SWG Going Bad?
- Thread starter GuerillaRadio
- Start date
Does it make sense to continue adding liquid chlorine if it’s basically vanishing in a few hours?
Sorry one more follow up too… with the pentair chlorine test and the stripes (I know), I’ve tried to take readings straight from a return with the SWG on 70% and I am not getting any FC reading.
Unfortunately with strips, they can be wildly inaccurate. Higher chlorine levels can bleach out the test strip, making it look like you have none! So you actually may have lots. Many old post about that - people finding when they get their test kits, that the strips were completely lying about no chlorine.
Keep adding a gallon a day until your kit comes in. That is a barely keep up level, so won't drive things higher (if they are high). And will also keep any bad things at bay, even if you later test low.
The SWCG dial doesn't regulate strength directly. It tell the cell to make CL for 70% of the time it is getting power, and turn off 30% of the time. (The actual time for the on/off cycle depends on the brand). So even if your test strip can register something, if you are testing during one of the off portions....
Rarer, but one can suffer from having Ammonia in the pool. It consumes Cl extremely quickly, and takes a very large amount of liquid to get rid of. It is caused by bacteria breaking down the CYA over a longish period (winter). Typically one would see either no CYA at all after opening, or the CYA levels you do see would fall noticeably over time (CYA amounts are usually very consistent in a pool, unless you add lots of water or add more CYA). But, you guessed it, you need a very dependable test kit to diagnose.
So until you get the kit, the prudent thing to do is just keep adding daily.
Keep adding a gallon a day until your kit comes in. That is a barely keep up level, so won't drive things higher (if they are high). And will also keep any bad things at bay, even if you later test low.
The SWCG dial doesn't regulate strength directly. It tell the cell to make CL for 70% of the time it is getting power, and turn off 30% of the time. (The actual time for the on/off cycle depends on the brand). So even if your test strip can register something, if you are testing during one of the off portions....
Rarer, but one can suffer from having Ammonia in the pool. It consumes Cl extremely quickly, and takes a very large amount of liquid to get rid of. It is caused by bacteria breaking down the CYA over a longish period (winter). Typically one would see either no CYA at all after opening, or the CYA levels you do see would fall noticeably over time (CYA amounts are usually very consistent in a pool, unless you add lots of water or add more CYA). But, you guessed it, you need a very dependable test kit to diagnose.
So until you get the kit, the prudent thing to do is just keep adding daily.
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Thanks for the info!
Curious your thoughts on the fact that I added 1 gallon of liquid chlorine the other day and it registered 0 FC after 2 hours. 1 gallon should’ve raised it to 3.6 per Pool Math
Curious your thoughts on the fact that I added 1 gallon of liquid chlorine the other day and it registered 0 FC after 2 hours. 1 gallon should’ve raised it to 3.6 per Pool Math
I appended the part about ammonia while you answered. But until we can have good testing, there is no good way to know.
It is much higher odds that your current testing items are faulty.
Well, I’m guessing I may have made a classic rookie mistake. I had seen what I thought was dirt in the pool previously — from some landscaping and yard work. But what I thought was dirt appears to be back in the pool but I’m wondering if it’s more likely algae now given what I am seeing with the pool chemicals.
Still waiting on my testing kit.
Still waiting on my testing kit.
Not rookie - after 30yrs, I still hope it is dirt.
If it is a bit sticky, and takes a little bit to brush off - likely live algae.
If it is in brownish piles, and poofs up very easily when brushed, likely dead algae.
If it is a bit sticky, and takes a little bit to brush off - likely live algae.
If it is in brownish piles, and poofs up very easily when brushed, likely dead algae.
- something consumed it (organics)
- weak bleach (bottle left/stored in sun at store)
- FC test error
-low CYA
- some or all of the above
brownish and poofs when brushed.
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Any suggestions on what to do until my test kit arrives on Tuesday? Scrub? Add daily chlorine? To what level? Still 3 FC?
With clear water i would add 3ppm a day. Some would do 5, but without a swamp, i'd err on the side of not picking up 20 ppm by Tuesday.
Is that even if the chlorine isn’t holding for more than a few hours?
What do you all recommend in terms of brushing the pool since it appears there is algae (dead?) on the floor?
What do you all recommend in terms of brushing the pool since it appears there is algae (dead?) on the floor?
If you want to use the strips to prove you have *some* FC in there, and then *less than that* FC in there, thats ok to do. They're vague at best but usually do show FC presence with a semblance of more/less.
But yes. You are trying to minimize the amount of time spent with little/no chlorine. Thats where alage explodes this time of year. With 4 to 8 FC in there, not wanting to overdo it with vague testing, you wont lose ground in the upcoming battle.
If there is one. Again. We need reliable data. Your CYA could be real low and the source of the FC burnoff. Or your bleach is a bad supply even if the dates look fresh. Or you're on the verge of the exponential algae growth surpassing where the naked eye can see microscopic algae. Or its low CYA and pollen. We just don't know with bad data.
If it helps, here is the latest reading from a pool store test. I know those may not be the best, but they also did a manual CYA test to confirm. This test was done yesterday:
Ph: 7.8
FC: .2
TCL: .4
Alk: 96
CYA: 46
Ph: 7.8
FC: .2
TCL: .4
Alk: 96
CYA: 46
I will say I am moderately sure you don't have too low CYA. I will also lol if you do, without being shocked, because we've seen them be off by more than that.
For sure lol. I can’t wait to get my test kit Tuesday yo really dial in.
You still think with my numbers that aiming for 3ppm per day in the interim is good?
You still think with my numbers that aiming for 3ppm per day in the interim is good?
Its the best plan we have at the moment. 5 could be too much for 4 days in May without a swamp. You could already be sky high and bleaching the test strips thinking you have 0. (Yes, at the pool store too).
3 will donate some to the sun and possibly some left over just in case.
It likely wont become a swamp, or hurt things worse, like bleaching the liner.