Test numbers for comment

[Dan8899]

Hi All,
So here is my first official testing using the tf-100 kit

FC - 0.5
CC - 0
TC - 0.5
pH - 7.8 with the k-1000 kit
TA - 110
CH - 225
CYA - 20(full tube) and can still slightly see the black dot

Pool water was unmaintained and not circulated for about the past 3 mo other than keeping 3 tabs in the floater while fixing plumbing and level had been lowered to about 3ft deep. I'm now trying to eliminate the sporadic green patches on walls and floor that are not coming off by brushing. Water is clear. I do have some (3) 1lb shock packs left, but I'd like to try this slam method but have a couple questions.
- i know how to lower the ph with muriatic acid and will do that first
- your CYA chart has asterisk saying not recommended at my 20 CYA so i'm assuming i need to fix first? steps?
- I get that I need to raise the chlorine to the shock levels and hold it there, but where does it tell me how much (gal) of bleach i'm to dump in the pool per relation to the CYA value?

 

[cfherrman]

Check out the pool math link for chemical additions, and the fc/cya chart for the relationship between the two.

When you tested your cya did you do it outside with the sun to your back? Was the water temperate?

 

[Dan8899]

after i posted i did find an older post indicating i need to test the CYA in sunshine so my number is probably off since my number came from doing it in the kitchen. Also read i can just dump back in the bottle and retest several times to make sure. I'll redo that tomorrow.
I found the pool calculator too, so I just dumped half gallon of MA in the pool and will see where it puts me.

 

[Dan8899]

Retested the CYA and i can still barely see the black dot at 20 outside with sun to back
new readings today:
FC - 0
CC - 0
TC - 0
pH - 7.0
TA - 90
CH - 250
CYA - 20 can barely see dot with sun at back

Am I understanding correctly that to do the slam, first ph must be 7.2, which i'm close, and then just add chlorine per CYA number. CYA will come up on its own after I dump the first 2.5 gal of bleach?
And don't worry too much about the CH and TA until I get the slam done and kill off the green patches on the floor and walls?

Also, why does it tell me to wipe the tip of R-0009 bottle with damp cloth after each drop? is this necessary even when i dont have any liquid hanging on the bottle tip?

 

[Mr Bruce]

CYA won't change until you add more with stabilizer or solid forms of chlorine. Don't worry about pH either after you start, the pH test doesn't read correctly with FC above 10. There can be a static charge on the tip that makes the drops smaller, wiping the tip eliminates the static.

 

[Dan8899]

I dont have the stabilizer on my shelf but I have a few 1lb packs of the shock 52% calc hypochlorite and the 3" pucks 93% triclor (actually 3 are half dissolved in the floater). Is there any problem if I start the process today with bleach based on 20cya and then add the stabilizer tomorrow and adjust bleach to match revised cya?

 

[Mr Bruce]

The Cal-Hypo won't add CYA and the pucks will take too long. I'd get a sock going, really work it by squeezing it and moving around the water to get it dissolved quickly.

 

[kabutotx]

Cal-Hypo adds CH. Your CH is low for AZ. Test CH in your fill water. Maybe your fill water is from a water softener? If CH is lower than your current reading, you can use the Cal-Hypo. If higher just use liquid chlorine.

 

[Dan8899]

Just tested the water at the kitchen tap. CH is 200 (8th drop went blue) No water softener. House supplied from street tap to Arizona Water Co

added 2gal bleach at 12pst
new readings today 630pst:
FC - 5.5
CC - 0
TC - 5.5
pH - DNT
TA - 80
CH - 225
CYA - <20

this may show how new I am at this...... but when you say a sock for crushing up a couple triclor pucks to speed up dissolving to help CYA, is this some special bag or just a regular old work sock will do?

 

[Mr Bruce]

Walmart/Lowes/Home Depot sell stabilizer (CYA) in granular form. Just make sure it doesn't say "Blue" or is anything but 100% CYA. Use pool math to figure out how much to use. Put that in a sock (yep, a regular old sock. I always ask my wife for an "orphan" ) tie the top and use a broom handle to suspend it in front of a return. If the water is warm enough, I prefer to get in the pool and squeeze and swing the sock around, I can get it dissolved in minutes.

 

[cfherrman]

Don't use cal hypo at all anymore, your hard water will be adding too much calcium as it is.

Save the trip clor pucks for vacations or building cya in the spring, you need a accurate cya test so adding cya graunles in a sick so you can get a firm number as recommend here is the best way to go.