Ughh... murky water

[lastevns]

So, I had to go away on business and didn't have anyone to treat the pool. It was covered but had some tree leavings in it when I left. I came back to water getting murky - not yet green. I just added about 32-36 ounces of liquid chlorine. I NEED to vacuum. But that means (for me) getting into the pool (I'm too short to do it from outside the pool). So, can I go inside tonight with THAT much chlorine in the pool? I have the pump running.

 

[mknauss]

36 oz of 10% liquid chlorine is just over 5 ppm in your pool. That is safe without any CYA. Your last CYA test showed 50 ppm. Is that still there? If so, get your FC to 20 ppm. That is a gallon of 10% in your pool volume.

 

[YippeeSkippy]

It depends on how much CYA you have in the pool. Got any test results to share?

 

[lastevns]

It depends on how much CYA you have in the pool. Got any test results to share?

Going to test now. Will be right back with the numbers.

 

[mknauss]

Going to test now. Will be right back with the numbers.

Too late to test CYA. Need full sun.

 

[lastevns]

36 oz of 10% liquid chlorine is just over 5 ppm in your pool. That is safe without any CYA. Your last CYA test showed 50 ppm. Is that still there? If so, get your FC to 20 ppm. That is a gallon of 10% in your pool volume.

So, I've NEVER had my FC that high. Is it safe to go in and vacuum at that level or would I have to stay out and hold off on vacuuming? Going to get CYA numbers now (plenty of artificial light in the area, should be able to test it).

 

[mknauss]

Up to you on the CYA test. Only accurate if full sun, etc.

Safe up to SLAM level for your CYA. See FC/CYA Levels

 

[lastevns]

Too late to test CYA. Need full sun.

Well, with the flood light, it still looks like it's at 50.

 

[mknauss]

OK -- so use that. Your SLAM level FC is 20 ppm.

 

[lastevns]

OK -- so use that. Your SLAM level FC is 20 ppm.

Okay. Do you think I should vacuum tonight and THEN hit the water with the SLAM levels? I assume debris should come out to have my best chance of making water clear and sparkling again. Yeah, think I'm going to vacuum first. I only asked for advice because I'm not certain I'm at a shock situation yet. But, can't hurt to vacuum now. Thx!

 

[lastevns]

Thanks to @mknauss and @YippeeSkippy for responses late at night. You guys are SOOO responsive and helpful. It's unlike any forum I've ever visited. When I took the cover off in daylight the water wasn't really that bad to start (at least I don't think so based upon how it looks now). With the exception of tree debris on the bottom, the pool is pretty much back to sparkling now and I only put in a little over a gallon (the 36 ounces plus about a gallon). So, catastrophe averted. THANK YOU ALL, AGAIN!

 

[lastevns]

One more thing (thinking Columbo). I did the chlorine drop test and my chlorine is at 15ppm. Is that too high to enter the water to vacuum? This link (says I shouldn't get in anything over 5 ppm but the chlorine/cya chart says my FC should be 6 to 8 for 50 CYA. I have already filled the pool with fresh water to its limit so I can't do that to get the FC any lower right now. And it's cloudy today so the UV index probably isn't eating as much FC? Anyway, is this too much to enter?

 

[mknauss]

Your CYA is 50 ppm. That makes 20 ppm FC safe to be in. That level will have the same amount of active chlorine in it that is allowed in tap water by the EPA.

 

[YippeeSkippy]

Remember that not only does CYA protect chlorine from the sun, but it buffers it so that you aren't bothered by it when swimming as long as the FC and CYA are balanced. That's what the FC/CYA Levels helps you do...balance them. So follow the guide and you'll be just fine.

Maddie