Cloudy Pool Water - Could use some help

[bcooper27]

Ok, here's what I did and the results so far. At 2pm EST I put in (6) 96oz bottles of 6% bleach and (1) 182oz bottle of 6% bleach. I just tested the CL levels after two hours (actually tested them twice) and this was what came up:

FC = 1.0ppm
CC = 11.0ppm (yes, ELEVEN POINT ZERO!)

???

[Watermom]

Can you list step-by-step exactly how you are running these tests for us to look at, please.

EDIT: This is not a new pool, right? Do you know what your CYA level was when you closed the pool last fall?

[bcooper27]

Sure can.

1. I take a sample of water from the pool using a bottle at about 1-foot deep.

2. I rinse the tube from the Taylor kit and fill it with pool water to the 25ml mark.

3. I add (2-3) of the tiny scoops of R-0870 DPD Powder to the water and swirl it around until mixed up to see if it turns pink. In most cases it is, although it's very slightly pink.

4. I then add the R-0871 drops until the pink water becomes clear, counting each drop. In this case I put in 5-drops and then it turned clear.

5. From there I take the exact solution used at the end of #4 above (which is the water plus all the drops/powder I added already) and then I add 5-drops of R-0003 (DPD Reagent) to test the CC. In this case the 5-drops made the water turn SUPER pink.

6. I then began to add and count the drops of R-0871 to see how many it takes to bring the pink water down to clear. In this case it took me 55 drops to make the water clear.

This is not a new pool. It's our 3rd season with it. Unfortunately I didn't have this test kit at the end of last year (or the know-how) to test CYA.

Let me know if you have any questions. And Thank You!

[Watermom]

Well, sounds like you are doing the test correctly.

We have had several people on the forum this year who have had EXTREMELY high chlorine demand upon opening. Sounds like this might be the case for you. Unfortunately, the only way to fix this is to keep slamming it with bleach all day long day after day until you can hold chlorine overnight. It gets frustrating because you think you're never gonna get to that point, but then, one day you do.

So, be patient and test and shock it with bleach as many (and I mean AS MANY) times per day as you can. It will clear. May take awhile ................ sorry to have to tell you that.

There are quite a few other threads where this has happened. Maybe read some of them to reassure you that it will work. We'll be right along with you til you get it fixed!

So, that I don't have to go and re-read this entire thread, can you outline again every ingredient you have put in this pool since you opened it, please.

[aylad]

Shock, shock, shock, shock, shock, shock............it's the only way to kill the CCs, no matter where they're from!

Janet

[bcooper27]

Well, so far since I opened the pool (this past Sunday) I've added the following:

Sunday:
1lb Chlor Brite (dichlor)

Monday:
(2) 182-oz bottles 6% Bleach
About 5-oz Clarifier (that thick blue liquid)

Tuesday:
(4) 182-oz jugs of 6% bleach

Wednesday (Today):
(6) 96oz bottles of 6% bleach and (1) 182oz bottle of 6% bleach at 2pm

(3) 182oz bottle of 6% bleach at about 4:30pm

So far that's what I've added to the pool since I opened it. I know last year we had a LOT of problems keeping chlorine in the pool. Every time we went to the pool store to check the water it was low or non-existent and the pool guy said many people in our area were having the same issue.

At this point, I'll add bleach ALL DAY if I have to to get this cleared up so I'll just keep adding, waiting an hour or two, checking the levels, and adding again.

-Brian

[aylad]

I'll just keep adding, waiting an hour or two, checking the levels, and adding again.

That's the fastest way to get it clear--the more consistently it stays above "shock" level, the faster it'll happen.

I wouldn't worry much about the clarifier at this point, just keep hitting it with bleach.

Janet

[Watermom]

Check in with us every once in awhile and let us know that you haven't filled the pool in with dirt!

(It may take awhile .............hang in there!)