Virginia Swamp!

Thanks for the clarification WM. I learn new stuff everyday.

I'm still betting that he needs to get the FC level up, he just may not be able to do it like I did. Might have to split the dosages up so you don't harm the pool.

Well, I added 'more' bleach last evening than previously - a couple of hours after adding the bleach last night I was getting :

pH=7.6, FC=27ppm

this AM testing gave:

pH=7.2, FC=15ppm

Question! The best guess chart gives a 'SHOCK" level of 15ppm and a '+SHOCK+' level of 30ppm for CYA=30-50 (my CYA=50), so is a FC level between 15 and 30ppm OK as a target under 'swamp' conditions?

Pic of the pool this AM:

http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/m.../swamppool.jpg

Thanks!

If it were my vinyl pool, I probably wouldn't take the chlorine to 30ppm although it isn't gonna stay that high for long with all the gunk in the pool. Although your liner would probably be fine, I'd probably aim no higher than 20-25ppm.

Is it possible for you to test multiple times per day? If so, do that and each time, add enough bleach to take it back up. The more often you test and dose and the more consistently you keep the chlorine high, the faster the pool will clear.

Keep us posted how things are going.

Ok, now testing more often...

9:00am FC=15ppm
11:00 am, I added 2.8 gallons 6% bleach

5:30pm FC=18.5ppm
added another 2 gallons 6% bleach

Always test before adding bleach so you can see how much chlorine you are losing between doses.

Can you create a signature line, please, and in it put your type of pool, volume, type of filter and size of pump and what kind of kit you are using so we don't have to scroll up to find it when we are responding to your posts? See the link in my signature to use to make your signature. Thanks.

By the way, I like you avatar!

You really, really need to clean the gook off the bottom. As long as that stuff is there, you aren't going to be able to clean it up -- especially given a CYA = 50 ppm.

@PoolDoc

Yes - I really think I have most of it out of there now... tho not being able to see the bottom isn't helping...

OK, where we are...

Pool 'looks' approx the same (literally NO clearer than when I started) probably a little lighter in color than it was, opaque light green, cannot see more than 12" into the water. Pool is being backwashed 3-4 times a day. I have scoured the pool for leaves and debris etc, and cannot find any significant quantities in there anymore.

Latest readings:

pH = 7.4
Alk = 140
FC = 18
CC = 3.5
CYA = 50ppm
salt @ 5200ppm

(running low on the Taylor 0871 cl test reagent!!)

at this point I've added (in total) 22.5 lbs trichlor, 15 lbs HTH Cal hypo shock, approx 80 gallons of 6% bleach, 12 lbs baking soda, and ~20 boxes 20 mule team borax.

Our well here (that I use for topping up the pool) contains IRON (clear water iron). I have recently (couple of months ago) plumbed in a new iron filter (birm media) with an 'oxygen chamber' aka a venturi (which oxidizes the iron and precipitates it into the iron filter) and a new water softener. The hose/pool water goes through the iron filter but not the softener. I am confident that this treatment system is working properly, BUT it is likely that the pool contains some iron from before when our old iron filter was not working right.

The (fiberglass molded) pool steps in the shallow end are stained orange/brown (tea colored) below the water line. This is almost certainly an iron compound (dishwasher used to get like this too). I sprinkled some 'super iron out' on the top step which has about 1/2" water covering it, and the discoloration immediately disappeared and step turned white.

At this stage I am wondering if at least some of the color in the pool is perhaps due to residual iron compounds???? It seems odd that its really no clearer that it was 2 weeks ago. (Having said that, SOMETHING is being caught in the filter).

Any thoughts?

Thanks


Malcolm.
PS WM - my cute avatar is a Google Android from squishable.c*m (no affiliation)...

Cloudy green usually means algae and you also have a significant CC reading that suggests the same thing. Having said that, it could be metals as well but either way, you've got to kill the algae.

Go ahead and reorder some reagents instead of waiting until you run out. Also, quit using the trichlor. It adds CYA and your CYA is high enough.