Using my TF-100 Kit for first Time-Something not right?

[Wolfepack88]

Ok, I my pool is about halfway filled. My PB had put shock in because there was some green algae in the pool when it had about a foot of water in it for about 10 days. They finally got going with my build really this week and started to backfill gravel and added about half the pool depth with water. They added shock when I wasn't home. I added 36 ounces of 12.5% bleach this afternoon. 3 hours later I took my first sample of water and just tried my chlorine test.

Ok here is the issue, I added 10ml of pool water, then put in X speed stir thing and opened my R-0870 powder. It was like dried cool aid. I have the XL size kit so I have 2 of the R-0870 so I opened the second one, same thing. I just got this kit about 3 months ago and its been stored in my dining room buffet. I banged both little containers around to loosen the powder and put in a heaping blue spoon (blue spoon from kit) and put in water and turned on speed stir. Water did not turn pink at all, zippo. Should my powder look like my picture below, both bottles look that way. The 2nd one I just opened for the first time. All stored in cool dark place. This is the exact same thing that happened when I tried my tap water when I got my kit but assumed zero chlorine as I have full house water filter that purifies the water so assumed no chlorine. Now with my pool how could that be no chlorine. Could all of the chlorine been used up in 3 hours. Assuming 9000 gallons (which I am being conservative on a 17,690 gallon pool) the pool app tells me the effect should be that FC is 2.6. Could it really be zero?? BTW is it 10ml before you drop in the speed stir X thing, I am assuming so?

 

[mknauss]

Powder looks fine.
There is no chlorine in the water. Without CYA in the water, a few hours of sunshine on the pool will degrade all the chlorine in it.

 

[Wolfepack88]

Powder looks fine.
There is no chlorine in the water. Without CYA in the water, a few hours of sunshine on the pool will degrade all the chlorine in it.

I think you're right, I did the CYA test and filled the whole tube up and full black dot. So whatever was in the shock not enough to CYA in there. I have 25 lbs of CYA coming so will need to add that. Until then do I keep adding liquid chlorine in there to keep the algae at bay until I get the CYA or am I fighting a losing battle. Just trying to keep pool from turning total green while they build?

 

[Wolfepack88]

I have no equipment operational yet but they do have a temporary pump (sump pump with a T connection suspended from pool brace into water about half the depth. It runs about 10 hours a day. So should I do the sock method of putting CYA in when it comes or again that pump isn't enough to circulate for the pool at this point?

 

[mknauss]

Add 3-5 ppm FC worth of liquid chlorine each evening.
How much CYA did you add?

 

[Wolfepack88]

I don't have any yet? Assumed that was in the "shock" the PB added on Thursday. Don't know exactly what he added other than "I added shock". I just added a bit more than the 3-5ppm as I guestimating to a degree on how many gallons currently in the pool. Ahh if they used calcium hypochlorite then no CYA. So I need that CYA to come.

 

[mknauss]

One application of 'shock' would not add much CYA.
Get your CYA and add 30 ppm worth ASAP.

 

[zea3]

You had also mentioned there had been algae in your pool before they started filling it. That would deplete chlorine quickly. Also since you do not have an operating pump system yet he may have used liquid chlorine too since chlorine granules just sitting on the pool floor can damage the surface.

 

[Wolfepack88]

One application of 'shock' would not add much CYA.
Get your CYA and add 30 ppm worth ASAP.

Ok, maybe I will go and buy some tomorrow as I am not due to get mine until August 4th.

 

[Wolfepack88]

One application of 'shock' would not add much CYA.
Get your CYA and add 30 ppm worth ASAP.

Can I dissolve that in a 5 gallon bucket as there is no return operating as I will need about 2.5lbs to get to 33ppm?

 

[mknauss]

Can I dissolve that in a 5 gallon bucket as there is no return operating as I will need about 2.5lbs to get to 33ppm?

The pump they are using has a hose from it for the effluent? If so, tie the sock to a bucket handle and put the hose from the pump into the bucket. That will dissolve the CYA.

 

[Lilypad]

BTW is it 10ml before you drop in the speed stir X thing, I am assuming so?

Correct.

 

[Wolfepack88]

The pump they are using has a hose from it for the effluent? If so, tie the sock to a bucket handle and put the hose from the pump into the bucket. That will dissolve the CYA.

No they are using a sump pump with a "PVC T" screwed on and the sump pump is suspended from the pool brace that is running across the width of the pool. The sump pump is about halfway (depth wise) down (i.e. not sitting on the bottom of the pool). So I cant do that. I guess I will try to hang a sock from the wood into the pool in front of the T.

 

[mknauss]

I guess I will try to hang a sock from the wood into the pool in front of the T.

That should work. Or spend the extra for liquid.

 

[zea3]

You could hand squeeze a sock full of CYA into a 5 gallon bucket of water if you need a nice workout for your hands and forearms!

 

[Wolfepack88]

Ok, I added one gallon of liquid CYA yesterday. Woke up this morning and busted out the TF-100 and here is my results. I'm guestimating on how many gallons (using the volume calculation I think I am about 9000 gallons). I forgot to test the PH. The CYA at 20 is surprising as I added a whole gallon of liquid conditioner and it says is treats 10k gallons to 30ppm and I'm at 20. So I am thinking I should add another gallon as they will continue to fill pool and that will require more CYA anyway, make sense?

FC 4.5
CYA 20
CC 0.5
TA 90
CH 275

 

[mknauss]

So I am thinking I should add another gallon as they will continue to fill pool and that will require more CYA anyway, make sense?

Sure. Assume it is in the water based on Poolmath so your FC stays above minimum.

 

[Wolfepack88]

Sure. Assume it is in the water based on Poolmath so your FC stays above minimum.

Forgive me, but I don't understand (assume it is in the water based on poolmath so your FC stays above minimum)? what do you mean? Should I shoot for 40ppm to split the 30-60 recommended level per poolmath?

 

[mknauss]

Assume the CYA is in the water (regardless of testing) so if you add 2 gallons of liquid stabilizer to a 17000 gallon pool, your CYA is 44 ppm. Round that up to 50 and follow the FC/CYA Levels for that CYA.