Chlorine is way high - and I'm in a panic!

[susan williams 60]

As my title indicates, I'm feeling a bit desperate about my pool chemistry so I'll apologize in advance if I'm not following all of the forum protocols!

This is our second season with our Hayward saltwater pool, located down on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. Last year, I had not a single problem with the pool chemistry, but so far this year, not so much. I'm really struggling. And the timing couldn't be worse as our daughter and her family arrive tomorrow for a week's visit.

Here's the full story:

A few weeks ago, our chlorinator was inadvertently turned off for a relatively short period, but I guess long enough so that our chlorine level was super low (practically non-existent). That was the start of our problems. I super-chlorinated for a bit, read some stuff online that scared me, so I stopped that, but still somehow managed to raise the level to what I thought was acceptable, and I thought I'd gotten ahead of the problem. However, continued testing showed that the level of chlorine dropped way down again.

I did a little more online research (wish I'd found this place sooner) and decided we should shock the pool, something we'd never done before. We shocked it - and then the chlorine level was super high! So we added water, ran the pump and the jets non-stop, and turned our chlorinator down to 10%. OK - that got our chlorine level just exactly right and I wanted to keep it that way.

Did I make a mistake by then adding stabilizer to the pool? That's something we never did once last season either, but I thought that adding it would preserve the chlorine level where it was. I also had my chlorinator set to 65% (which is what we ran it at last summer and what our pool installer told us to do at the time.) And yes, of course our installer is no help at all, even though they said they would always be!!!

This morning, the chlorine level was off the charts high!! I'm so frustrated.

Right now, we've got the chlorinator at 7%, we've added some water, and I've got the jets going. Is there anything else I can do to bring the chlorine down quickly?

NOTE: I'm using a test kit where you add drops to see readings.

SECOND NOTE: I would gladly pay someone to take care of my pool chemistry, but that doesn't seem to be a thing down here!

Does anyone want to take pity on me and offer some advice?

 

[mknauss]

Welcome to the forum!
Please post a complete set of water chemistry test results using your own test kit.
I suggest you read through Pool Care Basics - Trouble Free Pool and even look at a few of our videos TFP-TV - Trouble Free Pool

 

[ajw22]

NOTE: I'm using a test kit where you add drops to see readings.

What model test kit do you have or show us a picture of it.

 

[JamesW]

Right now, we've got the chlorinator at 7%, we've added some water, and I've got the jets going. Is there anything else I can do to bring the chlorine down quickly?

Turn the chlorinator off.

Do you have an FAS-DPD test kit?

Do you have an OTO chlorine test?

 

[Jimrahbe]

Susan,

In the whole post your never told us what your FC is??? How could we possible know if your FC is too high or too low???

We work on data, not emotions.

Tell us what your test data shows.

Thanks,

Jim R.

 

[JamesW]

Pool size?

Chlorinator model?

 

[Newdude]

We also need your CYA level. Thats what determines the proper FC level.





And Welcome to TFP !!!!

of course our installer is no help at all, even though they said they would always be!!!

Nothing like the ole tail light guarantee

We got you now, and we're not going anywhere.

 

[susan williams 60]

Thank you for the quick replies. As I said originally, I know I'm probably not following all of the correct Forum protocols because I AM in a bit of a panic. So I'm sorry if I'm offending anyone with my emotional and incomplete post. As I also said I'd really love to have someone do this for me, but that's not an option. I'll try to provide the best information possible.

Here are some photos. I use the HDX test kit, but also have the strips because our pool lady told us that's the only way to test for stabilizer. Which results here seem odd, though, because it's showing low, and we just added it!

Here's the info on our pool: It's a Hayward 8,250 gallon fiberglass saltwater

I'll gladly provide any other info I can figure out!!

 

[Newdude]

OK. Look at that test strip. You have 0 to 50, *if* its accurate and we need to know the CYA to a 10 like the chart i posted above.

Test Kits Compared

Order up either the TF100 salt or TFpro salt from TFtestkits.net. if you like paying more for less, then get the K2006 salt or K2006C salt. But any of the 4 will let you take control.

 

[susan williams 60]

OK. Look at that test strip. You have 0 to 50, *if* its accurate and we need to know the CYA to a 10 like the chart i posted above.

Test Kits Compared

Order up either the TF100 salt or TFpro salt from TFtestkits.net. if you like paying more for less, then get the K2006 salt or K2006C salt. But any of the 4 will let you take control.

OK - I totally appreciate your patient replies to my whiney posts. I'm feeling very frustrated by this whole chemistry process right now.

And I'm confused.

Is CYA the same as stabilizer? And if it is, how can ours be so low when we added stabilizer 2 nights ago? This is what we used:

We went the entire season last year without ever adding stabilizer. Of course, in retrospect, I wish our installer had talked to us more about the stabilizer and testing for it. Barely a mention of it in my notes or in her "pool school sheet cheat."

I'm going to be honest: My biggest concern right now is getting our pool swimmable for our grandkids' visit. Am I grasping at straws?

 

[Newdude]

Is CYA the same as stabilizer?

That's the right stuff.

And if it is, how can ours be so low when we added stabilizer 2 nights ago?

Because your test strip has *one stop* between 0 and 100. Its not precise by any remote means. And its about as accurate.

Count what you added as added and it will show up on a real CYA test from the kit you purchase. Its a one time hit mostly for the parts needed and the refills are mid $50s and go on sale for mid $40s every April.

I cannot recommend the tfpro salt enough. I've had both that and the tf100 and I appreciate the pro each and every time I open it.

My biggest concern right now is getting our pool swimmable for our grandkids' visit. Am I grasping at straws?

Keep the chlorine test you have more on the deep yellow shade until your test kit comes and youll probably be OK. Certainly no worse than the bazillions of other pools out there guessing with bad data.

 

[JamesW]

If you want to lower the chlorine, you can use 16 oz of 3% hydrogen peroxide to lower the FC by 1 ppm.

Just regular hydrogen peroxide that you can find at most stores in quart bottles.

2H₂O₂ + HOCL + OCl^- --> 2O₂ + 2H₂O + 2Cl^- + H⁺

I don't know if it is necessary, but you can do it if you want.

Show the OTO chlorine test with a white background.

Turn off the chlorinator.

 

[JamesW]

The cell can produce about 15 ppm per day, so it can be easy to get the FC way too high.

 

[proavia]

Welcome to TFP!

You need accurate test results.
The test strips are overly generalized results - which are rarely correct.

If you want a trouble free pool, you need to start by having a good test kit.
Here is a comparision to good test kits.
Test Kits Compared

I'd recommemd you order a TF-Pro (or TF-Pro Salt if you have or intend to add a SWG).
It's the best bang for the buck as it provides more of the test we do as residential pool owners.

Have a look thru:
Pool Care Basics
FC/CYA Levels
PoolMath

Here's some inspiration:
How Clear is TFP Clear?

 

[JamesW]

And if it is, how can ours be so low when we added stabilizer 2 nights ago?

How much stabilizer?

The high FC will interfere with the other tests, especially the test strips.

 

[susan williams 60]

If you want to lower the chlorine, you can use 16 oz of 3% hydrogen peroxide to lower the FC by 1 ppm.

Just regular hydrogen peroxide that you can find at most stores in quart bottles.

OK - I'm all over getting better/more accurate test kits. Definitely worth the investment.

But right at this moment in time, I want to concentrate on what you said above, JamesW.

If I add some hydrogen peroxide to the pool (which I've read before), can I bring down my chlorine level quickly? I'm thinking I should add 48 oz to bring it down by 3 ppm. The chlorine test seems so high right now I'd just feel better if it were closer to 5 before the kids are in it.

How fast does something like that work? Again, it's frustrating that last season I never messed with my chlorinator - told by the pool lady to keep it at 65% for the summer, and that's what we did. Our chlorine always tested pretty much fine.

Am I understanding correctly?

 

[JamesW]

How fast does something like that work?

Pretty fast.

As fast as it can mix in.

Am I understanding correctly?

Yes.

 

[susan williams 60]

How much stabilizer?

The high FC will interfere with the other tests, especially the test strips.

I am trying to address all of these issues - I appreciate the help!

From what I saw on the test strip, our stabilizer seemed to be close to 0 - I mean, the color was very close to the 0 color and nothing like the next color. So we followed the directions on the bag and added 2 pounds, thinking we would bring it up to at least 30. (According to that "pool school cheat sheet" it should be 30-50 so I thought that was ok.)

 

[JamesW]

Ok, get the good test kit and that will make all the difference for you.

Until then, we will do our best to help you.

2 lbs is 30 ppm, so you can estimate that for now.

 

[JamesW]

Did I make a mistake by then adding stabilizer to the pool? That's something we never did once last season either, but I thought that adding it would preserve the chlorine level where it was.

With no CYA, the chlorine burns off pretty fast and you need a higher percentage setting.

Once you add CYA, you need to adjust the percentage way down.

So, No, it was not a mistake to add CYA, but you did not account for the need to lower the percentage.

Now that you know, test at least daily until you get a solid handle on tuning in the readings.