CYA remaining 0 after additions

[Shebsfort]

I opened the pool mid April and had 0 CYA. I needed to add 8 lbs, but only added half at a time and retested. It seemed the dot was a little clouded with the tube full so I added the other half. No change. I added 4 more lbs, and the dot is clear as day with the tube full. Could the rain possibly be diluting it that much? We have had a LOT of rain all year, but I wouldn’t think it would keep bringing it back to 0. Any advice?

 

[blazer58]

Rain will not effect cya, unless your having to drain off your pool alot.
Sounds like you need to test for ammonia.
Google search results

Bumping for the more knowledgeable

 

[Mr Bruce]

Add 10 ppm FC, mix for 15 min and do a FC test. If it is below 5 repeat the 10 ppm/15 min drill until you get it to hold above 5ppm.

 

[Bama Rambler]

How are you adding it?

 

[Shebsfort]

I finally found something last night about ammonia eating CYA, so did that test. I forgot to check it at 15 minutes, but about 30 minutes later FC was 7 and CC was .4 (I think). I added more chlorine for the night and this morning FC was 6 and CC was .4. Is this fast enough reduction in FC to suggest ammonia?

 

[Shebsfort]

How are you adding it?

In a sock in front of a return.

 

[Bama Rambler]

How much water have you had to drain off the pool since you added it?

Do you know what brand CYA you had?

 

[Mr Bruce]

That doesn't sound like ammonia. Ammonia would consume all your chlorine immediately.

 

[setsailsoon]

I opened the pool mid April and had 0 CYA. I needed to add 8 lbs, but only added half at a time and retested. It seemed the dot was a little clouded with the tube full so I added the other half. No change. I added 4 more lbs, and the dot is clear as day with the tube full. Could the rain possibly be diluting it that much? We have had a LOT of rain all year, but I wouldn’t think it would keep bringing it back to 0. Any advice?

Sheb,

This is very weird. Maybe you need a weird chemist to weigh in. @JoyfulNoise Matt, any ideas? In the meantime can you please provide a complete set of test results? Have you added anything other than liquid chlorine, MA, and solid CYA to the pool or cleaned it with any chemical cleaners?

Hope this helps.

Chris

 

[Shebsfort]

How much water have you had to drain off the pool since you added it?

Do you know what brand CYA you had?

We’ve had to drain maybe 3 times in the last two months, but not since I added the last 4 lbs. This is Aquamate stabilizer from rural king the first two containers were from last year, but the last time I added it was from what I bought this year.

 

[Shebsfort]

Sheb,

This is very weird. Maybe you need a weird chemist to weigh in. @JoyfulNoise Matt, any ideas? In the meantime can you please provide a complete set of test results? Have you added anything other than liquid chlorine, MA, and solid CYA to the pool or cleaned it with any chemical cleaners?

Hope this helps.

Chris

FC 10
CC <.5
pH 8 (took a while to get there, adding MA today)
TA 40
This is my third year doing TFP, so I thought I had it down. I’ve only added liquid chlorine from rural king, Muriatic Acid, baking soda at the beginning, and CYA.

 

[zea3]

If you still have the CYA container post a picture of it please. I don't remember the brand involved but earlier in the year someone bought something labled CYA that was actually something else.

 

[Shebsfort]

If you still have the CYA container post a picture of it please. I don't remember the brand involved but earlier in the year someone bought something labled CYA that was actually something else.

 

[Shebsfort]

There is no other info about contents , but It says sold by: Baleco International Inc. Item# B000092-CS6X4# S4

 

[Shebsfort]

I’m sorry, this last time I only added 2 lbs, half of this container, but the dot is still totally clear no cloudy whatsoever - and I did add 8 lbs- 2 containers- at the beginning.

 

[Mr Bruce]

If you squeeze a sock filled with that in a bucket a few times and test that, does it register?

 

[Shebsfort]

Ahh never thought of that. Yes. Definitely registered.

 

[Mr Bruce]

This doesn't make any sense.

Do you have an autofill?

 

[Shebsfort]

I don’t know what an auto fill is so I think no. Should I get the sock back in, maybe something was wrong with last years that I added first, and maybe the 2 lbs wasn’t enough to register?

 

[Shebsfort]

I have what is left of the 4 lb container in the sock and back in the pool. If it all dissolved today, do I test it tomorrow, or the day after, or the next day for the best accuracy?