My 5 drop Chlorine tester only reads to 5. How will I know when I'm at and holding the shock level at 22?
Cl Testing at Shock Level
- Thread starter DebraJ
- Start date
- May 3, 2014
- 62,727
- Pool Size
- 6000
- Surface
- Fiberglass
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-40
What test kit do you have? The two recommended ones, the TF100 and Taylor K2006C both have FAS-DPD test in them to test to 50 ppm FC.
- May 3, 2014
- 62,727
- Pool Size
- 6000
- Surface
- Fiberglass
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-40
That kit is not sufficient to follow TFP methods nor follow the SLAM Process.
Order a TF-100
The only other real option for a test kit is a Taylor K-2006-C. Be careful comparing prices because the K-2006 comes in sizes, designated by a letter. The basic K-2006 has .75oz bottles. You need to get the K-2006-C to get the larger bottles that you want.
I also have the Speedstir. It makes testing much easier.
Order a TF-100
The only other real option for a test kit is a Taylor K-2006-C. Be careful comparing prices because the K-2006 comes in sizes, designated by a letter. The basic K-2006 has .75oz bottles. You need to get the K-2006-C to get the larger bottles that you want.
I also have the Speedstir. It makes testing much easier.
- Jul 21, 2013
- 65,486
- Pool Size
- 35000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-60
If you are going to be doing the SLAM Process order the XL Option with your TF-100 to ensure you don’t run out.
Okay. Thanks to both responses. I'll follow your links and see what I can do. I have what appears to be mustard algae. It's been beautiful all season then wham! And getting worse by the hour. I'm using the E10 bottom cleaner with B cartridge filter and wall skimmer with a sock. What do you suggest I do until I can get a new kit? We live rural and will need to order. I ran the calculator and will get the pH down with muriatic acid as soon as it gets here. I'll have 3 gallons of 10% chlorine as well. After getting my pH down, the calculator indicates 220oz chlorine will get it to 22 shock level. Then I just need to hold that until I can get a better test kit here.
Welcome!
You can clean the cartridges with a hose. When you notice the flow slowing, time to clean. Most of us order the test kits, even when not rural although I can actually get DPD powder in town if I wanted.
What have you been using for chlorine so far? Have you added any trichlor pucks or granulated chlorine? Have you added CYA at all, ever?
You note that you're using Pool Math, which is awesome! What are you basing your CYA number on?
I doubt you have mustard algae... Most likely just regular algae.
You can clean the cartridges with a hose. When you notice the flow slowing, time to clean. Most of us order the test kits, even when not rural although I can actually get DPD powder in town if I wanted.
What have you been using for chlorine so far? Have you added any trichlor pucks or granulated chlorine? Have you added CYA at all, ever?
You note that you're using Pool Math, which is awesome! What are you basing your CYA number on?
I doubt you have mustard algae... Most likely just regular algae.
My pH has been bright red all season (high) but my Cl was holding good. Then suddenly the yellow/green stuff and cloudiness arrived. I check levels. still high pH but Cl was 0. Husband put in what chlorine we had just to try to keep a handle on it until we could do something better. I tested mid-morning today and my levels were:
Cl - 6 is the best I could guess because it was off my chart.
pH - 8.6 is the best I could guess because, again, it was off my chart.
CYA - 35
TA - 320
And again... these readings are just with the HTH 6-way kit. I've had everything running for 6 hours now and cleaned the filters of all after running about 4 hours and started right back up.
Cl - 6 is the best I could guess because it was off my chart.
pH - 8.6 is the best I could guess because, again, it was off my chart.
CYA - 35
TA - 320
And again... these readings are just with the HTH 6-way kit. I've had everything running for 6 hours now and cleaned the filters of all after running about 4 hours and started right back up.
Oh, forgot to tell you that I've been using trichloro 3" tablets. But it hasn't affected my CYA. Still at 35 today. The CYA test was the one where the black dot disappears at the bottom of the tube. I've been at this all day and I'm getting rummy and discouraged.
- Jul 21, 2013
- 65,486
- Pool Size
- 35000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-60
Read ...
www.troublefreepool.com
www.troublefreepool.com
Swimming Pool Algae: Basics and Prevention
The best offense is a good defense: prevent algae in your pool with chlorine, and avoid expensive algaecides and shock! No more green pools!
www.troublefreepool.com
Mustard Algae
Today We are going to show you how you can get rid of mustard algae in your pool. By following the steps in this guide and with no expensive chemicals.
www.troublefreepool.com
Till your kit arrives, use the OTO test. If it shows less than 5ppm, you can add chlorine to reach SLAM level for your CYA.
We'll call your CYA level 40, you can't use the level between the lines so we round up. Your SLAM level is 16ppm FC.
Assuming that you'll lose significant FC with the algae you're seeing, you may see less than 5ppm on the OTO test if you test every 2-3 hours. It may take longer to show up on the OTO, but that also means more FC is lost so while it won't make significant progress on your SLAM, it also won't allow your pool to backtrack. You'll be ahead of the game when your test arrives.
Run the pump/filter 24/7.
These videos may be helpful to put your mind at ease. We'll be here to help you along the way, and soon you will have your clean pool back!
We'll call your CYA level 40, you can't use the level between the lines so we round up. Your SLAM level is 16ppm FC.
Assuming that you'll lose significant FC with the algae you're seeing, you may see less than 5ppm on the OTO test if you test every 2-3 hours. It may take longer to show up on the OTO, but that also means more FC is lost so while it won't make significant progress on your SLAM, it also won't allow your pool to backtrack. You'll be ahead of the game when your test arrives.
Run the pump/filter 24/7.
These videos may be helpful to put your mind at ease. We'll be here to help you along the way, and soon you will have your clean pool back!
Read what @ajw22 posted.
But also, mustard algae likes to live in the shadows, and is actually fairly uncommon. What you've described sounds like a typical algae bloom.
Similar threads
