No clear sample with r0871…

[loudgonzo]

Hi all,

In the middle of a slam, and I’m having color issues testing chlorine levels….
Since the start of the process, I cannot get the pink sample to go clear when adding r0871…

I fill up to 25 mark, add 2 scoops of r0870, and sample turns pink/red.

I start to drop in the r0871 and about 150-160 drops later the sample will start to lighten up, but never gets to clear, like before adding the powder. It will stay shaded in pinkish red. There is about a 2-4 drop point where it is a noticeable change, but again it never clears. Wondering if this is normal, or does it need to be clear as from the start?

I have added extra drops up to 15 or so, but stays the same.

Start of slam was-
Cya-90
pH-7.2
Ta-90
Free chlorine-5.4
Cc-.2

Maintaining around 32-35 chlorine during process..

Thanks!
Lg

 

[wireform]

Use the 5ml line and ONE heaping spoon of powder then count 1ppm for each drop to save reagent.

 

[Pauls234]

The sample should be 10ml, you mentioned you are filling to 25ml mark....

 

[loudgonzo]

Ok, started using 10ml size, still not going full/original clear water.

Should be ok it doesn’t, as long as visible/noticeable change from deep red to light pink?

Lg

 

[duraleigh]

Should be ok it doesn’t, as long as visible/noticeable change from deep red to light pink?.

No
Drops should be counted until there is NO FURTHER color change. Then subtract that last drop and that is your test result.

How much chlorine do you THINK you have in the pool?

 

[Texas Splash]

Ok, started using 10ml size, still not going full/original clear water.

Should be ok it doesn’t, as long as visible/noticeable change from deep red to light pink?

That's odd. As a quick test, have you tried testing your water (FC) from the garden hose? It should be about 1 ppm or so.

 

[wireform]

Maybe expired reagents or just simply bad.

 

[loudgonzo]

Quick update...I ordered new fas dpd kit, tested and the samples now go to original clear starting color. Tried using the older kit and had same result, staying light pink.
The lot of regents i was using expires 10/23, should still be good, but probably going bad a few months early...?

 

[proavia]

Quick update...I ordered new fas dpd kit, tested and the samples now go to original clear starting color. Tried using the older kit and had same result, staying light pink.
The lot of regents i was using expires 10/23, should still be good, but probably going bad a few months early...?

Where are your reagents stored?
They should be kept in a climate controlled area inside the house. Don't leave them outside in the heat/cold/direct sunlight for longer than it takes to test.

Ideally, all tests - except the CYA test - can be completed indoors. Good lighting and a white background (white paper or plastic plate works well) are needed.

 

[Texas Splash]

The lot of regents i was using expires 10/23, should still be good, but probably going bad a few months early...?

That is interesting. I'll tag @Sarah and Nate who may want to be aware of the issue. They may reach out to later for more details about that reagent (lot#, etc).

Glad you are back to reliable testing now.

 

[loudgonzo]

Where are your reagents stored?
They should be kept in a climate controlled area inside the house. Don't leave them outside in the heat/cold/direct sunlight for longer than it takes to test.

Ideally, all tests - except the CYA test - can be completed indoors. Good lighting and a white background (white paper or plastic plate works well) are needed.

they are stored inside the taylor kit case, inside the house, all testing done inside.

 

[duraleigh]

What kit did you order? Do you remember the order date?

 

[Sarah and Nate]

This doesn’t sound like our reagents, but if it is, @loudgonzo please PM us with your order number.

 

[loudgonzo]

...so the slam was completed 2 days ago, and the OCLT was just under 1ppm, used a new batch of testing regents..,,
I did a final brush, vacuum and backwash yesterday, and woke up to this today.



Yesterdays numbers were
pH-7.4
cya-80
FC-12.5
CC-0
ch-140

This is starting in the same areas as before, along the seams. These areas were scrubbed thoroughly every day during slam and vacuumed every day. Not sure what or where I could have gone wrong or missed...?

Lg

 

[Texas Splash]

Not sure what or where I could have gone wrong or missed...?

Did you remove the ladder or steps during the SLAM Process?

You were performing the SLAM at an FC of 31 correct?

 

[koffey]

Are you really sure that you passed oclt? I highly suspect that you did not.

 

[loudgonzo]

Did you remove the ladder or steps during the SLAM Process?

You were performing the SLAM at an FC of 31 correct?

Steps and magnetic light were removed.
pool math had slam target of fc 35, was at this level or a bit under, never read less than 32, and that was also taking into account a few extra drops from the r0871 that i couldn't get to go full clear in first few days

 

[Texas Splash]

So the last OCLT you performed was probably when the FC was somewhere around 31-35 ppm correct? If so, I would do another OCLT now that your FC is much lower and closer to 10. Those really high FC levels can be tricky and tough to get as accurate as we might like sometimes. It would be good to know what a new OCLT reveals.

 

[loudgonzo]

Are you really sure that you passed oclt? I highly suspect that you did not.

I'm sure I did...took a sample in the evening after sun was down, fc-34, and next morning before direct sun hit pool, still over horizon.....fc-33.5

The only thing different was I started using the 10ml sample after a few days instead of 25ml sample when I started.

 

[koffey]

If that is alage, you did not pass. I typically perform multiple oclt before saying I passed. Why is your cya so high? How are you chlorinating the pool during slam? You mentioned above you did not maintain the proper slam level 35, you can shoot for higher than slam for quicker results.