Glad I looked again before starting. I'll add chlorine tonight and go from there. Thanks.
Algae has won the battle...help me win the WAR!
- Thread starter sqbagal
- Start date
So...I've added many gallons of bleach and the water is now pale green and I'm nearly able to see the bottom 
However, I haven't been able to get the FC to 10. It gets to 2 and that's it. I haven't added CYA yet because I can't get it to 10. What am I doing wrong?
I was reading the more detailed FAS-DPD test info and found this: In rare cases the sample may turn cloudy. If this happens the test is still valid. You add drops until the sample turns cloudy white, i.e. the red/pink is completely gone, rather than waiting for it to turn clear. This is what happens to my test - what is the rare case? Still ammonia in my pool?
However, I haven't been able to get the FC to 10. It gets to 2 and that's it. I haven't added CYA yet because I can't get it to 10. What am I doing wrong? I was reading the more detailed FAS-DPD test info and found this: In rare cases the sample may turn cloudy. If this happens the test is still valid. You add drops until the sample turns cloudy white, i.e. the red/pink is completely gone, rather than waiting for it to turn clear. This is what happens to my test - what is the rare case? Still ammonia in my pool?
- May 3, 2014
- 58,766
- Pool Size
- 6000
- Surface
- Fiberglass
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-40
Are you following this process:
Add enough chlorine to reach FC 10. Pump on. Test FC after 15 minutes. If below 5, repeat. Once FC holds between 7-10 after the 15 minutes, then add CYA and start your SLAM.
You cannot just add and go away. This is a process.
Good luck.
Add enough chlorine to reach FC 10. Pump on. Test FC after 15 minutes. If below 5, repeat. Once FC holds between 7-10 after the 15 minutes, then add CYA and start your SLAM.
You cannot just add and go away. This is a process.
Good luck.
According to Pool Math, I should add 2 gallons of 10% bleach and that will take me from 0 to 12 FC...That doesn't touch it. I added 10 gallons of bleach and got to 4 FC. Have no idea how much bleach to add to get it to 10, especially if there are other issues like ammonia. How does that affect the results? And I haven't added CYA, so still at 0.
Just bought 40 more gallons of bleach - - tell me what to add. How long after adding the bleach do I test to see what the FC is?
So far, after a day of adding 46 gallons of bleach the water has changed from black/green to dark green with green foam to green with white foam to light green with floating dead algae. So progress is being made.....right?
Just bought 40 more gallons of bleach - - tell me what to add. How long after adding the bleach do I test to see what the FC is?
So far, after a day of adding 46 gallons of bleach the water has changed from black/green to dark green with green foam to green with white foam to light green with floating dead algae. So progress is being made.....right?
- May 3, 2014
- 58,766
- Pool Size
- 6000
- Surface
- Fiberglass
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-40
Again, are you testing your FC after 15 minutes?
If so - then you had alot of ammonia. It can take a lot of bleach to kill off the ammonia. Yes, it is getting better, but you are fighting the UV loss of chlorine during the day too.
That is why I keep asking if you are testing after 15 minutes.
Take care.
If so - then you had alot of ammonia. It can take a lot of bleach to kill off the ammonia. Yes, it is getting better, but you are fighting the UV loss of chlorine during the day too.
That is why I keep asking if you are testing after 15 minutes.
Take care.
Yes - every 15 minutes. But I never got FC to 10. I have no idea how much to add to get it there.
- May 3, 2014
- 58,766
- Pool Size
- 6000
- Surface
- Fiberglass
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-40
You add what pool math says, and keep repeating every 15 minutes if you do not test between 7 and 10. Do not over add, just keep doing the same regimen.
Pump on all the time.
Drain and refill may be easier, but not recommended in the summer in the desert. It will damage your plaster.
Pump on all the time.
Drain and refill may be easier, but not recommended in the summer in the desert. It will damage your plaster.
Ok. Does this mean that there is still ammonia and I shouldn't add CYA yet? Add the bleach and then test at 15 minutes to see what it is? And keep doing that until it hits 10?
- May 3, 2014
- 58,766
- Pool Size
- 6000
- Surface
- Fiberglass
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-40
Do not add CYA until your FC holds above 7.
Example: You test and get FC 2, add enough bleach to get to 10, wait 15 minutes, test, get FC 3; add enough bleach to get to 10; wait 15 minutes, test .... until that test shows above 7.
CYA is food for the bacteria in your water that creates ammonia.
- - - Updated - - -
You need to order FAS - DPD refills now. You have a long road ahead of you in defeating this algae.
Once you go to SLAM, use a 5 ml sample of water and each drop equals 1 ppm FC.
Example: You test and get FC 2, add enough bleach to get to 10, wait 15 minutes, test, get FC 3; add enough bleach to get to 10; wait 15 minutes, test .... until that test shows above 7.
CYA is food for the bacteria in your water that creates ammonia.
- - - Updated - - -
You need to order FAS - DPD refills now. You have a long road ahead of you in defeating this algae.
Once you go to SLAM, use a 5 ml sample of water and each drop equals 1 ppm FC.
Perfect. Thank you!! Got it now...fingers crossed I don't run Home Depot out of chlorine
Perfect. Thank you!! Got it now...fingers crossed I don't run Home Depot out of chlorine
Does Home Depot store their chlorine outside? If they do, especially in Phoenix, I highly recommend you start buying it somewhere else. Heat will speed up chlorine's loss of effectiveness and that 6% or 10% bleach might actually only be 2% or 5% (or less!) if it's been sitting outside in the heat for awhile.
WalMart generally keeps both their "Pool Chlorinating Liquid" (10%, $3.64/gallon in the pool section) inside, along with their traditional "Great Value" house brand concentrated bleach (8.25%, $2.67/121oz jug in the laundry aisle). The Great Value bleach tends to be newer, usually made within the past 2-3 weeks.
- Jun 22, 2017
- 861
- Pool Size
- 35000
- Surface
- Vinyl
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- CircuPool RJ-45
I've found Walmart's 2 pack of 10% liquid chlorine to be one of the best values around, when nothing is on a discounted sale.
Last edited:
Actually, HD keeps it inside and it's less than Walmart when I checked a couple of days ago. Both were 10%, HD is $6.86/2 pack and Walmart was $8 something... thanks for looking out for me though
- - - Updated - - -
Nice chart!! HD has the HDX brand here (Phoenix) but it's 10% and a 2-pack for $6.86.
- Jun 22, 2017
- 861
- Pool Size
- 35000
- Surface
- Vinyl
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- CircuPool RJ-45
Actually, HD keeps it inside and it's less than Walmart when I checked a couple of days ago. Both were 10%, HD is $6.86/2 pack and Walmart was $8 something... thanks for looking out for me though
- - - Updated - - -
Nice chart!! HD has the HDX brand here (Phoenix) but it's 10% and a 2-pack for $6.86.
Walmart must change their prices in different areas then, cuz that’s what it was when I bought 2weeks ago. Can’t ever keep anything simple, can they lol
FC stayed at 2 all day. I thought I'd test CC and um, it's at 10! Do I stay the course and keep testing and adding every 15 mins?
- May 3, 2014
- 58,766
- Pool Size
- 6000
- Surface
- Fiberglass
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-40
You did the process I described every 15 minutes all day and you still have not cleared the ammonia? Whoa, not sure what to say ---
- Jun 22, 2017
- 861
- Pool Size
- 35000
- Surface
- Vinyl
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- CircuPool RJ-45
Unless someone else has a better suggestion, I'd say to keep on adding chlorine as you are and see if it starts to hold over the new couple of days. With a CC of 10, its obviously reacting with something. I've see posts on here where people had to add huge amounts of chlorine to their pool over week or more period of time before the chlorine finally got rid of everything in their pool and started to hold as it should.
UPDATE: I've added NO bleach yet today. Thought I'd take some readings just to see where I am now....FC 2 and CC 5
Does that make any sense to anyone? Pool looks pretty good, too. It's still green but with a bluish tinge and I can almost see the bottom.
Is there a test for ammonia?
Does that make any sense to anyone? Pool looks pretty good, too. It's still green but with a bluish tinge and I can almost see the bottom.
Is there a test for ammonia?
Most pet/fish stores have a basic Ammonia test you can use to confirm presence. I don't know if you can calculate an expected ammonia level from that or not.
- May 3, 2014
- 58,766
- Pool Size
- 6000
- Surface
- Fiberglass
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-40
There are ammonia tests available at aquarium stores.
I wonder how you can hold 2 FC without any CYA in the sunshine of Phoenix. That is odd.
You can get an ammonia test or just try adding CYA and see how it goes.
Have ever added any pool store potions? The high CC numbers are odd also.
Take care.
I wonder how you can hold 2 FC without any CYA in the sunshine of Phoenix. That is odd.
You can get an ammonia test or just try adding CYA and see how it goes.
Have ever added any pool store potions? The high CC numbers are odd also.
Take care.