Nightmare mess high CYA

[Swampthing2829]

Dealt with algae overload, killed everything off but needed more reagent to run more tests. Pool was blue but super cloudy. Finally got some in today, decided to run CYA first. It’s a solid 100. I ran it at both 100% pool water and a second test w/ 50/50 tap to confirm it wasn’t higher than 100, it read 50 so I doubled it. Pool is now partially draining so we can refill.
Will half the volume be enough?

 

[Bperry]

Dealt with algae overload, killed everything off but needed more reagent to run more tests. Pool was blue but super cloudy. Finally got some in today, decided to run CYA first. It’s a solid 100. Pool is now partially draining so we can refill.
Will half the volume be enough?

Half the volume will reduce the CYA by half. So it’ll be 50 after. I think that’s enough.

 

[Meghanfoss]

Disregard! I see you already did a diluted CYA test

 

[Swampthing2829]

Disregard! I see you already did a diluted CYA test

I did my pool school homework

 

[jeffchap]

Have you read up on the SLAM - Shock Level and Maintain
You're going to need to do one so you might as well get started. Your slam level will be 20 ppm FC.

And do you have one of the required test kits that can measure FC over 10 ppm?

Swimming Pool Test Kits Compared

What pool test kit should I buy? Why shouldn't I use test strips? Our recommended test kits will pay for themselves in no time!

www.troublefreepool.com

If not, get one ordered ASAP and add 5 ppm of FC each day using only liquid chlorine until it arrives. Post the following results once you get it and we'll help you from there.

CYA
FC
CC
TA
pH

 

[Swampthing2829]

I have a Taylor k2006c on hand, yes. We’re still draining, I’ll be starting slam once we’re drained and refilled. My chemistry was a mess. I couldn’t even get the FC level to read. With two scoops of powder, the water turned pink then went clear so per instructions I added another. It turned such a dark pink with a third level scoop- it was ridiculous. After 100 drops of solution to get it to turn clear with it actually becoming darker/turning a deeper pink/brown color, I gave up because I’m going to end up using all my reagent I literally just bought and I’m draining the pool anyways. I’ll retest when I’m refilled. It shouldn’t take long, we have a small pool.

 

[Bperry]

I have a Taylor k2006c on hand, yes. We’re still draining, I’ll be starting slam once we’re drained and refilled. My chemistry was a mess. I couldn’t even get the FC level to read. With two scoops of powder, the water turned pink then went clear so per instructions I added another. It turned such a dark pink with a third level scoop- it was ridiculous. After 100 drops of solution to get it to turn clear with it actually becoming darker/turning a deeper pink/brown color, I gave up because I’m going to end up using all my reagent I literally just bought and I’m draining the pool anyways. I’ll retest when I’m refilled. It shouldn’t take long, we have a small pool.

You never need more than two scoops of the powder and I’ve never seen instructions that say to add a third scoop. If you use the 10ml sample you only need one big scoop of powder. If it doesn’t turn pink after the powder is added, that means you have zero chlorine.

 

[Swampthing2829]

You never need more than two scoops of the powder and I’ve never seen instructions that say to add a third scoop. If you use the 10ml sample you only need one big scoop of powder. If it doesn’t turn pink after the powder is added, that means you have zero chlorine.

It did turn pink. Then went clear. The instructions literally say to add powder until the water turns pink if it flashes pink then goes clear. One more scoop accomplished that.

 

[Swampthing2829]

 

[Swampthing2829]

Under note- it says if it doesn’t turn pink or turns pink then clear (which is what happened) to add powder until the solution turns pink.

 

[Bperry]

Under note- it says if it doesn’t turn pink or turns pink then clear (which is what happened) to add powder until the solution turns pink.

No wonder people keep adding scoops of powder, that’s a serious typo.

 

[Swampthing2829]

No wonder people keep adding scoops of powder, that’s a serious typo.

My understanding is that this means my FC is insanely high

 

[Bperry]

My understanding is that this means my FC is insanely high

No, it means it’s very low or non-existent. Though I suppose it’s possible to bleach it out at very high levels above 50ppm?

Maybe it’s assuming you at least have SOME chlorine in the water and that the initial scoops might be too small?

 

[Swampthing2829]

No, it means it’s very low or non-existent. Though I suppose it’s possible to bleach it out at very high levels above 50ppm?

It’s quite possible. We have been flying blind all season and my husband was listening to pool store advice which had him dumping shock and chlorine in by the gallons daily for two weeks straight. Easier to drain and refill regardless of the cya being too high so the water has to go either way.

 

[Bperry]

If you have had a problem the pool store was having you add lots of chlorine, it’s likely you have algae which eats up chlorine very fast. The cure is lots more chlorine. TFP has a SLAM process that if you follow will kill it all.

 

[Flying Tivo]

Up in the NE you dont need 50cya, if still draining you should aim for 70% drain. That will leave you with 30CYA.

 

[IceShadow]

If there's any undissolved powder in the water then you've added enough for the FC test.

 

[Swampthing2829]

If there's any undissolved powder in the water then you've added enough for the FC test.

There wasn’t any undissolved powder after swirling. Test flashed bright pink for maybe 15 seconds then dissipated to clear

 

[Swampthing2829]

Up in the NE you dont need 50cya, if still draining you should aim for 70% drain. That will leave you with 30CYA.

I’m questioning whether or not we should just start over to be honest. It’s still draining and we’re almost at 50% now. I’ll go to 70% and see what the water looks like. It’s so cloudy I doubt it’s worth saving considering we have a sand filter.

 

[Swampthing2829]

If you have had a problem the pool store was having you add lots of chlorine, it’s likely you have algae which eats up chlorine very fast. The cure is lots more chlorine. TFP has a SLAM process that if you follow will kill it all.

We certainly had algae, we had to replace a part on the filter after our giant dog ran around the back of the pool and busted it. It really looked like we cleared it up but I didn’t have any ability to test so we were flying blind waiting for reagent to arrive. Pool store had us just dumping it in. Their cya test measured 40. It’s 100. I couldn’t tell you how many gallons my husband put in since. Obviously their testing wasn’t accurate. Because of that I honestly don’t know where we started at. Lesson learned