Am I crazy?

[mccool83]

So, I started my opening yesterday of an expected green pool. I had to close my pool earlier than I wanted to last year due to having back surgery at the end of September, so I expected it to be a mess.
So I got everything started up and circulating, vacuumed to waste and shocked it last night with 3 gallons of 10%. I didn't have a chance to test the chlorine that night.
Pool looked better today, backwashed and brushed and gave it another 3 gallons. Did a quick chlorine test before I shocked and showed between 2-3. Added the 3 gallons and checked the chlorine 15 minutes later, no change.
Checked the chlorine 3 hours later, no change. Am I getting a false reading or did I have bad chlorine? Bottle date was 4-3-17.

 

[jblizzle]

What test kit are you using?

 

[mccool83]

I'm waiting on my refills for the T100, I used my leftovers from the T100 which are close to two years old and the basic drop test.

 

[Richard320]

I'd be curious to know what the CYA level is. And the CC level. What you're describing could be either some small-scale algae attack or the CYA broke down into ammonia over the winter. No way to know without test results.

 

[jblizzle]

Were you testing the CC too?
What is your CYA? If that dropped to 0, could be another case of ammonia which will consume the FC very fast and show high CC levels.

 

[pooldv]

Either something is using up the chlorine quickly or the test is bad. Either way, more bleach and once you can get FC to hold at 10 ppm then retest your CYA and start a SLAM Process.

 

[mccool83]

I'm completely out of the CYA test, so I'm waiting on those refills. I also found it weird that before I did the shock this evening, my PH showed 8.2 or above on the drop test. After I added the chlorine and tested again, the PH showed around 7.2.

- - - Updated - - -

CC was around 2 when I tested

 

[jblizzle]

That does not make any sense. High FC level would make the pH test read artificially high.

 

[mccool83]

I thought the same exact thing, it really had me at a loss

 

[jblizzle]

You sure you are not adding muriatic acid instead of bleach

 

[mccool83]

Haha, yes!

 

[mccool83]

Did another test when I got home today.
FC 3
CC 0
PH 7.2
TA 80
CH 150
CYA- unknown still

 

[mccool83]

FC at 10 and CC at 0 for last test of the night. I'll test again in the morning.

 

[mccool83]

This morning :
FC 4
CC 0

Water is clearing up nicely, can see the bottom to get rest of leaves out.
Feeling better about the pool and my sanity.