new.

 

[parteecia]

I suspect it would have been more cost advantageous to drain the pool before using 25 gallons of bleach, but what is done is done. Move forward.

They're trying to get us down to using 80 gallons of water a day so that wasn't an option. And anyway it made for an interesting experiment.

 

[mknauss]

Your pool will be evaporating 40 gallons a day, give or take. So I doubt your household will ever get to 80 gallons a day usage.

Good luck.

 

[setsailsoon]

Maybe a cover?

 

[parteecia]

I don't remember how often I have to add water. I think the umbrellas I put over it help. The covers that come with these pools are very clumsy. Fortunately I use very little water for landscaping. And daily swims cut down on showers...

 

[setsailsoon]

Just remember water evaporation is greatly impacted by wind velocity. So if you have steady winds umbrella's do little to help this.

 

[parteecia]

Just remember water evaporation is greatly impacted by wind velocity. So if you have steady winds umbrella's do little to help this.

It's mostly protected from the Santa Ana winds but I suspect that they contributed to the dirt and subsequent CYA eating bacteria.

I may reconsider covers. Any suggestions? The one that comes with it is heavy, hard to handle and sinks.

 

[IceShadow]

Solar covers are the way to go for that. Basically industrial bubble wrap meant for pools. Floats on the surface, fairly light. Large as the surface of the pool, so they can still be a little unwieldy, but probably lighter than what you have if it sinks.