High Free Chlorine (FC): Over 30

[reggiehammond]

It's actually all really simple.

Here's how I look at it:
Worry about FC most of all, but you have to know CYA levels. SWCG makes this so much less of a worry though once in a good place.
Worry about pH weekly, use muriatic acid to lower. SWCG can scale easily/quickly if CSI is zero to positive.
Worry about TA not much; TA causes pH to rise until it reaches equilibrium (50-60) but acid treatments to control pH take care of this.
Worry about Salt, Calcium, CYA a few times per year.

 

[water0125]

I’m still struggling with my chlorine levels. Even after reducing the level of my intellichlor from the panel, my FC is still high.

The actual intellichlor shows 100%. I’ve reduced the intellichlor setting on the panel to 35%.

When I try to adjust the actual intellichlor, it reduces, blinks, and then goes back to 100%.

So, while the panel is set at 35%, I’m not sure that’s what’s actually happening. Has anyone else had this experience?

 

[mknauss]

What automation do you have?

 

[casiokid]

Your Intellichlor is controlled by the panel. Any adjustments you make on the actual SWG will be overridden by the automation.

If your automation is set at 35%, but the lights on the SWG are at 100%, there must be some communication error. Have you tried resetting the whole system, or disconnecting/reconnecting the SWG?

 

[water0125]

What automation do you have?

Not sure! How would I be able to tell?

 

[water0125]

Your Intellichlor is controlled by the panel. Any adjustments you make on the actual SWG will be overridden by the automation.

If your automation is set at 35%, but the lights on the SWG are at 100%, there must be some communication error. Have you tried resetting the whole system, or disconnecting/reconnecting the SWG?

No, I haven’t tried that. That’s a good idea. I’ll google it, but I also welcome instructions, if you know what to do.

 

[mknauss]

So, while the panel is set at 35%, I’m not sure that’s what’s actually happening.

What is your’panel’?

 

[proavia]

Post a few pics of your "panel" - both closed and open.

 

[water0125]

Here are photos of my panel.

 

[water0125]

Hi Ya'll! Still needing help with this issue. My FC is now at 31. OOF!! Over the past couple of months, it has continually creeped up, as I'm continually lowering the intellichlor setting.

From my thread on this post, I've moved from 45% to 35%. It was at 24% today and I just further reduced to 20%.

I don't know what to do! Please help. My numbers are now over slam levels and I'm getting stressed.

 

[mknauss]

Set the Intellichlor to 0%. Test every few days. When back in target for your CYA, set the SWCG to generate about 1 to 1.5 ppm FC per day. Monitor by testing every few days.

 

[Newdude]

UV demand falls off a cliff for all of us this time of year and it's real easy to pick up a couple ppm a day.

 

[water0125]

Set the Intellichlor to 0%. Test every few days. When back in target for your CYA, set the SWCG to generate about 1 to 1.5 ppm FC per day. Monitor by testing every few days.

Will do! Setting intellichlor to 0%. Scary!! LOL. Unclear on one point -- when you say to set the SWCG to 1-1.5PPM FC per day, what does that mean in terms of setting the intellichlor? Once I get to my target FC for my CYA, would I then set my Intellichlor to maybe 5% and see how much my FC increases over a few days? Thanks for helping me to dial in my process!!

 

[mknauss]

Use Poolmath to see what it takes in % and time to generate the FC you wish.

 

[water0125]

It's been over a week and my FC is still high. Here are my numbers

10/09	31
10/11	28.5
10/14	21
10/20	29.5

It seems weird that I was on a downward trend and then it went back up. I haven't added salt or adjusted my intellichlor from 0%. Thoughts?

 

[water0125]

Use Poolmath to see what it takes in % and time to generate the FC you wish.

Hi! Where in pool math would I figure out the time that it take to generate the FC needed for my CYA? I use the app and found this chart. Thanks so much!!

The Free Chlorine and Cyanuric Acid Relationship

Managing your cyanuric acid and Free Chlorine levels is key to stabilizing your pool. Learn how these two items affect each other.

www.troublefreepool.com

 

[PoolStored]

Hi! Where in pool math would I figure out the time that it take to generate the FC needed for my CYA? I use the app and found this chart. Thanks so much!!

The Free Chlorine and Cyanuric Acid Relationship

Managing your cyanuric acid and Free Chlorine levels is key to stabilizing your pool. Learn how these two items affect each other.

www.troublefreepool.com

Use "effects of adding" function.
Enter SWG for the chemical.
Choose your cell make/model.
Play around with % output and pump run time...

Will show you FC generated...

 

[mknauss]

It does not seem reasonable to have essentially 0 FC loss unless you have had complete cloud cover all day every day.

 

[PoolStored]

It seems weird that I was on a downward trend and then it went back up. I haven't added salt or adjusted my intellichlor from 0%. Thoughts?

Testing error...

You might read through this...

Water Testing Errors - Further Reading

www.troublefreepool.com

For now...

1. While FC is so high, use a 5ml sample size. Each drop is 1FC. Don't do this for routine FC testing or for SLAM or OCLT. I'm only recommend you do this now to save reagent.
   1. Lots of drops introduces errors.
2. Clean your vial with rubbing alcohol and dry.
   1. Dirty vials cause errors like these.
3. When you use the reagent, hold the bottle vertical and squeeze VERY gently, allow the drop to form and drop under its own weight. Swirl (unless you have a speed stir).
   1. If you squeeze drops out quickly, they are smaller than expected and will result in a higher than actual test result.

 

[water0125]

Use "effects of adding" function.
Enter SWG for the chemical.
Choose your cell make/model.
Play around with % output and pump run time...

Will show you FC generated...

Found it. Thank you!