Cloudy Pool Water - Could use some help

[bcooper27]

Here are the 10am results of water testing:

FC = 16.0 ppm
CC = .2ppm
Alk = 130 (looks like this ticked up a bit)
Calcium = 290
pH = 7.0 (only 1-drop to get to 7.2 range -- almost there)

Water is still cloudy however, unless my eyes deceive me, it looks like it's very slightly LESS cloudy. Hard to tell.

Do I keep pumping in the bleach to get this over 20ppm FC? I'm thinking yes.

I'll have to find a pool place locally that sells the Taylor Reagents. I've tested the chlorine levels so much that I've gone through my .75oz bottle of the R-0871. I did place an order last night with Amato but can't wait for that to arrive.

[bcooper27]

Here's the 1pm results of testing:

FC = 24.4 ppm
CC = 0
Alk = 130
pH = 7.0
CYA = <30 (can easily see the black dot when tube it completely filled)

At 11:15am I put in (3) 96oz bleach bottles and that definitely kicked things up to shock level. Pool water is still cloudy, although it does appear to be getting slightly better.

My wife just put in a 76oz box of borax to get that pH back up. Plus I picked up the R-0871 at my local pool store so I'm back in business testing chlorine levels.

The high ALK and low CYA levels concern me though. What's everyone's take on how things look for all levels? Do I keep the shock level until it clears up?

Thanks!

[aylad]

NOW you're makin' progress!! : You're doing all the right things, it's just a matter now of keeping the shock level as consistently as you can, and running the filter to help clear up the cloudy.

Your alk increased when you added the washing soda--it increases alk as well as pH. Your pH is still on the low side, especially since high chlorine readings will make pH results show falsely high, so I would definitely get another 1/2-3/4 box of Borax in there as soon as you can. The alk went a little higher than ideal, but it is still fine where it is. It can always be adjusted later, but I'd leave it alone.

The CYA being low is ok for now--if you raise the CYA level right now,then your shock target gets higher, and since you're already having problems achieving it, we don't want to adjust it up. So....I would leave the CYA alone, get another partial box of Borax in there, and maintain that shock level as consistently as you can.....you're definitely on the right track!!!

This is where the most important ingredient of all comes in...that POPP--pool owner patience and persistence!!

Janet

Just re-read your post and realized the Borax is already in. Give it a couple of hours and retest, make sure that it's registering.....

[mbar]

Just so you know from my own experience water mold takes a while to clear out. It really takes mega doses of chlorine as you now know The other thing is to keep on with the shock levels for a while, because watermold comes back very easily if it isn't all gone (from more experience) Don't get discouraged for how long it takes for the cloudiness to go away - it does take a while to filter out, keep your filter going 24/7, and backwash as needed. You are over the worst! Congrats

[Watermom]

How is the filter pressure doing? Backwash when it goes 8-10 psi over clean filter pressure. You might try some skimmer socks and also adding a little DE to your sand filter. Info in this thread:

http://www.poolforum.com/pf2/showthread.php?t=3742

Sounds like you may be on the home stretch! Keep hammering it with bleach. You are doing a good job.

[bcooper27]

Filter pressure is remaining pretty steady as to where it should be. I'll keep my eyes on it and backwash if it gets too high.

I tested at 3pm and the levels were as follows:

FC = 17.0 ppm
CC = 0
pH = 7.4 (yippee!)

I put in (2) more 96oz bottles of bleach to keep the shock level. I'll continue doing that until it clears up. The good news is that I think I'm starting to see the bottom of the pool liner. Still a ways to go though.

I'm trying to read as much as possible to stick with the BBB method as I think it's great. I admit I neglected things the first two seasons and I'm determined to get a good process down to keep the pool in great condition. It's actually pretty fun checking levels and staying on top of things so that's good too (although my wife and kids are starting to call me "bleach boy" for some unknown reason!) Maybe it's the bleached stained shirt I'm wearing......which by the way was one of my favorite shirts until I forgot about how things SPLASH when you put them in the pool!

Does anyone have a routine you use during the week for adding chemicals, brushing, vacuuming, etc that they could recommend? Or maybe there's a post I haven't found yet.

I'll continue to check and post results until I'm 100% clear and good. Hopefully this also helps someone else too.

[Watermom]

I usually turn my pump on aroung 11:00 or so in the morning and also the solar panel. It runs throughout the day until the sun starts to go down and then I turn the solar panel off. As far as testing, I just spend about 5 minutes each evening when we get out of the pool checking cl and pH and adding bleach. Usually I end up adding 2 or 3 quarts of bleach. Then, I let the pump run for an hour or two and then shut it off for the night.

After I open the pool in the spring and get the levels where I want them (namely cya), I only run a full set of numbers a couple of times a season. But I have been doing this a long time and know my pool. My pool is consistently maintained thus I don't have problems.

I bought a Wanda the Whale vac this spring and I throw her in 2 or 3 times a week. Usually in the morning and let her do her thing for a couple of hours and then take her out before we get in to swim. We use our pool more in the evenings than in the heat of the day.

It takes awhile to "get to know" your pool, but as you do and you learn what works for your pool, your routine will become simple and quick as well. Good maintenance can head off most problems.