can't keep chlorine level; phosphates?

[reebok]

run the pump 24/7 while shocking. because cya's of 40 and 50 are so close on the chart, I would shoot for minimum and target levels of 50ppm (4 and 6ppm), and I probably would shoot for the 50ppm shock level also, though you could probably split the difference there and go with 18ppm shock level instead of 20 if you want. 20 should make it go slightly faster.

 

[chem geek]

Don't worry. Just add the amount of chlorine to get to 20 ppm FC according to The Pool Calculator. Then, you can use your existing test kit by diluting 1 part pool water sample with 4 parts tap water which will give you a rough reading which you would multiply by 5 -- so you should read around 4 ppm FC on the test which means you've got 20 ppm FC in the pool. You can measure your tap water by itself as well and subtract that reading from your diluted pool water sample reading before you multiply by 5.

It's not too much of a problem if you're somewhat on the high side. You just don't want your diluted pool sample to read less than 3 ppm FC or so -- 4 ppm FC would be better (both numbers are before multiplying by 5, of course).

 

[duraleigh]

Pool stores are not accurate. You are finding that out. Sooner or later, almost everyone who stays on this forum realizes that doing your own testing is accurate, economical and prevents you from making costly mistakes in dosage.

CYA does not vary in a pool much at all.......maybe 10ppm all summer. There is simply an error in one (or both) of their tests.