Confused about pH and T/A going the wrong way

[Robin N]

I've been fighting a green pool for about a week now and I'm trying to adjust my pH --- I realized that aeration was working against me for now, so I've stopped that. I've been running my filter 24/7.

My numbers at 6:30 AM today were:

Cl 12
pH 7.6
Acid called for 1 1/4 pints
T/A 160

I was feeling encouraged - my pH finally dropped after a week's worth of trying. I added 1 1/2 pints of Muriatic Acid, waited a couple of hours and added a gallon of bleach to get my Cl back up.

Then I tested again at 4 PM:

Cl 24
pH 8.0
Acid called for 3 3/4 pints
T/A 180

Feeling completely devasted about this. How could my numbers go UP? This is the first time I've ever had any experience with a pool - I've owned this one for 2 weeks and I feel like I'm really wrecking things.

Robin
25,000 gallon pool
vinyl liner, sand filter

[Simmons99]

your PH test could be interfered by the high chlorine levels - you should wait until your chlorine is below 10ppm when testing PH levels. You can contact Water Bear for more info on this.

Also - ALK will not reduce until your PH is below 7.2. Again I would not be pouring acid in your pool when you are depending on a PH test with the high chlorine levels. It seems like the higher your chlorine level the higher your PH reading is.

[duraleigh]

Robin,

You also have some test accuracy problems. In a pool of 25k, 1 gal of bleach will raise your Cl from 12 to 14.4. Yours went to 24?? One of those two tests is incorrect....badly.

Accurate testing and dosing is essential to clearing your pool.

[Robin N]

Dave,

Thanks for you input. My problem is I have to keep my Cl level up because I have a bad algae problem. I came over to this board to get help lowering my pH and T/A so that the Cl can kill the algae. I've had this pool since June 10 and it's been green since June 14. I've just had to change from my Mark IV Test Kit that was left with the house to a Walmart Kit, while I'm waiting on Ben's Kit to arrive. (I didn't have access to this site for the 1st week here and that's when things got out of hand)

My Numbers are:

7/14 Cl 1.0-2.0 pH 7.4 /A 180
7/15 Cl 12 pH 7.6 T/A 240
7/15 Cl 12 pH 7.6 T/A 280
7/17 Cl 12 pH 8.0 T/A 240
7/17 Cl 12 pH 8.0 T/A 230
7/18 Cl 24 pH 8.0 T/A 190
7/18 Cl 24 pH 8.0 T/A 180
7/18 Cl 24 pH 8.0 T/A 210
7/18 Cl 24 pH 8.0 T/A 210
7/18 Cl 24 pH 8.0 Turned off aerater at this point
7/18 Cl 24 pH 8.0 T/A 190
7/18 Cl 24 pH 8.0 T/A 190
7/19 Cl 24 pH 7.6 T/A 190
7/19 Cl 24 pH 7.6 T/A 190
7/19 Cl 24 pH 8.0 T/A 170
7/20 Cl 12 pH 7.6 T/A 180 CYA 130 (12 must not have been right)
7/20 Cl 24 pH 8.0 T/A 180
7/20 Cl 24 pH 8.0 T/A 150
7/21 Cl 24 pH 8.0 T/A 210 (started using new Walmart Test kit.)

My new test kit doesn't have the Acid Demand Test I was using as a general guide about adding Muriatic Acid. I've been adding it 1 quart at a time, at least 8 - 12 hours apart. Am I doing everything I can be doing to lower this or am I just fumbling around in the dark making a bigger mess?

Robin
25,000 gallon in ground pool
vinyl liner, sand filter