Got my kit and results-huh?

[Phyllig2000]

Hey y'all! Please be kind. I'm here to learn, not ask for y'all to do it for me forever. ?

I purchased a home with a 20,000 gallon, in ground, vinyl pool. Sand filter (sand was replaced 2 yrs ago). It is covered with one of those Florida type mesh enclosures. The pool gets full sun all day.
We had green algae. I took a sample to the pool store that has been servicing this pool it's whole life. I followed their instructions to a T. (Silly me!). Cost me a fortune.
I decided to order the TF -100 kit from here. It came in today. Just tested.
My water is Sparkling clear and my kids want to get in - like, yesterday. They are driving me crazy. I tested the water and it's waaaaay off. Thanks pool store for clearing the green but killing my test stats.

Here's what's up...
FC = 25!!!
CYA = 70
TA = 170
Ph = 7.8

Do I need to drain a little and start over?? Can my kids swim in this?? Will their suits and hair dissolve afterwards? ?

I appreciate any advice. I will keep reading and get this down. I will survive.
Thanks Guys!!

Sincerely,
Phyllis

 

[Mike1162]

What did you get for CC (combined chloramines)?

 

[spinPHD]

Your numbers don't look bad at all. Your CYA is a little high, but manageable without a drain. You can slowly bring that down to about 50 overtime from backwashing. For now, your target range is a FC between 8-10. Don't let it drop below 5.

As mentioned above, test for your CC to make sure you don't have any algae brewing in there. If you do, you will need to SLAM at FC of 28.

Also, from now on you need to only use bleach aka liquid chlorine for all your sanitation needs. Also, you can skip PH test until FC goes below 10. It's not reliable until it's below that.

 

[Rollercoastr]

Congrats on the home, the pool, test kit and liberating yourself from the pool $tore! I'm sure you understand why we spell it the way we do!

Good news for your kids: we consider pools to be safe to swim when you can clearly see the bottom and FC is below slam level for your CYA. That's 28, btw. Pool School - Chlorine / CYA Chart

pH looks high, but that's a common reading when FC is above 10. We don't even bother testing pH at high levels.

 

[Texas Splash]

Phyllis, I see no reason to drain/exchange any water. Your CYA is a little elevated, but still manageable. You just need to ensure your FC remains in the recommended 8-10 range. If you ever suspect algae, the SLAM/Shock FC level would be 28. As you can see, you are under the SLAM level for your current CYA, so you CAN swim. No one will dissolve.

So if there are no unusual CC levels, and since your water is already clear, I say let them swim!

Now your TA is a little elevated, but we can help you with that later. Your pH is at the 7.8 mark, probably because of the high FC level right now. Once your FC drops back down under 10, if pH remains high, a little muriatic acid will help to lower it. Always refer to the TFP references, many of which you can see in my signature. Hope that helps.

 

[Phyllig2000]

So the FC drama continues...?
My husband hired a pressure washer fellow to come over and clean the pool frame and deck. Guess what he sprays as a pre-wash? You guessed it. Bleach. Now my FC is up to 33 and CC is still .05. I have got to get this level down or I will have to sell my children. "Mama! PLEEEEEEEASE let us swim!"
The pool store has reducer for $18 and it's enough to lower FC just 10ppm. I have read the threads about Hydrogen peroxide. Please don't hate me for asking, but I am dyslexic (for real, tested and everything) and my math skills are sub-par. Anyone want to take a stab at how much Peroxide I would need to lower 20ppm FC in 20K gallons? Cya is still at 70ish.
I can't thank you wonderful people enough!!!!

 

[mknauss]

Look at the FC/CYA chart Pool School - Chlorine / CYA Chart

If your CYA is 70 your shock level FC is 28. No problem swimming in that! And it is not harmful to swim at your current FC of 33, you just might see some effect on brightly colored swimsuits.

If your pool is in bright sunshine your FC will drop pretty rapidly.

Why add more chemicals? Let the sun work for a couple hours, retest to ensure your FC is near 28, and let them swim!

Take care.

 

[RonsPlc]

according to the CYA-FC chart that we follow, your shock level is 28 for a CYA of 70...
You tested at 33, that is just 6ppm above where it is safe to swim. (Not ideal, but safe.)
I bet that given enough sunshine, it will test safe in about 1/2 a day of sunshine.
Keep in mind that the second a swimmer hits the pool, the Chlorine starts working at breaking down anything on the skin... oils, dirt, etc. and that will also decrease your FC faster.
I personally wouldn't put anything into the pool to decrease it any faster.

 

[Phyllig2000]

I was at 25 yesterday before the pressure washing.
The pool is in direct sunlight, but the Florida screen overhead really cuts UV light. By about 30%. This pool stays really cold even into August due to the UV blockage. That means my FC doesn't fall as rapidly. I only want to lower it before they swim because the little man jumped in yesterday and while he survived he smells like a bottle of bleach now. It's just the mama in me. And the fact that I want perfect numbers. I'm a little obsessive about numbers matching recommended levels.
Thank you for you quick reply. I appreciate you.

 

[kimkats]

I got this:

"the amount in oz of 6% bleach it takes to raise your FC by X ppm's is equal to the amount of 3% H2O2 needed to lower the FC by X ppm's."

So say it takes ?? oz of bleach to raise your FC by ? that is how much H202 (hydrogen peroxide) you will need to use to get the FC down to where you want it.

Using Pool Math I did this-I told Pool Math I wanted to raise my FC from 5 to 15 (a total of 10ppm). I used your pool size (20000 gals). It told me I would need 416 oz of 6 % bleach SO using what was said about using H202 you would need to buy and pour in 416 oz of H202!

You can buy it at the dollar store for $1 a bottle.

Does that break it down enough for you? I am also dyslexic and it REALLY shows in my math so I understand where you are coming from! That is why I LOVE Pool Math! It does all of the work for me!1

Kim

 

[Phyllig2000]

I got this:

"the amount in oz of 6% bleach it takes to raise your FC by X ppm's is equal to the amount of 3% H2O2 needed to lower the FC by X ppm's."

So say it takes ?? oz of bleach to raise your FC by ? that is how much H202 (hydrogen peroxide) you will need to use to get the FC down to where you want it.

Using Pool Math I did this-I told Pool Math I wanted to raise my FC from 5 to 15 (a total of 10ppm). I used your pool size (20000 gals). It told me I would need 416 oz of 6 % bleach SO using what was said about using H202 you would need to buy and pour in 416 oz of H202!

You can buy it at the dollar store for $1 a bottle.

Does that break it down enough for you? I am also dyslexic and it REALLY shows in my math so I understand where you are coming from! That is why I LOVE Pool Math! It does all of the work for me!1

Kim

YOU ARE THE BEST!!!! Thank you! I can't math to save my life. I can read pretty well, but 8+7 will always = 13 in my poor brain.