Oops I got a little excited with the chlorine

[jkrupp]

Hi, our new pool was just completed two or three weeks ago; we have only been using it for one week. I am familiar with the TFP method (I use it for our hot tub), but because 1 month of service was included with our pool I haven't really been keeping up on it.

Well we had a couple of families over yesterday and everyone swam for hours. Then I put the cover back on and called it a night (my bad). This morning when we took the cover off it just did not sparkle like it used to. I attached pictures; it just looks... I wouldn't say green, but flat. Dull. Cloudy.

I poured a gallon and a half of liquid chlorine in it and tested it 30 minutes later and still FC was 0. So I ran to Wal Mart and bought more liquid chlorine (10%), and immediately poured two more gallons in. THEN I went to Pool Math and saw I should have just put one gallon in. Tested the water again and it is at 7.5 FC. The water still looks cloudy though. Granted, this has all happened within the last 2 hours.

I have some friends coming over tomorrow afternoon, do you think it will back to sparkly by then? I mean there is no algae growth so no need for a SLAM or anything like that right? Or what, do I do now? Thanks I tested and posted my other levels last week and everything seemed good btw.

 

[atttech-2]

Even if you don's suspect algae there is something in there that needs to be oxidized as evidenced by the first gallon and a half of chlorine disappearing quickly. Time for a SLAM but you should still be able swim while SLAMing even with the water a bit dull.

 

[jblizzle]

You will lose a good bit of FC from heavy use ... especially if the kids somehow never needed to use the restroom.

I usually bump my FC up a few ppm before heavy use and then a bit after to keep anything from developing. You should never let the FC drop to 0 like that.

What is your CYA? Are you following the [FC/CYA][/FC/CYA]

 

[jkrupp]

jblizzle, I have not been following the FC/CYA chart because the fact that I have a month of pool service made me complacent! Agh, so frustrated with myself. And the kiddos in the pool yesterday were 1, 2, 3, 4, and 6. So yea, I am sure there was a lot going on in there

atttech, since there is no algae, what if I simply continued to monitor to make sure the FC stayed in the 4-6 range (my CYA is 30)? Will it get back to nice-and-pretty by tomorrow? I guess I'd just rather SLAM after tomorrow, since there will be kids in the pool tomorrow and the end of the week will see temps only in the 70's and low 80's (as opposed to today's 100 degrees) so we won't be using it after tomorrow.

I am also wondering if sunscreen can have any adverse affects on the water quality? I make my own sunscreen which is simply coconut oil, shea butter, and zinc oxide. Seems like it may create a film on top of the water, but would it also cause high chlorine consumption and/or cloudiness?

P.S. I just tested the water again and FC is 5.

 

[woodyp]

since there is no algae, what if I simply continued to monitor to make sure the FC stayed in the 4-6 range (my CYA is 30)? Will it get back to nice-and-pretty by tomorrow?

------chances are slim to none. At the very least run the filter all night if you've decided not to SLAM it.

 

[borjis]

Without knowing more, I'd say keep the filter running 24/7, keep the chlorine level proper and see what it
looks like tomorrow.

 

[wjr75]

Not knowing your actual CYA it is a tuff call. I would bring it up to 10-12ppm once the sun isn't on the pool and run the pump all night. Hope for the best.

 

[jblizzle]

It is safe to swim up to shock level. I would raise it up to that and let it drift back down over the next day.

 

[jkrupp]

Okie-dokie, I will follow the advice here. The pool guy was out today to show me how to use the pump / filter so I THINK I remember how to get it to run all night; right now he said it is set to run until 8 pm if I remember correctly.

I'll test again soon, and then again after sundown and will add chlorine. I'll test again in the morning to see how much I've lost. Hope it'll look better tomorrow but if not, at least I know it is safe to swim. My 6-year-old has her heart set on swimming with her friends tomorrow after school so I don't want to disappoint Thanks everyone.