New to this but we have an automatic cover that has been on since opening the pool back in mid april. The pool has not been used but i monitor it throughout the week. The chlorine levels started at 4-5 and raised to 6 during first week so i turned down the chlorinator to .5(was at 1.5 from pool company that opened). Over last few weeks it is now up to 7.5. Should the chlorinator be off since pool is not in use? I assume since the cover is on and the chlorinator is on is why it is slowly rising, since it is not evaporating or eating up anything? If the cover was off would i leave the chlorinator on?
Chlorine keeps rising
- Thread starter bhubb
- Start date
Is it a liquid or tablet chlorinator? Whoops, never mind. I missed that in your signature.
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Just checked your previous posts and I don't see any mention of you having a recommended testkit. What are you using to test?
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Just checked your previous posts and I don't see any mention of you having a recommended testkit. What are you using to test?
- Jun 22, 2014
- 47,751
- Pool Size
- 17888
- Surface
- Fiberglass
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- CircuPool RJ-45 Plus
If this is about your 3" tab feeder, then the pool cover is protecting the FC from the sun and your feeder is making more, so that would explain the rise. At the same time though, your tablets are also increasing your CYA to what could be dangerous levels that could ultimately result in a partial drain. Please reconsider the use of that tab feeder on a normal daily basis and switch to liquid chlorine (regular bleach) to avoid that problem. You can also see more about this in the Pool School link below. Have a nice evening.
- Jul 16, 2012
- 7,204
- Pool Size
- 27000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Hayward Aqua Rite (T-15)
Bhubb - TS has you covered on your immediate situation - you're adding to much chlorine (and in a way that has bad side effects). I'm going to go on a bit of a tangent - feel free to zone out if you'd like.
One item to note with an autocover and using bleach it that you will have to open the pool daily to test, add chemicals, mix and then recover (after at least 30 minutes of mixing - don't want to close up an unmixed pool - bad for cover). This is one (of many) of the reasons why I find our SWG so handy. I test and then adjust the salt cell or pump runtime. No need to open cover. Not that opening the cover each day is such a hassle (quite easy), but the extra cycles on the ropes/pulleys (mine have been a bit finicky) are something I limit if possible. I do open every 4th day or so (during spring/fall when cover is on every day) to air out the pool and use that time to add my acid to lower pH which my SWG causes to rise due to the aeration via the bubbles produced in the process of making chlorine gas. With a pool that large (probably top 5% of all residential pools), a SWG would be an ideal way to chlorinate. You'd ideally want the Pentair IC-60 (60K gallons). We recommend going 2-3x the number of gallons you have for the most cost efficient way to purchase them. The largest Hayward is the T-15 rated for 45K gallons.
Just some food for thought. If you'd like to explore more you can ask further anytime.
One item to note with an autocover and using bleach it that you will have to open the pool daily to test, add chemicals, mix and then recover (after at least 30 minutes of mixing - don't want to close up an unmixed pool - bad for cover). This is one (of many) of the reasons why I find our SWG so handy. I test and then adjust the salt cell or pump runtime. No need to open cover. Not that opening the cover each day is such a hassle (quite easy), but the extra cycles on the ropes/pulleys (mine have been a bit finicky) are something I limit if possible. I do open every 4th day or so (during spring/fall when cover is on every day) to air out the pool and use that time to add my acid to lower pH which my SWG causes to rise due to the aeration via the bubbles produced in the process of making chlorine gas. With a pool that large (probably top 5% of all residential pools), a SWG would be an ideal way to chlorinate. You'd ideally want the Pentair IC-60 (60K gallons). We recommend going 2-3x the number of gallons you have for the most cost efficient way to purchase them. The largest Hayward is the T-15 rated for 45K gallons.
Just some food for thought. If you'd like to explore more you can ask further anytime.