? Chlorine Lock

[JFarrell07]

A week ago I noticed our chlorine wasnt keeping up. Found a dead animal in skimmer (not sure if this was related). Shocked the pool. Next day I noticed our chlorine registered zero. Took water sample in to pool store. FC was 0 TC was .4 CYA was 126. Ammonia was around a 7. Pool store had me add 2 packs of burnout 73.
Repeated water store chemical test on 5/31
FC 0
TC .4
CYA 71
PH 7.3
Alkalinity 153
Calcium hardness 212
Optimizer 14
Phosphates 0
Ammonia 8 plus
They requested we drain and add fresh water. Did this on and off for about 6 hours over the course of 2 days.
Took another sample in today. Ammonia is still registering through the roof (their test goes up to 8. It appears to register that high)
I am under the impression ammonia is eating my chlorine. Should I be trying to raise my cya? If so- how? I tried to click on the link and search the forum. I found a FC/CYA discussion but there’s no table to show what I need to add or how much.
As of today my numbers are as follows
FC- 0
TC- .4
CYA 17
Ammonia 8 plus

Not sure if this makes a difference. We have a chlorinator (apparently I should stop using this?) an ionizer and an ozonator.
Should I put new cartridge filters in due to all of this?
I don’t appear to have algae… yet. Although I found 2 back swimmers in the pool. It’s my understanding they feed off algae.

Thanks for the help

 

[reggiehammond]

TFP methods are based on self-testing. You'll need a proper test kit to have any idea what is happening in your own pool.
Test Kits Compared

Ammonia can consume chlorine almost instantly. You would need to raise FC, then test 30 minutes later to see if any FC registers.

Ammonia - Further Reading

www.troublefreepool.com

I'd recommend that you invest in a proper test kit, post a full set of results, and let us help you from there. Pool stores may seem like your friend, but they are decidedly not.

 

[Katygreys]

Following this thread to find out what Optimizer is.

JFarrell, what reggie said. We cannot offer advice based on chemical analysis from pool stores. May sound strange, but the entire reason this website exists is that pool store results are unreliable and quite often inaccurate and inconsistent, plus they will sell you magic potions that do not solve your problems but will definitely keep you going back to the pool store for more potions.

Step one, purchase an actual test kit, one of the ones linked by reggie. Step 2 post your results. Then watch as lots of folks reply to assist.

Cheers!

 

[Newdude]

Following this thread to find out what Optimizer is.

Borates. They're often sold as a magical cure all. How much more can they go out of their way to sell them by calling it 'optimizer' ?

 

[JJ_Tex]

Borates.

 

[ajw22]

It takes 10PPM of chlorine to consume 1PPM of ammonia.

Ammonia - Further Reading

www.troublefreepool.com