My pool has been very clean and clear up until two weeks ago. I have taken samples into several pool stores and bought what they told me to buy.
Now my pool is aqua green and I cannot get it to clear up.
Please help!
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My pool has been very clean and clear up until two weeks ago. I have taken samples into several pool stores and bought what they told me to buy.
Now my pool is aqua green and I cannot get it to clear up.
Please help!
I did run down to walmart and bought the hth 6-way test and here are the results.
PH 7.5
CL off the chart
BR off the chart
AK 160
HD 230
CA 120
Hi bjlind,
Unfortunately, "buying what they told me to buy" isn't a good idea at the pool store--they tell you to buy as many things as possible, because that's how they make money--and those things may or may not help fix your problem!!
These things will help us help you better:
1) Fill out the pool info chart here, Pool Chart Entry Form
2) Give us a list of what all you put into the pool (ingredients, NOT product names like "shock" or "algaecide"
3) Test for chlorine again, using the dilution method--dilute your pool water sample 1:1 with distilled water, mix well, and test from a sample of the mixture--then multiply your result x 2. Ignore the BR reading, unless you've added something with bromine to the pool. Unless you have done that, it's just a chlorine pool.
4). Is the water green/cloudy? green/clear? any metals in your fill water? What normal method of chlorination do you use?
Thanks for the reply
1) Pool chart is done.
2)i will tell you what was last, which was two days ago. i added 23lbs sodium hydrogen carbonate and 2 lbs of sodium bisulfate.
3)retest on the chlorine was 10 ppm.
4)The water is green/cloudy almost a aqua blue/green I cannot see the bottom. i do not know if i have metal in the city water. i have a inline chlorinator
Seriously? Did they tell you to do that? If so, stay far, far away from that store's recommendations in the future.Quote:
Originally Posted by bjlind
"Sodium hydrogen carbonate" is an old - but still legal - chemical name for baking soda, that BioLab/BioGuard and others use to conceal the fact that they are selling you baking soda, available in a purer form at Walmart for ~$0.50/lb! It's bad enough that you overpaid for it; what's worse is that you didn't need it, and will eventually have to remove it -- your TA was ALREADY too high!
If your test reading for CA (= cyanuric acid?) is from the HTH kit, and is really 120 ppm, then your problem is that you don't have NEARLY enough chlorine in the water. The Best Guess chart, linked in my blue signature bar, explains.
To fix the problem, do this:
1. Test your pH -- it's probably too high. If so, read the muriatic acid page in my signature, and then add acid till your read 7.0. (Don't worry, it will come back up on it's own!)
2. While you're adjusting the pH, add 2 gallons of PLAIN 6% bleach each evening to your pool. Don't worry about overdosing -- you'll go MUCH higher once the pH is fixed. Test your pH BEFORE you add the chlorine.
3. Once the pH is down, add 8 gallons of PLAIN 6% bleach in the evening.
4. Check pool color and test chlorine (not pH) in the morning, and report your results. (You should get an orange OTO reading.)
5. If the color has not changed by the following evening, repeat the 8 gallon dose.
6. Check again, and report your results.
IMPORTANT NOTE: These doses depend on a CYA level that is greater than 100. If you tested CYA any other way, besides the cloudy water test in the HTH 6-way drops test OR the Taylor K2006 . . . . do NOT use the 8 gallon doses.
Instead, fix the pH and tell us how you tested.
With a high CYA, you are going to have to run higher chlorine levels than the HTH 6-Way kit can measure since it only goes up to 5ppm. You'll need to order a Taylor K2006 or 2006C kit. (Test kit link in Ben's signature above.)
Thanks for the help!!!
I have been gone for the last week and my wife has been taking care of the pool. I gave her your instructions and she added 2 gals. each night and worked at getting the ph down. I told her to go to the pool store for muriatic acid and they did not have any. The pool people told her that using muriatic acid would eat holes in the linner. I was also a little worried about her handling this product. I told her to just buy what thet were selling which she did. She put in 10lbs of sodium bisulfate which did get the ph down to 7 last night. I returned home this morning and checked the ph and added 8 gals of bleach this morning account it was overcasat. I also vaced the pool and brushed the sides. Then I backed washed the sand filter. I did run some test this afternoon and here are the results:
chlorine very orange OTO reading
PH 7.2
TA 130 (i could not get the test to turn red just yellow after 13 drops??)
CYA 110
It is raining now but the pool looks a lot better!!! The water is blue and cloudy but not green anymore.
I do have a few questions
(1) How long will it take for the chlorine levels to drop after this prosess is done? (kids want in the pool)
(2) how much bleach will it take to maintain the pool after we are done?
I will test the chlorine and ph again tonight and post the results.
I am ording a test kit as we speak. Thanks for the advice!!
CL very orange almost brown( I did try a 25 part test and it was about 75 ppm)
Ph 7.8
Water is blue but still cloudy
This is 12 hours after second 8 gallon dose.
Don't add any more chlorine. Let it drop.
Don't add any clarifier, till it's below 20 ppm.
What is your stabilizer level?
What would I want to add as an clarifier?
My stabilizer level is cya 110 ppm( I hope that is what you are asking)
Chlorine is still very dark orange oto
pH is 7.2
OK, so you've got two readings of CYA = ~110?
But, your pool is clearing up? OTO orange is usually 15 - 35 ppm, so that's appropriate. With CYA > 100 ppm, it's not only safe, it would be comfortable for swimming.
The HTH 6 way only did two CYA test. I tested the CYA when I got the test kit before I started to add bleach. I did test again before I added the first 8 gals account you but that in red in your instructions. The first was 120 and the second 4 days ago was 110.(new test kit shipped today) The pool is getting very clear. I just jumped in and the chlorine was a little hard on the eyes but not bad. Thanks for all the help again!! How would you sudjest I maintain the pool going forward?
You'll need a Taylor K2006, in order to maintain appropriate chlorine levels for a pool with CYA that high. Otherwise, just follow the Best Guess Chart, and keep your pH in range, and you should be fine.
I would like to thank all of you again for the great help.
I received the Taylor k-2006c yersterday and here are all the test results.
FC 26 ppm
CC .5 ppm
pH 7.6
TA 140
CH 200
CYA 90
It has been raining for the last two days and Issac has added about 4" of water to the pool which I think helped bring down the CYA. I have quit using the inline chlorinator with the 3" tabs. I plan on using it again if we are to go out of town or if I need to bring up the CYA. One thing I should mention is that the water is very clear even after all of the rain. I do have a few more question for you if you get a chance.
(1) Do you know of a good pool volume cal? I have used several on the internet and all are giving me differant answers. I have a 27' round AG pool and the actual water depth is 49"
(2) What are the ideal levels for all test on my pool? Mainly the TA, pH, and the Ch. I think the best guess chart takes care of the rest!
Thanks again for all of the help! You have made be a believer!!!
Good general guidelines for levels for vinyl pools: TA 80-120 but those aren't set in stone and you are fine at 140. You don't need calcium but it isn't a problem unless you get too high like maybe over 400ppm. Then you may have cloudy water issues. And, pH is ok anywhere between 7.2- 7.8. Your CYA is kinda high at 90 so I would advise not using any forms of stabilized chlorine meaning no trichlor pucks and no dichlor shock powder.
Based on the depth supplied when the Pool Chart was completed, her volume is about 15,000 gallons, as shown above.Quote:
27 round 15K* gal AG vinyl pool; inline 3" tabs; sand filter; 1 speed pump; 12 hrs; HTH 6-way; utility water; summer: none; winter: vinyl / water bags; iPhone; PF:8