Frustrated!!!!

[Elisabeth]

So I put up our new pool, Pro Series 14x42 steel frame. I am guilty of not doing my complete research and have myself in a mess. It took us a week to fill a 3300 gal pool from a well and I decided being new to pool chemistry I would buy the HTH startup kit. WELL..........after putting in the stabilizer as instructions state I had high Alkalinity at 170 and PH of 7.2 so I followed directions and add PH Minus only to end up with Alkalinity at 120 but PH 6.8 (or possibly lower as that is all my kit registers at), I contacted HTH and they recommended I add PH Plus and gave me the dosage which I followed and after 24 hrs with the circulation pump running I came out with Alkalinity at 170 PH 6.8...so I am running it another 24 hrs and used the sprinkler to try and add some aeration as per suggestions I seen may work but am at a loss. Is there anything I can do to try and balance this pool? I am about ready to throw in the towel and take the Grandkids to the beach all summer.

[Watermom]

What kit are you using?

Add some 20 Mule Team Borax (laundry aisle at Walmart). Maybe a cup at a time. Wait a couple hours and retest. Redose if needed until you get the pH right above 7.0. Then, turn your return jet eyeball upward to try and create as much splashing on the surface as you can.

More info about the process of lowering alk can be found here:> http://pool9.net/alk-step AND http://pool9.net/ma/

One thing you did not mention was your chlorine levels. Do you have a chlorine reading?

How much stabilizer did you put in?

[Elisabeth]

I have not added any chlorine yet, which is concerning because I am afraid it is going to get away on me and then I will have an even bigger mess.

Can I start switching over to the BBB method once I have started with HTH chemicals?

Yesterday I did the return jet to create a rippling effect on the surface as well a water nozzle with the hose for about 20 minutes on the surface trying to get some rippling action.

I added 16 oz. of stabilizer.

Thanks for any and all your help.

[Elisabeth]

I forgot to add I am using a HTH 6 way test kit

[Watermom]

1 lb. of stabilizer should put you at 40ppm which would be a good CYA reading. When did you add it and how did you add it?

I assume you are using the 6-Way drops-based kit and not the 6-way test strips?

You better get some bleach in there now, like this morning. I'm surprised it's not turning green already with no chlorine. Go ahead and add a quart of bleach. Generic 8.25% Walmart bleach is fine and what many of us use. That should put you at about 6ppm of chlorine. For reference, in your pool, each cup will add about 1.5ppm of chlorine. Use that to help you figure out how much bleach to add each evening.

What are the "HTH Chemicals." (Please give ingredients.)

[Elisabeth]

Yes I have the drops based kit. I added the stabilizer I believe on Weds...unfortunately I threw away the bottle so I am not sure about the ingredients, it is the bottle that comes in the pool startup kit (it was purchased at Walmart).

So just to be completely sure, this morning I am adding a quart of generic bleach and 1 cup of Borax and test after a few hours to see what my PH is at?

[Watermom]

Yes. That is correct.

[Elisabeth]

So I added the bleach as directed and 1 cup of borax at 10 am Sunday morning, I then tested Sunday evening about 8 pm and had a CL of 3, PH of 7.2. I did not test AL .

Monday morning 9 am results
CL - 3
PH - 7.2
AL - 180
Hardness - I added the 5 drops of hardness indicator as directed by test kit and could not get the 25 ml of pool water of blue it only turned a yellowish color
CYA - at 30 which is as low as my test kits goes I can still see slightly the black dot.

after this test run I added another cup of borax.

My water had been nice and clear yesterday morning before adding the bleach but yesterday afternoon it started to turn on me and now has a slight green tinge to it. I am going to purchase another filter and get that put in as the other is quiet dirty. Hopefully that helps.

What should my next step be?

Again thanks for all your help...hopefully I can have the grandkids in the pool on the weekend to celebrate the end of the school year.

[Watermom]

Is your pool green and cloudy or green and clear?

Don't worry about the calcium hardness test.

Your pH is good. Keep some chlorine in there. For now, aim for 3-5ppm.

Don't retest the CYA anymore until about Wed. That will be a full week since you added it so it should all be dissolved by then. Report that reading. If it is still showing lower than 30, we'll have you add a little more CYA.

[Elisabeth]

It is green and clear, I am hoping that is a good sign. Because is was filled from a well I am assuming it is Iron in the water. I just put a new filter in so hopefully that helps some.

I plan on ordering some better filters from Amazon and the Taylor K-2006 kit, once I get this under control....right now I don't want to spend anymore unless I can make it work.

[PoolDoc]

You probably need to get the K2006 and the better cartridges SO you can make it work.

I've operated numerous pools that were filled with iron contaminated water. Working out a process that is functional for THAT particular pool always took time. Usually, it wasn't till the 3rd season that I could run them without hiccups.

Operating a small pool, with undersized filters, that is filled with iron contaminated water is a task with a STEEP learning curve. If you aren't able to be patient and accept that there will be failures this year, as you work it out -- save yourself the pain and money, and bail out now.

But, if you're going to try to do it, do NOT put off what you need now, to make it easier. Of all the periods when you will want "easier", this is it. Later on, when you HAVE a method for your pool, you'll be able to 'get by' without this or that.