Just received new test kit

[Lynnlaake]

Hi, I was in process of doing a SLAM 2 weeks ago, as CYA was almost 300. Emptied 75% of pool water and added new. Just received my TF-100 kit Saturday.
I'm just learning and doing all on my own, so please bare with me.
Im so glad I quit adding liquid chlorine and stopped SLAM process. I had extremely high chlorine levels. In order to test, I had to do the dilution of 10ml pool water and 40ml of distilled. We haven't gotten in for a week. Haven't added chlorine in 7 days, added some more water yesterday, while manually vacuuming to help dilute. Here are my levels. Any advice? Is there such thing as chlorine this high, or did I do something wrong?
CYA-110
FC-265-(diluted as stated above. R-0870 powder then 53 drops of R-0871to turn clear.
CC-5--5 drops of R-003 to turn back to clear
TC-270
PH-8.2
TA-270
CH-475-water here is always hard
Pool temp-82--temp outside staying in 100's daily
Water is slightly cloudy,sky blue color, but no matter how much vacuumed still has brown/yellow sand looking particles sitting at bottom. Thanks everyone.

 

[Sunnydaze]

Did you do the dilution to test CYA to get 110?

I'm skeptical of FC being that high. Can you describe exactly how you performed the test with the diluted water? 265ppm is 18 gallons of chlorine in your pool. How much have you added? I'm sure there's also a much higher tolerance for error when diluting.

 

[Texas Splash]

or did I do something wrong?

Yeah, I'm with SD here, I think you got off track on something. The diluted method is to test high CYA levels over 100. For the FC testing, there is no dilution. Just a 10ml sample with ONE generous scoop of powder. Mix until clear and divide answer in half. Example: 24 drops equals an FC of 12.

For a high CYA, the diluted method method starts at Step #8 using the link below.

CYA - Cyanuric Acid Test

Cyanuric acid (CYA) is the chemical name for the product commonly called “pool water stabilizer” … Read more…

www.troublefreepool.com

 

[Lynnlaake]

Did you do the dilution to test CYA to get 110?

I'm skeptical of FC being that high. Can you describe exactly how you performed the test with the diluted water? 265ppm is 18 gallons of chlorine in your pool. How much have you added? I'm sure there's also a much higher tolerance for error when diluting.

Thanks for responding.
No, I did not dilute to get the CYA.
For the FC, these were my steps:
Filled chlorine container to 10ml of pool water. Added 40ml of distilled water-stirred. Add scoop R-0870. Turned dark pink. Added 53 drops of R-0871 to turn it clear. I then multiplied 53 (drops) to 5 to get the FC. I'm hoping I calculated wrong.

 

[Lynnlaake]

Side note, when I first tried to test FC prior to diluting, I used almost the entire bottle of R-0870 just to test once. I then looked on here and found a post showing how to dilute if FC too high. I'm checking now to see if I misread something

 

[Lynnlaake]

I do see now, it was for CYA testing to dilute. Do I check FC again? I tried and used almost entire bottle of R-0870 the day I received.

 

[mknauss]

Use a 5 ml water sample. One scoop of R0870. Each drop of R0871 is 1 ppm FC.

Only for cases of higher FC. Not very accurate.

What did your TA test act like? At high FC levels, it does not start green and transition to red. Did yours?

 

[Lynnlaake]

Use a 5 ml water sample. One scoop of R0870. Each drop of R0871 is 1 ppm FC.

Only for cases of higher FC. Not very accurate.

What did your TA test act like? At high FC levels, it does not start green and transition to red. Did yours?

It went blue to yellow.
I will retest the FC right now. Thank goodness for the test kit and all of your responses.

 

[mknauss]

So the TA confirms a high FC.

What does your liner look like? Higher than SLAM level FC can do damage to a vinyl liner.

 

[Lynnlaake]

So the TA confirms a high FC.

What does your liner look like? Higher than SLAM level FC can do damage to a vinyl liner.

Oh the vinyl is bad in some spots, but it began when we were using shock powder, so I thought the liquid would be safer on the vinyl. It now is much worse. Can see and feel the "waffle-like" feeling on feet.

 

[mknauss]

Can see and feel the "waffle-like" feeling on feet.

That is from very low pH.

 

[Lynnlaake]

Use a 5 ml water sample. One scoop of R0870. Each drop of R0871 is 1 ppm FC.

Only for cases of higher FC. Not very accurate.

What did your TA test act like? At high FC levels, it does not start green and transition to red. Did yours?

Okay just retested with no dilution. 5ml pool water as directed. 1 scoop R-0870 and added 20 drops-it turned cloudy clear-ish pale yellow, added 12 more drops and got a very pale clear gray. Never changed colors after that. Do I consider FC 32?

 

[mknauss]

I would assume 32. Again, not accurate, easily plus or minus 5 ppm or so.

 

[Lynnlaake]

Okay thank you. I will just be patient and allow sun to do its job to lower level. About to go out and brush and vacuum. I'll wait few days to test chlorine level again since it's so high. What is an acceptable level for my son to get in? I'm assuming nothing over 12 or so?

 

[mknauss]

Technically, at a CYA of 110, it is fine now as long as you can see the bottom of the deep end. But I would wait until you can run a normal 10ml test sample and get a normal TA reading.

 

[Sunnydaze]

Okay thank you. I will just be patient and allow sun to do its job to lower level. About to go out and brush and vacuum. I'll wait few days to test chlorine level again since it's so high. What is an acceptable level for my son to get in? I'm assuming nothing over 12 or so?

To know safe FC levels, you need an accurate CYA measurement. How did you get 110 on the test without diluting it? You may need to do a 50/50 pool water/tap water dilution then use that sample to retest CYA and double it. You will likely need to replace more water to get CYA down to 50-60.

 

[Lynnlaake]

After all the responses yesterday evening, I did a good scrub and manual vacuum. I added more water to the pool to top it off.
FC level went down from 32 to 21. Still did the 5ml of pool water. Will try with 10ml tomorrow.
CYA undiluted-110 still
PH went up from 8.3 to 8.5
When doing acid demand it took 3 drops
Temp 80

 

[proavia]

CYA undiluted-110 still

There is no way to accurately read a CYA of 110 when doing the undiluted test.
Actually, we recommend the diluted test for CYA of 90 or greater.
The scale on the test tube is logarithmic and not linear.

How are you doing an acid demand test with the TF100 test kit?

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