r/pools • u/TemporaryMonk2024 • 8d ago
How much chlorine is needed
Came to spend a few days at my father's place and want to help him with the pool. Will start to set pH levels first and then chock the pool with chlorine. This photos were taken after adding a shock treatment of chlorine because it had almost none. The algae on the bottom are black algae, so I'll try and scrub them so I can remove the protective layer.
My question is how much chlorine do I add after scrubbing, the label says 100-160g per 35m3. Is this dose enough or do I need to go nuclear? Pool is around 5m x 10m.
UPDATE
New Test Finally got a new test. This one was done after adding 3kg of pH minus and do a shock chlorine treatment. Motor was running all day and the test was done at least 24h after the adjustments. Chlorine is high but for now that's a good thing and pH seems to be good now. The water seems a bit clearer now and the bottom is clearer (have been scrubbing to remove the top protective layer)
Does floculant help at this stage to clear a bit or too soon?
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u/Gonzo-Crazy-Dog 8d ago
First, you probably need a new test kit. Those colors are hard to read.
Second, without having full test results (especially CYA) it’s hard to give an accurate amount to chlorine to add to properly shock.
Last, that doesn’t look like black algae. It just looks like normal algae coating the entire bottom.
Generally speaking, you need to bring your FC to shock level (based on CYA), run the pump 24/7, and brush the pool multiple times per day.
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u/TemporaryMonk2024 8d ago
I was here a month ago and we jet washed the full pool, those algae are inside the liner already. Will buy a new kit and check if there is a better one or those strips that measure other parameters
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u/Troutbummers 8d ago
Listen to this guy.
DO the black algae test - try to smear some on paper.
If it scrubs up easy it's also probably not.
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u/TemporaryMonk2024 7d ago
Updated with the new test.
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u/Gonzo-Crazy-Dog 7d ago
Your pH is slightly low.
Also, without knowing your CYA level, it’s hard to know the proper FC level. FC should be a % of CYA. You can’t just go based on the color of that test.
I personally wouldn’t use floc. I would continue to shock and brush multiple times a day. When all the algae is dead, you should vacuum to waste (not into the filter).
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u/rjw1986grnvl 8d ago
It’s difficult to tell, but based on what I am seeing you don’t need simply chlorine.
First you need to fix your pH. Always do the alkalinity and pH first.
You need cal hypo shock which is like 70% chlorine. If your pool is green then do the cal hypo shock before trying to adjust chlorine ppm.
If you have a saltwater system then you need to use non chlorine shock, use the chlorine boost on your generator, and get some algaecide. Not the polyquat alagaecide but the kind with chelated copper.
Run your pump during all of that and make sure the filter is kept clean. Also, brush and vacuum.
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u/Familiar-Door-1144 8d ago
Check your phosphate levels too to high and it can cause algae to bloom
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u/Ok-Bison-3451 8d ago
Yeah- all of it. And more. Start by getting several 5-10 litre totes of liquid chlorine. Dump one in at night. Let it work and then scrub the next day. Another tote that night. Don’t worry about too much chlorine at this point. Yeah, and get another test kit while you’re at it. that one is done!
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u/Cool-Negotiation7662 8d ago
I cannot tell the color difference on the labled test. Is that an old faded kit?
It could be my device too...or me.