Why is FC still zero?

[pikachupool]

New home owner, has zero knowledge about pools. Pool was closed for 1-2 years because we did not open it last year. We're in central Connecticut.

I have the TF-Pro kit. I assumed I was starting from 0 FC. Chemistry or science was never my fav subject in school.

Two days ago, I dumped 2 gallons of liquid chlorine (Champion, 12.5%) into the pool (as recommended for SLAM). Water temperature is about 58°F.

The 10ml remains clear after adding a scoop of the R-0870 powder. I've tried it three times now (new 10ml of pool water). Still clear, which means 0 FC. The powder isn't dissolved in the pool water in the cylinder.

Please help me understand why it's still 0 FC.

Edited to include photograph taken this morning.

 

[Newdude]

Hey Peek and Welcome !!

Have a read by clicking the link:
Ammonia - Further Reading


Report back after running the 30 min FC test as directed above.

 

[Bperry]

New home owner, has zero knowledge about pools. Pool was closed for 1-2 years because we did not open it last year. We're in central Connecticut.

I have the TF-Pro kit. I assumed I was starting from 0 FC. Chemistry or science was never my fav subject in school.

Two days ago, I dumped 2 gallons of liquid chlorine (Champion, 12.5%) into the pool (as recommended for SLAM). Water temperature is about 58°F.

The 10ml remains clear after adding a scoop of the R-0870 powder. I've tried it three times now (new 10ml of pool water). Still clear, which means 0 FC. The powder isn't dissolved in the pool water in the cylinder.

Please help me understand why it's still 0 FC.

Post a picture of the water in addition to above.

 

[pikachupool]

Hey Peek and Welcome !!

Have a read by clicking the link:
Ammonia - Further Reading


Report back after running the 30 min FC test as directed above.

FC level is at 8.5 ppm at 8.40pm, one hour after I added my last gallon of liquid chlorine at 7.40pm.

I tried testing for CYA and I think it's at zero.

 

[PoolStored]

You had ammonia, and have cleared it, it ate all the CYA. That is one of the signs of ammonia.
Is your pool green? Then move on to SLAM. Link-->SLAM Process
If the pool is STUPID clear, at least do an OCLT. Link-->Overnight Chlorine Loss Test
You fail, you slam.

 

[YippeeSkippy]

Are you sure the initial chlorine you added was fresh? We prefer to buy liquid chlorine that is no older than 3 months, and hasnt been stored in the sun outside which weakens it.

CYA also degrades a little each month in the pool... time for more!

Maddie

 

[pikachupool]

Update:

I added about 7 pounds of CYA on Friday night using the sock method on my skimmer. Almost all was dissolved this morning (Saturday). I understand that it takes 24-48 hours to reflect so I have not tested CYA levels.

With 0 FC, I added 128 oz of liquid chlorine (12.5%) this morning. FC was at 10 ppm at the 2nd hour mark. It has fallen to 6 ppm at the 4th hour mark.

It is warm and sunny this afternoon. Should I add liquid chlorine again, or wait closer to sunset, to try to bring this up back to 10 ppm (SLAM levels)?

I'm cleaning the pool throughout the day - I can see algae and other fallen organic matter.

Appreciate everyone's feedback!

New home owner, has zero knowledge about pools. Pool was closed for 1-2 years because we did not open it last year. We're in central Connecticut.

I have the TF-Pro kit. I assumed I was starting from 0 FC. Chemistry or science was never my fav subject in school.

Two days ago, I dumped 2 gallons of liquid chlorine (Champion, 12.5%) into the pool (as recommended for SLAM). Water temperature is about 58°F.

The 10ml remains clear after adding a scoop of the R-0870 powder. I've tried it three times now (new 10ml of pool water). Still clear, which means 0 FC. The powder isn't dissolved in the pool water in the cylinder.

Please help me understand why it's still 0 FC.

Edited to include photograph taken this morning.

 

[JJ_Tex]

By my math, you added 30 CYA so your target FC should be 12. Any time you test and are below the SLAM level FC, add to get back to the SLAM level... the more often the better.

 

[PoolStored]

Test and add FC as often as you can, but no more than every 2 hours.

 

[pikachupool]

Update: after adding another 128 oz of liquid chlorine (12.5%) at about 4pm, FC levels were at 14 ppm at the 2nd hour mark, and 14.5 ppm at the 4th hour mark. I will test again tomorrow morning.

(SWG is turned off manually. Today's temperature was finally warm enough to work with the SWG.)

I also added 200 lbs of salt in between testings because my salt level is at 1460 ppm and I need to bring it up to 3600 ppm. Also, I need to tackle my calcium hardness because it's only at 75 ppm.

 

[Bperry]

Update: after adding another 128 oz of liquid chlorine (12.5%) at about 4pm, FC levels were at 14 ppm at the 2nd hour mark, and 14.5 ppm at the 4th hour mark. I will test again tomorrow morning.

(SWG is turned off manually. Today's temperature was finally warm enough to work with the SWG.)

I also added 200 lbs of salt in between testings because my salt level is at 1460 ppm and I need to bring it up to 3600 ppm. Also, I need to tackle my calcium hardness because it's only at 75 ppm.

Don’t trust whatever gave you 1460ppm for salt. Get the Taylor salt test kit if you don’t have one.

 

[pikachupool]

Don’t trust whatever gave you 1460ppm for salt. Get the Taylor salt test kit if you don’t have one.

I was reading it off the TFTestKits' C-600 pH + Salt Meter (add-on to my TF-Pro Salt). I will check again, thanks for letting me know!

 

[Bperry]

I was reading it off the TFTestKits' C-600 pH + Salt Meter (add-on to my TF-Pro Salt). I will check again, thanks for letting me know!

Ah, ok not so bad. Check with the drip test just to be sure.

 

[pikachupool]

Latest Test Result Summary on Sunday afternoon:
FC: 8.5 (2 hours ago)
CC: 0.5 (2 hours ago)
pH: 7.4 (2 hours ago)
TA: 80 (3 days ago)
CH: 75 (19 hours ago)
CYA: 100 (2 hours ago)
SALT: 2510 (2 hours ago)
TEMPERATURE: 62.6°F (2 hours ago)

 

[PoolStored]

Something is not right. You tested CYA at 0. You added enough CYA to raise your CYA 30. Your CYA is now 100.

Did you test with cold pool water either time? Did you allow it to warm to room temp?

Try the test again. Print these out and follow them:

CYA - Cyanuric Acid Test

Cyanuric acid (CYA) is the chemical name for the product commonly called “pool water stabilizer” … Read more…

www.troublefreepool.com

 

[pikachupool]

Something is not right. You tested CYA at 0. You added enough CYA to raise your CYA 30. Your CYA is now 100.

Did you test with cold pool water either time? Did you allow it to warm to room temp?

Try the test again. Print these out and follow them:

CYA - Cyanuric Acid Test

Cyanuric acid (CYA) is the chemical name for the product commonly called “pool water stabilizer” … Read more…

www.troublefreepool.com

I agree, it's my first test testing CYA that is >0.
I fish the water out from the pool, and I add the R-0013 almost immediately. I shake and wait for 30 seconds, then shake again. I did it twice (poured it back) and it was cloudy enough to obscure the dot. My guess is that the water temperature must have been just around 60F.

 

[pikachupool]

Update at Sunday 7pm (30 mins to sunset), after testing CYA again:
FC: 8.5 (14 minutes ago)
CC: 1.0 (14 minutes ago)
pH: 7.5 (2 hours ago)
TA: 80 (4 days ago)
CH: 100 (2 hours ago)
CYA: 70 (2 hours ago)
SALT: 2920 (2 hours ago)
TEMPERATURE: 18° (2 hours ago)

 

[Newdude]

CYA: 70 (2 hours ago)

The CYA test need bright overhead sun, not 5pm still plenty light out.... sun. Sometimes it has to wait for your schedule and the weather to cooperate.

 

[wireform]

Assuming your pump is running 24/7 at good decent rpm ?

 

[pikachupool]

@Newdude: I did the CYA test again at 3pm and I think it's at 60-70.

@wireform Yes, my pump has been running 24/7 at about 2,400 RPM.

Clarification: I noticed that my SLAM levels is no longer at FC = 10 but significantly higher (FC = 24!) with higher CYA. Does that mean I'll need to buy and pour lot more liquid chlorine?

Edit: I never seem to have sufficient liquid chlorine at hand to sustain a SLAM... How many of gallons of liquid chlorine (12.5%) should I have before I attempt SLAM?

Latest Test Result Summary:
FC: 9.5 (3 hours ago)
CC: 0.5 (3 hours ago)
pH: 7.5 (3 hours ago)
TA: 80 (5 days ago)
CH: 100 (1 day ago)
CYA: 60 (3 hours ago)
SALT: 3080 (3 hours ago)
TEMPERATURE: 59°F (3 hours ago)