Just refilled pool, now chlorine won't stay up!

[Bluesky73]

We just drained, sanitized, and refilled our 3600 gallon frame pool. After the first round of testing, I used the pool math calculator and added muriatic acid and bleach.
This morning the pH was down, but there is NO chlorine. Is this normal for a start up?

I am using a drop test kit, I can't afford to get a Taylor right now. (I know that question is always the first asked)

 

[mknauss]

If a fresh fill there is no CYA in the water. Chlorine half life with 0 CYA is about 30 minutes in the sun.

Put enough CYA powder in a sock to get to 50 ppm and let hang in front of a return, squeeze it occasionally to get it dissolved.

Maintain bleach adds based on the CYA of 50. Might want to add two or three times a day for a couple days until you get the CYA distributed.

Take care.

 

[Bluesky73]

Put enough CYA powder in a sock to get to 50 ppm and let hang in front of a return, squeeze it occasionally to get it dissolved.

I have read put the sock near the return, and put the sock in the skimmer - does it matter? Is one better than the other? I only ask because I have 4 rambunctious kids in and out of the pool and I can only imagine what they might do to anything floating (or suspended) in the pool.

 

[mknauss]

Actually, they can help it dissolve by squeezing the sock! Now, they should not get it in their eyes or eat it --

The only reason I advocate putting it in front of a return vs the skimmer is that people do not always leave their pump run and the CYA is acidic and if left in the skimmer creates a bit of an acidic stew. Also, if any granules escape, they get trapped in the filter and sometimes take weeks to never dissolving.

Hope that helps!

 

[Oly]

Yes I like the return better as you can see it dissolve and manipulating the sock makes quick work of the process. For insurance I brushed the bottom near the return after each app.