Search results

I think I finally have my pool back in line. The SWG is able to keep up and this is without the ozonator running. This site (and its users) really helped me solve my problem. I figured I would summarize some things that I now know I did wrong with my pool. I seemed to have a perfect storm where...

Yes. It was just under 30 ppm for both. I will try raising my CYA once my FC gets down to close to normal range.

I ran the tests again just now. The ones I did before must have been done too early in the morning without enough light (it was overcast too) and I the q-tip must have put too much chlorine in the test. I just tested a couple of times the normal way and the vile was completely full and I could...

I finally got around to the test you suggested. I did it three ways. The first time, I did the CYA test as normal. I got a 40 which is up 10 from the last time I tested it. I have not added any stabilizer to the pool. The next test, I used a q-tip to add chlorine to my water sample before I...

I have been using two different brands of CYA. One is from Pinch a Penny (local chain) and one is from a non-chain place down the street. The place down the street packages their CYA in zip lock bags and prints labels that they stick on the bag. I assume they buy it in bulk. I wonder where you...

So, I just spoke with the guy that built my pool and he also maintains pools. I told him about my problem a while back. I got the impression that he thought I was crazy. He just told me that he has a bunch of pools that are having the same problem with chlorine levels not holding and CYA...

I completely agree with you and what you said is what I was trying before. I shocked my pool properly several times and ended up with the 1 ppm FC drop overnight. But, when I brought my FC back to normal levels (even higher than normal) my pool would eat up chlorine. And, it has gotten worse...

Thanks for the info. My FC dropped 3-4 ppm last night (10 pm to 7:00 am). During the day yesterday my FC dropped about 7 ppm. And, that was with my SWG running. The only thing different about yesterday was that I put a double dose of the Aquafinesse in the pool in the morning (my FC held the...

Good question. I have no idea... not sure what is in it.

Sounds like a plan. I will let you know how it goes. I am continuing to use that AquaFinesse stuff and I actually doubled up on it during the time I saw the big CYA drop. I wonder if it loosened up the biofilm and the bacteria went nuts on the CYA. I have a feeling my problem (if it really is...

Last night was the first night in a week and a half that my FC dropped by less than 1 ppm. The crazy thing is that my CYA dropped even further to below 30. So, my CYA has gone from over 60 to below 30 in 5 days. There has not been any rain and I have not refilled my pool at all. Hopefully...

My FC only dropped from around 34 to around 32 last night (7 pm to 7 am). This is the least amount of drop I have seen so far. I am going to let it keep dropping until it gets to the 12-16 range and see if she holds there. I won't mess with the CYA until I see less than 1 ppm FC drop overnight...

I have continued to use the Aquafinesse while I have been shocking the pool. Supposedly it has noticeable effects after 4 weeks and I just passed the 4 week point. Maybe it is possible that it is loosening up the biofilm (if I actually do have this). I have to admit that I am skeptical about...

So... I just tested my CYA 3 different times with two different bottles (one new, one older) of the testing solution. All three tests came in at between 30 and 40. It was above 60 just 3 days ago. I just tested for ammonia and that test registered zero. I always get zero when I test for ammonia...

My pool (salt) has a CYA of around 60. I see on the CYA/Chlorine chart that the shock level is 30. Is there a different level for mustard algae or is 30 what I should be shooting for? Over the past couple of days I have been trying to keep the FC level in the upper 40's (just to hit it hard) and...

Another thing to mention is that the mixing chamber for the ozone unit is clear plastic. So, this means it has been allowing light to enter on the intake side of my SWG. I also just disconnected my SWG cell and the orange/brown layer that is coating the PVC has loosened up. Before, I couldn't...

So... I just noticed something in my plumbing. My ozonator has a mixing chamber and water is diverted into it through a 3/4 inch pipe off of the main pool plumbing system. I have been meaning to add valves to it so I can cut off flow to the mixing chamber and eliminate the air that it is mixing...

Yes. I took the light out and cleaned behind it. I took it apart and soaked all the parts in a strong chlorine mixture and I replaced the gasket. I took the main drain covers off and cleaned those too. I don't have anything else in the water like ladders. I brush the pool surface every day.

I turned off my fountains and my ozone unit. I also cranked my FC up to 47 ppm. It dropped from 47 (11:00 pm) to 39 (7 am) overnight. Is there some point where I just throw in the towel and drain/refill the pool? The amount of chlorine I am going through is ridiculous. Or, should I just put a...

No, I do not.

My water is crystal clear, so it should be fine. Thanks.

OK. I will try all of this. I also have a question regarding the CYA test. Does the high chlorine level affect this test in any way? I just want to make sure the last test (around 60) was accurate.

I don't run the fountains 24 hours a day, but I do run them for a while after I get the chlorine up to 30 ppm. I have the vacuum line open and have some flow through it. I brush daily and run my robot cleaner once a week. I also put in a clean filter cartridge yesterday.

The ozone generator is on and I have been running the pump (and ozone) 24 hours a day. I will turn it off now and see if that does the trick. I hope it does before I lose my mind (what is left of it). Thanks for your help.

My chlorine continues to drop by 4 or 5 ppm each night. I then add 12 or more cups of 10% chlorine to get the level back over 30 ppm by the end of the day. The pool continues to be crystal clear. I also removed the light and cleaned behind it. There was a bunch of dusty looking stuff behind the...

Will do. I also just opened up my vacuum line. I hardly use it since I have the robot cleaner. I figure there may be nasties in there too. Thanks for your help.

Did you see that my FC dropped by approx. 3 ppm (29-30 ppm to 26-27 ppm) last night (9:30 pm - 7:45 am)? I was not running the fountains last night. They were only running the night where I had the 20 ppm drop. Shouldn't I keep shocking until I get a 1 ppm drop overnight?

I am fairly sure that I am running the tests correctly. I dilute the pool water by 50% with distilled water and use the 10ml line in the test vile. So, I do not have to divide by 2 for the result. The drops come out slowly and are well formed. I even tested multiple times with multiple water...

Thanks for everyone's comments. I plan on ditching the ozonator since my SWG should be able to handle the job by itself. I just need to successfully finish this shock process. The only thing I have where algae could be hiding is the main drains, the light, and the pool plumbing. I assume that it...

Regarding the ozonator, this is from the manufacture's site for the generator that I have: Ozone from the pool’s ozone generator acts just like ozone in nature: it oxidizes substances it comes into contact with. This includes a wide range of chemicals and organics that can be oxidized...