Generator not working. Shock pool?

[AimeeH]

Isaac's question is spot on. CYA is not a byproduct of anything in your pool. The only way it gets in there is adding it directly or using a chlorine product that is stabilized with CYA, like he said. Those two readings are so far apart.......another reason not to trust the pool store testing.

 

[zea3]

Hi, welcome to TFP! I suspect your CYA result is off. Did they use a computer to test the water sample? I ask since that is an oddly specific result of for CYA and the test is not designed to read values over 100 accurately. Until you can confirm the CYA result, assume the 60 ppm was the correct CYA and dose the pool accordingly. If it is correct you should see the pool start to clear in a day or two.

 

[AimeeH]

Zea3... I suspect her/his cya numbers are not accurate as that is pool store results. I hope the OP gets a test kit and takes control of this pool.

 

[saltysenorita]

I'll be sure to provide you guys with an update. You've all been so helpful. I am in the process of adding MA now (16 oz at a time is slow going). No way to does that up, right?

 

[Smykowski]

Multiple small acid doses is better. You don't want to overshoot, then yo-yo around your target.

However, with the pump running, you only need to wait 30 min between adding the acid and testing. You could do an acid dose every 30-40 minutes until you get the pH where you want it.

 

[AimeeH]

You are doing alright. First adjust PH ....then chlorine. Get your own test kit !!!!!!

I'm hoping you have that on order now.

 

[saltysenorita]

However, with the pump running, you only need to wait 30 min between adding the acid and testing. You could do an acid dose every 30-40 minutes until you get the pH where you want it.

Thank you for this tip!

 

[anonapersona]

Pool store testing is suspect based on the faulty CYA values. Find a new store and take them a fresh sample. Be sure to run the pool for an hour to get it well circulated, then obtain your water sample from elbow deep in the pool, away from returns but in an area of good circulation.

From time to time a forum member has taken fresh samples to 3 separate pool stores for testing.... you wouldn't believe how scattered the test data is that they get back. And the advice that might be offered on such tests would be all over the map as well.

 

[timerguy]

Pool store testing is suspect based on the faulty CYA values. Find a new store and take them a fresh sample. Be sure to run the pool for an hour to get it well circulated, then obtain your water sample from elbow deep in the pool, away from returns but in an area of good circulation.

From time to time a forum member has taken fresh samples to 3 separate pool stores for testing.... you wouldn't believe how scattered the test data is that they get back. And the advice that might be offered on such tests would be all over the map as well.

And why would you recommend they take a sample to another pool store? I'll agree to the pool stores being way off on CYA!!--- I had two different pool stores tell me my CYA was only 40. One of which was using a Taylor test kit, when it was actually way over 300 ppm, it took draining and replenishing 40,000 gals of water to get it down to 50.

 

[saltysenorita]

Update: I've added bleach and gotten my chlorine up to 3. Should this be good enough for now until I have an accurate CYA read? Or should I raise it up since I was without chlorine for a few days and had the dead birdie last Wednesday?

 

[Smykowski]

I'd go ahead and raise it, but no higher than 10.

 

[zea3]

Use the pool math and raise the FC to the top of the recommended range for a pool with 60 ppm of CYA until you get new testing completed. 3 ppm is the low end of the target range and will be consumed quickly if your water is starting to grow algae.

 

[saltysenorita]

Sounds good. Thank you both!

 

[saltysenorita]

Blurg. New question: I checked the chlorine again before adding more bleach and it was down to a 1 (so from 3 to 1 in four hours). I thought the CYA would prevent it from diminishing so quickly. Is that wrong? Or does that indicate I have some nasty stuff in there that is using it up?
Thanks again for all the support.

 

[jblizzle]

That likely indicates something is in the water if your CYA is truly around 60ppm. Perform the Overnight Chlorine Loss Test to be sure.

 

[AimeeH]

Most likely algae.

 

[Smykowski]

And this shouldn't surprise you, since in your very first post you said your FC was at zero and the pool was cloudy.

 

[saltysenorita]

Ok. Thank you for the confirmation. I'm learning a lot here!

 

[saltysenorita]

Well, chlorine levels are still up this morning so now I'm definitely confused :/ is it possible that the CYA results at the pool store were so wildly off that they are actually low instead of high or normal? I am going to take a sample to them this morning since I don't have a good kit, yet. I'm sure their results will still be better than my little kit here. I'll let you guys know what happens!

- - - Updated - - -

Oh and pool clarity is better but I wouldn't call it "sparkling", yet.

 

[jblizzle]

Define "still up". What was the FC and CC reading last night? What was the FC and CC reading this morning before the sun rise?

Their results will not be good enough ... order a recommended test kit if you have not already.