Very strange test results!

[JamesW]

The pH should rise on its own. I would leave it and finish the SLAM.

Ammonia is mostly NH₄⁺. So, as chlorine reacts with the nitrogen, a lot of hydrogen ions are left over.

 

[PoolGate]

I'd like to aerate the water but he has no water features. Maybe I can put in my sump pump with the hose above water pointing back down at the pool? How much aeration is typically needed?

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Oh also - is it fine to add CYA now?

 

[JamesW]

You can add the CYA now.

The pH should rise without aeration. I would leave it and let it rise on its own.

The CYA will lower the pH some. So, it might be worthwhile to raise the pH a little bit, but I don't think that it's necessary.

 

[PoolGate]

You can add the CYA now.

The pH should rise without aeration. I would leave it and let it rise on its own.

The CYA will lower the pH some. So, it might be worthwhile to raise the pH a little bit, but I don't think that it's necessary.

I'll leave it be for now and check again tomorrow when I do a full testing battery. I don't have any Borax anyway.

 

[Arizonarob]

This thread is turning out to be a real nail biter!!
#passpopcorn

 

[PoolguyinCT]

Gate- this guy better mow your lawn or bake you cookies..

 

[Demegrad9]

On the question of adding CYA, shouldn't he wait until all the Ammonia and this CYA eating bacteria is gone, and wouldn't that mean waiting until he passes the OCLT?

 

[JamesW]

Bacteria don't last long in chlorine. I suspect that the bacteria was killed fairly early on in the process.

 

[PoolGate]

I just added 5 lbs of CYA into the skimmer in a sock. Chlorine that I added this morning was pretty much gone so I added another gallon. Problem is that we bought out 2 stores worth of bleach. I went this morning and neither had re-stocked. The one will have it tomorrow morning and put 2 cases with my name on it. Until then I have 2 gallons left and lots of the pucks. It'll have to do.

 

[PoolGate]

So I just set up my "poor man's" aerator!

 

[JoyfulNoise]

Try Home Depot or Lowes or Ace Hardware. Walmart might have their pool stuff out.

 

[Arizonarob]

So I just set up my "poor man's" aerator!

Jeepers, that water doesn't look anywhere near as bad as it sounds.

 

[PoolGate]

Jeepers, that water doesn't look anywhere near as bad as it sounds.

35 gallon of chlorine over 2 days will do that. Not to mention he had already gone through 2 shock cycles trying to clear it up.

 

[PoolGate]

This morning's test results are good for chlorine. Holding very well. Next thing I am chasing is the pH. It is really WAY too low. I don't think I can wait for it to drift up on its own. It doesn't seem to have budged it is still off the charts low this morning. Almost totally yellow. I have some sodium carbonate or I can add borax. Which is better? TA is 100.

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Oh water is CRYSTAL clear!

 

[Demegrad9]

Either sodium carbonate or borax work great, so toss a coin!

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Just go easy with it and add a little at a time until you get to 7.2, the TA is now in the ballpark so you don't want to over it. Once you get to 7.2, switch back to just using aeration to raise pH

 

[PoolGate]

Just throw it in? Does it need premixing or anything or a filter sock in the skimmer?

 

[Demegrad9]

The few times I've used either, I've just throw it in the pool.

Do not mix with any other pool chemicals.

 

[PoolGate]

OK thanks I pre-mixed it in a 5 gallon bucket and poured it into the skimmer. I started low just 5 lbs.

 

[JoyfulNoise]

You should use borax. It will raise pH and only slightly affect the TA. Sodium carbonate raises pH and TA strongly.

Predilute is fine. Pour it in front of the deep end return.

 

[PoolGate]

You should use borax. It will raise pH and only slightly affect the TA. Sodium carbonate raises pH and TA strongly.

Predilute is fine. Pour it in front of the deep end return.

I'll see what it registers after this 5lbs of sodium carbonate and then switch to Borax. He was already on the high end of TA.

How long does it take to mix with the pool so I get an accurate reading? I poured it in the skimmer so right before his pump/DE filter. His skimmer get a lot of flow. I put 1/2 what I expect to actually need.