Hello,
As of 5-17-10, our pool levels are:
FC - Less than 0.2 (The Basic Four Test kit by PoolMaster was used for the first four readings)
CC - Less than .02
pH - 7.4
TA - 230
CH - 250 (according to test strip - test kit didn't test this)
CYA - 100(according to test strip - test kit didn't test this)
Borates - I did not test for this
Our pool is 8 years old and until last year, we used a salt chlorinator which worked great. It stopped working so we switched to chlorine last summer. It worked out ok except for problems with algae. We covered the pool for the winter and we think the water levels were ok at that time and the pool was clean. We took the cover off a week ago and checked the levels. The chlorine and ph were very low at that time, so we added ph increaser (from the store) and at first 2 lbs of granulated chlorine. The levels didn't change for the chlorine, so over a couple of days, we continued to add chlorine until we had added 17 lbs!! But still no change in the chlorine levels.
Then, my husband went to the the pool store and had the water tested (The test results on that trip (5-11-10) were:
FC: 0.0
CC: not tested
pH: 6.8
TA: 90 ppm
CH: 195 ppm
CYA: 100 ppm
total dissolved solids: 3200 ppm
salt: 2200 ppm).
They told him to add 4.8 lbs. of alkalinity increaser, shock the pool by adding 1.1 gallons of liquid chlorine and add 7.5 lbs. of calcium increaser. After doing this, still no change in the chlorine levels although the ph rose a little.
My husband went to the pool store three more times and on the second trip (which was 5-12-10, the test results were:
FC: 0.0
CC: not tested
pH: 7.0
TA: 110 ppm
CH: 255 ppm
CYA: 100 ppm
total dissolved solids: 3200 ppm
salt: not tested).
We were told to add 1.6 lbs. of alkalinty and 1.1 gallons of liquid chlorine. After doing these, still no change in the chlorine. The third trip
(which was 5-13-10, the levels were:
FC: 0.0 ppm
CC: not tested
ph: 7.0
TA: 125 ppm
CH: 245 ppm
CYA: 100 ppm
total dissoved solids: 3600 ppm
salt: not tested
base demand: 12)
We were told to add 1.1 quarts of metal control plus salt solution and 3.8 lbs of ph plus. After this, according to our test kit, the chlorine is still non existent but the ph is better.
My husband dropped off another water sample by the pool store today and they are telling us that the phosphate level is very high in our pool and that may be the reason the chlorine is still non extistent. He did not stick around long enough to pick up the sheet with the levels. They want us to put a phosphate remover in the pool. We have not done this yet.
The water in the pool actually looks pretty good and clear, and has looked pretty good this whole time. We are really perplexed as what to do next. The guys at the pool store seem to be equally perplexed. Do you have any suggestions? Thank you so much! Susan
As of 5-17-10, our pool levels are:
FC - Less than 0.2 (The Basic Four Test kit by PoolMaster was used for the first four readings)
CC - Less than .02
pH - 7.4
TA - 230
CH - 250 (according to test strip - test kit didn't test this)
CYA - 100(according to test strip - test kit didn't test this)
Borates - I did not test for this
Our pool is 8 years old and until last year, we used a salt chlorinator which worked great. It stopped working so we switched to chlorine last summer. It worked out ok except for problems with algae. We covered the pool for the winter and we think the water levels were ok at that time and the pool was clean. We took the cover off a week ago and checked the levels. The chlorine and ph were very low at that time, so we added ph increaser (from the store) and at first 2 lbs of granulated chlorine. The levels didn't change for the chlorine, so over a couple of days, we continued to add chlorine until we had added 17 lbs!! But still no change in the chlorine levels.
Then, my husband went to the the pool store and had the water tested (The test results on that trip (5-11-10) were:
FC: 0.0
CC: not tested
pH: 6.8
TA: 90 ppm
CH: 195 ppm
CYA: 100 ppm
total dissolved solids: 3200 ppm
salt: 2200 ppm).
They told him to add 4.8 lbs. of alkalinity increaser, shock the pool by adding 1.1 gallons of liquid chlorine and add 7.5 lbs. of calcium increaser. After doing this, still no change in the chlorine levels although the ph rose a little.
My husband went to the pool store three more times and on the second trip (which was 5-12-10, the test results were:
FC: 0.0
CC: not tested
pH: 7.0
TA: 110 ppm
CH: 255 ppm
CYA: 100 ppm
total dissolved solids: 3200 ppm
salt: not tested).
We were told to add 1.6 lbs. of alkalinty and 1.1 gallons of liquid chlorine. After doing these, still no change in the chlorine. The third trip
(which was 5-13-10, the levels were:
FC: 0.0 ppm
CC: not tested
ph: 7.0
TA: 125 ppm
CH: 245 ppm
CYA: 100 ppm
total dissoved solids: 3600 ppm
salt: not tested
base demand: 12)
We were told to add 1.1 quarts of metal control plus salt solution and 3.8 lbs of ph plus. After this, according to our test kit, the chlorine is still non existent but the ph is better.
My husband dropped off another water sample by the pool store today and they are telling us that the phosphate level is very high in our pool and that may be the reason the chlorine is still non extistent. He did not stick around long enough to pick up the sheet with the levels. They want us to put a phosphate remover in the pool. We have not done this yet.
The water in the pool actually looks pretty good and clear, and has looked pretty good this whole time. We are really perplexed as what to do next. The guys at the pool store seem to be equally perplexed. Do you have any suggestions? Thank you so much! Susan