Stinging noses, headaches, smell

[rocker93]

FC: 5.5
CC: 0
pH: 7.4
TA: 110
CH: 150
CYA: ~26
Water temp: 80 F
10K gal AG
TF-100 kit

Hi everyone and welcome back to pool season in the Northeast!

Opened up about a week ago, passed the OCLT on 5/21 and then had a crazy heat wave the past 2 or 3 days so the kids have spent considerable time in the pool. They've been complaining that the water is stinging their noses (they wear goggles most of the time so it might sting eyes too) and one kid had a headache last night after being in the pool all afternoon and evening. They also say that the water -- and I quote -- "smells like barf" when they're swimming underwater. How they smell anything under water I have no idea, but they are adamant. On 5/23 I added 1.5 lbs of powdered CYA (Chlorox brand) which I imagine would fit that description, but the CYA level isn't high -- at 26 it's a little on the low side, isn't it? I added it using a stocking pulled over the skimmer basket, and it dissolved quickly. The filter cartridge has been cleaned 3 times in the past week. Is there anything I'm missing? We've never used salt -- should we try some? This is still a new pool. We installed it last August and used it for only a month before closing.

 

[cantplay]

Hi,

I'd like to swim if this rain ever stops and water temp gets above 70!

What is your experience in the water, barfy or no? Clear to the bottom or no?

CYA is rounded up, so it would be 30 CYA. Usually recommended to add stabilizer in a sock laid in front of the return jet, but some do it through the skinmer.

Are you confident you are running your tests accurately? FC and PH? PH being off can be stingy and skin itchy. How do you chlorinate?

Lots of sun and higher usage could deplete your chlorine through the day below the minimum FC of 2 for a 30 CYA per the CYA chart.

 

[rocker93]

I am embarrassed to say I was chicken about going under the water, I like it a couple degrees warmer, so I can't comment on the "barfiness" of it. It is definitely clear though -- one of the kids had a GoPro camera (waterproof) in there yesterday and it is crystal clear right down to the bottom. We use 10% bleach to chlorinate. Yesterday FC was 4 at noon, I didn't test in the evening but I threw in 20-24 oz. at 10pm and this morning the FC was 5.5, which means it should have been around 3.5 at the end of the day yesterday. Very confident in testing, as a kid my family had 2 different pools that I helped care for.

Edited to add: I just saw that I asked this very same question last August and it was not fully solved except to say that our FC may have been a little high (it was 7.5 at the time with a CYA of 0 and pH 7.6). Hmm... maybe the kids are just really sensitive to the chlorine.
We're having a couple guests over today to swim, I'll have to get a second opinion.

 

[rocker93]

Well, the jury is in, and there doesn't seem to be anything "wrong" with the water. No one else had any complaints and I swam underwater and didn't notice anything.

 

[Rancho Cost-a-Lotta]

I'd imagine the splashing, diving, jumping, and swimming under water all day would be pretty hard on the kids' eyes. UV rays can also cause redness, and we know most kids don't wear sunglasses.

Now the "barf" smell...you're on your own there.