High CC after shock

[2M&Ms]

HI!

Have searched everywhere and can't narrow down the answer.

Using test strips, on 10x30 Intex 1000 gal quickset. Pool had heavy usage for 2 days, very cloudy. Started off this morning with zero TC & FC. Shocked with Clorox Xtra Blue 6 in 1, used 3oz and now my CC is very high.
Daily chlorine added is 2/3 cup household Clorox Bleach.

I assume the CC is going high as its working to clean and sanitize, but my questions are this...
Am I not using enough bleach daily?
And do I need to shock again?
Is high TC part of the shock process?
From what I read it would seem I need to SLAM and need a real test kit.....but..

It did this last time I shocked. I added small amount of PH down as it appeared to be a little high on the acceptable range and the next morning TC was back down to .5 matching FC. I added bleach and was good for the day.

So where did the chloramines go?

Attaching pic of test strip.

Any help is appreciated. My pool didn't come with a filter. I made one with a submersible pump 880gph attached to a 2 liter full of polyfill. I scrub sides, use a vacuum for debri, and move pump around a lot and whirlpool every hour or so.

picture is misleading as CYA shows 30-50 acceptable range in RL and PH at 7.6

 

[proavia]

Welcome to TFP!

Is your pool 1,000 gallons or 10,000 gallons?
Once you confirm your pool size, we can make better recommemdations.

Any pool chemicals labeled Blu, Xtra Blu, blue anything usually contain copper, which will eventually stain your pool.
Avoid putting them in your pool.

 

[ajw22]

Welcome to TFP.

With 1,000 gallons you should follow our simplified procedures for seasonal pools...

Guide for Seasonal/Temporary Pools

Smaller seasonal pools can see just as much enjoyment as their larger counterparts. In this guide we'll show you how to maintain your temporary pool.

www.troublefreepool.com

You really don't want to use chemicals with copper in it although you will not be keeping water in your pool long enough for it to cause problems.

 

[2M&Ms]

Welcome to TFP!

Is your pool 1,000 gallons or 10,000 gallons?
Once you confirm your pool size, we can make better recommemdations.

Any pool chemicals labeled Blu, Xtra Blu, blue anything usually contain copper, which will eventually stain your pool.
Avoid putting them in your pool.

1,000

 

[proavia]

With a 1,000 gallon pool, consider doing a drain/refill and starting relatively fresh.

 

[DrewLG]

Have searched everywhere

You've read this? Guide for Seasonal/Temporary Pools

Am I not using enough bleach daily?

2/3 cup of 6% bleach will raise your FC by around 2.5ppm. That might be enough to make up for the loss due to sun exposure, but it's clearly not enough to keep up with the bather load. To counteract the effect of the bathers, you may need to add an additional 2 ounces of 6% bleach per bather-hour.

From what I read it would seem I need to SLAM and need a real test kit.....but..

If it's easy and inexpensive to do so, draining / scrubbing / refilling might be a faster and simpler way to get back to clear water.

 

[2M&Ms]

You've read this? Guide for Seasonal/Temporary Pools



2/3 cup of 6% bleach will raise your FC by around 2.5ppm. That might be enough to make up for the loss due to sun exposure, but it's clearly not enough to keep up with the bather load. To counteract the effect of the bathers, you may need to add an additional 2 ounces of 6% bleach per bather-hour.



If it's easy and inexpensive to do so, draining / scrubbing / refilling might be a faster and simpler way to get back to clear water.

Yes. Read the Guide for Seasonal Temp pools. I can drain but given the extra hassle it will cause, I'm trying to avoid it.

So that narrows down my questions for the most part. I guess I need to understand if the process of shocking would cause the TC to go so high, when starting out, the TC and FC are both low & equal?

 

[DrewLG]

I guess I need to understand if the process of shocking would cause the TC to go so high, when starting out, the TC and FC are both low & equal?

Yes. Your assumption -- that CC is high because the chlorine is working -- is probably correct. CC - Further Reading

 

[proavia]

Given your 1,000 gallon pool volume - drain/scrubbing/refill would be a lot less hassle and time than doing a full blown SLAM - and a SLAM requires you have one of the recommended test kits (extra time and no swimming waiting for it to arrive).

 

[Endro32]

Shock isn't a one time thing, it really is a process or else it'll only be partially completed and you can end up with lots of CC's or doing almost nothing at all. True SLAM requires getting the FC up to SLAM level and holding it there until you pass the Overnight Chlorine Loss Test. That's why it requires a legit test kit, since the strips aren't accurate enough to do this reliably.

 

[2M&Ms]

Yes. Your assumption -- that CC is high because the chlorine is working -- is probably correct. CC - Further Reading

Ty for linked read. Heading there now

 

[2M&Ms]

Given your 1,000 gallon pool volume - drain/scrubbing/refill would be a lot less hassle and time than doing a full blown SLAM - and a SLAM requires you have one of the recommended test kits (extra time and no swimming waiting for it to arrive).

Quite valid-as dumb as it sounds, I didn't consider the downside of waiting to be a hassle, but once stated, I think you might be right. The Grands definitely consider it an inconvenience to wait until GiGi gets the pool right. I'm a bit stubborn and determined to learn this pool balancing act towards getting a bigger pool next year, but summer is short enough and why make them wait unnecessarily? I'll check status of pool tomorrow and if still high TC it looks like I'll be draining and scrubbing. Thanks for putting it into perspective.

 

[proavia]

I think you already know that the Grands are going to win, right?

Don't forget to spoil them and get them all sugared up right before you give them back.

 

[DrewLG]

I'm a bit stubborn and determined to learn this pool balancing act towards getting a bigger pool next year

It's easier with a bigger pool, because the FC loss caused by bathers -- 2 ounces of 6% bleach per bather-hour -- affects FC much much less.

In your pool, 2 ounces of 6% bleach is 1ppm FC, so with 4 kids in the pool for 2 hours, you lose 8ppm FC. But in a 10,000-gallon pool, 2 ounces of 6% bleach is only 0.1ppm, so 4 kids for 2 hours uses less than 1ppm FC.

 

[2M&Ms]

Shock isn't a one time thing, it really is a process or else it'll only be partially completed and you can end up with lots of CC's or doing almost nothing at all. True SLAM requires getting the FC up to SLAM level and holding it there until you pass the Overnight Chlorine Loss Test. That's why it requires a legit test kit, since the strips aren't accurate enough to do this reliably.

Thank you for your response. I appreciate the insight. In looking for the reason of my TC going so high while shocking, you make a fabulous point I hadn't considered. Long term I may very well be causing a bigger problem shocking enough to bring the chloramines to the forfront, but without a SLAM or high enough hold of FC, they will build up.
This actually helps me a lot in deciding my next best step, which looks like drain, scrub & start fresh again. Thanks!

 

[2M&Ms]

Without a doubt! Thanks for your help!

 

[2M&Ms]

It's easier with a bigger pool, because the FC loss caused by bathers -- 2 ounces of 6% bleach per bather-hour -- affects FC much much less.

In your pool, 2 ounces of 6% bleach is 1ppm FC, so with 4 kids in the pool for 2 hours, you lose 8ppm FC. But in a 10,000-gallon pool, 2 ounces of 6% bleach is only 0.1ppm, so 4 kids for 2 hours uses less than 1ppm FC.

Thank you. My sister said smaller pools were harder to balance & I thought she was nuts, but now that you break it down like that, I have to accept she was right. Rats! Lol.

 

[proavia]

Update this thread with your progress.

A larger pool is going to require a good test kit - strips aren't enough.
Test Kits Compared

Pool Care Basics

We're here to help....

 

[proavia]

I have to accept she was right.

Don't let her know.
We won't say anything.
She'll never be the wiser.

 

[Newdude]

Smaller pools were harder to balance

2 kids in yours is the equivalent of 68 kids in my pool.

And they're younger kids, who won't get out for hours and hours. My older teens barely get wet most times and don't affect any chemistry, but 68 littles would would be a runaway train of FC loss.