OK - me. Been around pools all my life. Maintaining them from a kid forward 40+ years, so I'm NOT a newbie.
Currently, have an 18x36 rectangular pool with the usual deep side/shallow side architecture.
My routine for YEARS for closing a pool would be dumping in a 5 gallon pail of sodium hypochlorite and the usual 'stuff' for closing. With the over-age of disinfectant for a hopeful fairly clear opening come Spring.
Spring opening would be the same- the 5 gallon pail and the usual opening routine - but of course - now we're checking chlorine levels as they drop as the kids are all chomping at the bit waiting on when the levels go down enough for swimming.
That's been my gig for years WITHOUT any issues whatsoever.
Well...last closing, I did not have time to go to the pool store to get a pail - so...I grabbed four tablets and set them on the fiberglass steps and the cover went on - full well knowing I'd be staring green in the face come Spring time (and I'm NOT talking about greenbacks either).
So this past Spring - the pool is opened and voila! What? It's as clear as glass. Huh! Did I cut a break!
I get everything done and just start putting tabs in the skimmer (yeah yeah - I know) and let it run. Well - bad me - I just let it go. Never checked levels or ANYTHING. Until 2 weeks ago.
I throw a test tab strip in. and everything correct. EXCEPT the chlorine levels. Vivid GREEN and DEEP ROYAL PURPLE staring me in the eyeball. What? Tabs can't move the Chlorine level like that. I STRUGGLE every year in swimming season to keep all the levels right. Well...not now. Scratching head.
So - I took ALL the tabs out and waited a couple of days. Tested. High. Five days later. Tested HIGH. Seven days. HIGH. 9 days HIGH. I am heading for two weeks with a high level of chlorine and there hasn't been a tab or a drop of chlorine anywhere NEAR this pool. It was NOT shocked LAST closing or this opening...
In my experience, tabs will maintain - but it WON'T do SHOCK levels unless maybe a whole bucket full got dumped in. But then again - never tried that. Don;t think I want to either.
ALL the other levels are perfect...
There is NO SMELL of chlorine and I know for a fact - at this level - it would WREAK. No smell. We have swam in it. No burning eyes..no smell. NO NOTHING. The bathing suit after a swim? Usually smells? Nope. Skin - usually you'll want to take a shower to get the chlorine small of ya. NO SMELL.
NO SMELL....no NOTHING except strip levels showing HIGH.
I though well - maybe the stripe are bad. Bought new bottle. Nope. SAME THING.
Got to glasses of water - one tap water the other the pool water. POOL is high, tao water shows NADA. No chlorine.
Now...the pool water is AMAZING looking. Vividly clearer than normal. NO ALGAE whatsoever. Something I have ALWAYS had to keep beating back during the really warm parts of August.
I also grabbed a glass of it - stuck it in my mouth. Tasted like..well...the pool. No weirdness in the mouth or anything.
Ummm...this is WHACKED. I have no answers...other than now I'm telling my wife - I think God is living in my pool! I do NOT know what else to think...
So - I found this web site to see if anyone has any ideas or answers???
Thanks. I think.
Currently, have an 18x36 rectangular pool with the usual deep side/shallow side architecture.
My routine for YEARS for closing a pool would be dumping in a 5 gallon pail of sodium hypochlorite and the usual 'stuff' for closing. With the over-age of disinfectant for a hopeful fairly clear opening come Spring.
Spring opening would be the same- the 5 gallon pail and the usual opening routine - but of course - now we're checking chlorine levels as they drop as the kids are all chomping at the bit waiting on when the levels go down enough for swimming.
That's been my gig for years WITHOUT any issues whatsoever.
Well...last closing, I did not have time to go to the pool store to get a pail - so...I grabbed four tablets and set them on the fiberglass steps and the cover went on - full well knowing I'd be staring green in the face come Spring time (and I'm NOT talking about greenbacks either).
So this past Spring - the pool is opened and voila! What? It's as clear as glass. Huh! Did I cut a break!
I get everything done and just start putting tabs in the skimmer (yeah yeah - I know) and let it run. Well - bad me - I just let it go. Never checked levels or ANYTHING. Until 2 weeks ago.
I throw a test tab strip in. and everything correct. EXCEPT the chlorine levels. Vivid GREEN and DEEP ROYAL PURPLE staring me in the eyeball. What? Tabs can't move the Chlorine level like that. I STRUGGLE every year in swimming season to keep all the levels right. Well...not now. Scratching head.
So - I took ALL the tabs out and waited a couple of days. Tested. High. Five days later. Tested HIGH. Seven days. HIGH. 9 days HIGH. I am heading for two weeks with a high level of chlorine and there hasn't been a tab or a drop of chlorine anywhere NEAR this pool. It was NOT shocked LAST closing or this opening...
In my experience, tabs will maintain - but it WON'T do SHOCK levels unless maybe a whole bucket full got dumped in. But then again - never tried that. Don;t think I want to either.
ALL the other levels are perfect...
There is NO SMELL of chlorine and I know for a fact - at this level - it would WREAK. No smell. We have swam in it. No burning eyes..no smell. NO NOTHING. The bathing suit after a swim? Usually smells? Nope. Skin - usually you'll want to take a shower to get the chlorine small of ya. NO SMELL.
NO SMELL....no NOTHING except strip levels showing HIGH.
I though well - maybe the stripe are bad. Bought new bottle. Nope. SAME THING.
Got to glasses of water - one tap water the other the pool water. POOL is high, tao water shows NADA. No chlorine.
Now...the pool water is AMAZING looking. Vividly clearer than normal. NO ALGAE whatsoever. Something I have ALWAYS had to keep beating back during the really warm parts of August.
I also grabbed a glass of it - stuck it in my mouth. Tasted like..well...the pool. No weirdness in the mouth or anything.
Ummm...this is WHACKED. I have no answers...other than now I'm telling my wife - I think God is living in my pool! I do NOT know what else to think...
So - I found this web site to see if anyone has any ideas or answers???
Thanks. I think.