I'm usually good at this stuff......

[Madty]

OK here's my numbers from today
FC- 5.0
TC- 5.0
CC- 0
PH 8.0 (I since have added gallon of acid)
TA 110 (was 40 last week) 15 lbs of baking soda
CYA 40

Numbers look pretty good- but all of a sudden water is cloudy. Seems algea has been putting it's thin layer on bottom and walls.

Here's what I think- my TA was so low last week and my Ph bounced around and stays 8.0+- My low TA makes my ph go up and makes the water cloudy. Pool temp is around 86- full sun all day- so I think my CYA is not protecting my CL levels. I got it up to 5 by adding bleach. I don't really have green water, just a thin coating of slippery algae daily. I am now running my pump 24/7 and brushing daily- also trying to vacuum- can't do deep end very well as it's hard to see down 8 ft real clear.

What now- add more bleach? My test kit only goes to 5.0 so I won't know how high it is.:confused:

Am I on the right track. Should I raise my CYA to help out the chlorine?

Oh yeah- 30,000 gal IG vinyl pool. Salt water system.
I hate this- I've always had clear water.
Thanks

[Watermom]

Shock your pool up to about 10 and try to sustain the high cl reading for a day or two. Also run the pump 24/7. You can make your kit test higher if you dilute the sample. Mix one part pool water with one part distilled water. Test as usual and then multiply the result by 2. And, no, leave your cya reading alone. 40 is just about perfect.

[Madty]

Thanks Watermom-

Were my assumptions correct on my ph/ ta, etc...I'm starting to get all this stuff. I will add the bleach tomorrow to get to 10ppm per the bleach calculator.

[duraleigh]

My thinking is that you rendered your low chlorine inneffective with the high pH. It's puzzling how your Alk ever got to 40 but I doubt it had much influence on your algae.

I would suggest shock as well but would bring the Cl to 16ppm to insure you reach breakpoint. Holding it there a day or so will almost surely clear your water. Keeping your pH and Alk and Cl in line will probably keep your water clear the rest of the Summer

[Watermom]

You are right that low alk can make ph bounce around, but I don't think the high ph caused your cloudy water. Also the statement about the cya not protecting the chlorine isn't right. I think probably, your cl just dropped too low and that is why you are feeling the beginnings of some algae. I was out of town last week and although my husband added bleach for me while I was gone, I think he let mine drop too low. Because, although I couldn't see any algae, I could feel that my walls and floor felt sort of slippery like I had something starting. My cya is currently between 40-45 and I think he let the cl get down to 1. Combine that with hot sunny days in the 90s and water temps in the mid 80s and it doesn't take long for algae to try and start.

At any rate, get the cl up and keep it there for a bit and run that pump and you should clear it right up.

[Madty]

Hey Watermom and others-

Added 5 gals of chlorine this afternoon to bring my cl up to around 15. I think it is- I added per the bleach calculator. I also added 1 gal muratic acid last night due to the 8.0 ph. This morning my ph was a dark orange color- mid 7's I believe. I measured ph a few minutes ago and it was back up to 8:mad:

What's going on? I know saltwater pools tend to make ph rise, but that's way too high. I still can't see the drains very well-cloudy blue- very little algea on liner on bottom- re-swept after adding the bleach.

I will run pump 24/7 until clear- I hope soon! In the meantime, I can't add a gallon of acid everyday- $150 month!

I've seen picts of horrible algae- mine was very minimal- slippery bottom, light coating. But the cloudy water is killing me! I will give it a couple of days, but help with the ph!

[duraleigh]

You must bring your pH back down. I cannot say why it went up (Is your Alk still 110) but, regardless it needs to be in the mid to low 7's for your chlorine to be effective.

Test your water for pH and Cl tomorrow AM and post those results.... be prepared to put in more muriatic....it won't hurt your pool and you MUST get your pH down into an acceptable range.

How much Cl was in your pool prior to shocking? Any? You needed 7.5 gallons of full 6% to get to 15ppm if you had none prior. You had to have at least 5ppm of FC for 5 gallons to get you where you needed to get.

[Madty]

Dave, I was at 5ppm- If you see my first post, all my numbers are listed. I;m trying to get my ph down= I will add another gallon tonight and see what happens in the morning.
Thanks

[duraleigh]

Hi, Ty, (Gosh, I like saying that!:) )

Yeah, I saw the numbers from yesterday. With your algae issues, is it possible you lost most of that prior to adding the 5 gallons or did you test again just prior?

Nevertheless, I think you're on the right track.....getting your Cl up to breakpoint (15ppm) is essential in clearing your pool.

[Madty]

Madty is a combo of my kid's names- Madeline and Tyler- I'm Kevin. Hi, Kevin..no not as fun..... Nevertheless, it was prior to adding the 5 gals- I just looked at pool this morning and still can't see drains- just a cloudy blue. I'm going to check Ph and Cl now .................................................. ................

Ok my numbers are. CL 15ppm- Had to use 1/3 water and 2/3 distilled and got 5- mult by 3 and got 15. When I did the water by itself it was a dark orange.

PH 8.2 I even used cl neutralizer in the tube- that brought it down to 8.2. I know my ph is correct because when I check my tap water it's 7.2.

I have about 3 or 4 lbs of PH - that I bought long ago before this forum. Should I go ahead and throw that in?

One other thing- I checked TA and it seems to have dropped to 80-90 from 110. Is this due to all the acid I've put in. How do ya win this battle- add baking soda to raise PH and TA and acid to bring the PH down?? It seems I'll never win if the TA drops as well....Now I'm really lost!

:mad:

[duraleigh]

Hi, Kevin, (Yeah, not as much fun:D )

Thanks for posting the numbers...very helpful

Adjust your pH first. Down into the low to mid 7's. Keep at it...it'll get there.

Then adjust your Alk with baking soda...Ph should stay within range.

You can use the pH- but I don't know the dosage. Hopefully, it's on the package.

Your Cl seems to be holding well so I really am beginning to think the high pH is causing your cloudiness....fairly rare but it sure seems like it.

The only cause of it that makes sense is the SWG. Has it been running full bore lately? Whatever the cause, the pH has to be your priority, then Alk, then keep the Cl up in the 3-6 range. Let us know if bringing the pH down starts to clear the pool.

PS - Broax raises your pH...not baking soda.

[Madty]

Yes SWG at full boar- I realize borax raises ph w/out raising TA- Baking soda raises both. I just want to go ph down....I'll work at getting the ph down. Will acid lower TA as well?

[duraleigh]

Yes, muriatic will move Alk down along with pH.

THIS IS A TEMPORARY IDEA....NOT A LONG-TERM SOLUTION
If you wanted to get really clever you could shut off your SWG and put about 4 trichlor pucks into the skimmer....take them out anytime you shut off the pump.

The pucks will provide chlorination for your pool AND drive down the pH. Unfortunately, they also add CYA to your pool so I wouldn't use them if the CYA got to 50.

Your SWG and the acid are fighting each other pH-wise. Pucks are on the same team as the acid.

Your choice as to what to do but that SWG at full bore is problematic.

[Madty]

OK ph down to around 7.3 (for now) d it go so fast 15 this morning. Anyway- What now- My pump is working 24/7. I guess keep checking chlorine levels to "shock" until clear correct? I will monitor my ph and adjust with acid- Is that it? How long till I see this cloudy water clear up?
Thanks

Also...When can the pool be used for swimming- how high is too high CL? We swim in the nasty lake all the time- I'm just concerned about high cl

[duraleigh]

d it go so fast 15 this morning.I don't know what that means.

If cloudiness is from organics, probably a few days to clear. If from high pH, probably faster. Keep running the pump.

Go swimming now. 15ppm is harmless.

[Madty]

d it go so fast 15 this morning.

I don't know what that means either. I was posting something, I needed to edit it and forgot to delete that part- thanks for the help. We'll see how it goes:D

One more thing- I've been reading about CYA levels and how it acts as sunscreen for your chlorine. Temps here in TN have been mid 90's- I also have full sun all day, Should I raise my CYA higher for better protection?

[duraleigh]

Should I raise my CYA higher for better protection?
That's a tough call. I have raised mine from 30 up to 50 and I believe I am holding chlorine better (too early to tell).

If you are losing much more than 3ppm daily I would consider it. Remember, it's very difficult to go back and VERY high (80+ or so) tends to "mask" the effectiveness of chlorine.

If you go to 60ppm, you'll need to keep your Cl level up around 5-8ppm for it to be effective. Search "best guess" table on the forum for more info.

[Madty]

Ok- Tested ph today 8.0+- my TA is now at 70 where it was 110 3 days ago. I have been adding acid, ph - etc. Is this causing my TA to drop? Cl levels were still around 15, so that's working. I lowered my jets to not disturb the water so much (this areation could be hurting TA??) Again, the endless circle of raise both PH and TA and then lower with acid. I added 1/2 gallon today per the calculator.

I'm about to explode. I have attached a pic of the pool water- You can see, I can make out the drains and the liner design, just not the clear sparkle I'm used to.