Newbie's green pool

[aylad]

It won't hurt to try. Remember that the pressure rise takes a few minutes, so add a little, give it 5 minutes or so, then add more if you need. If your pressure rises too much you can always backwash it out and try again.

Let us know how it goes

Janet

[George in Georgia]

Well, the pool holds Cl overnight. Tests at about 11 AM this morning:

pH 7.2
ppm Cl no bleach added yesterday evening 5
ppm tot Alk 120
Cyanuic acid 30 - 40 ppm (I haven't found locally a proper test kit, I'm using strips)

I've added some calcium carbonate to raise the pH to 7.5 - 7.6

The pool is still cloudy, but no green, even after running the filter 24/7 for well over a week. Any suggestions? Time for flocculant? Any other ideas? This problem is getting depressing....

[aylad]

Did you try the DE? And if so, did you see any improvement? Also, at the beginning of this thread you stated that the pool store had you using "a LOT" of cal-hypo--what's your current calcium hardness number?

Jant

[George in Georgia]

Hi Aylad -

I've yet to find the proper amount of DE or the fiber equivalent from the pool store which will not "clog" the filter. I'll continue to experiment.

Calcium hardness is reported by the pool store as 100 ppm, they cite as ideal 200 to 400.

[aylad]

Ideal calcium for a plaster or concrete pool is 200-400.
For a vinyl pool, 100 is fine--but was that a recent reading, done after the large amounts of cal-hypo that you used? As far as the DE goes, start with 1/2 cup into the skimmer and watch your pump pressure for a few minutes. If it rises to 1 psi, then stop. If you see no rise, then add another 1/2 cup, which will probably do the trick. If you get over 1 psi rise, then backwash it out and try again.

Janet

[George in Georgia]

The calcium hardness was a recent reading. I'm off to the pool store to see if they've got a cyanuric acid test kit; I'll have them test a sample for chuckles ;-)

[Watermom]

Remember that when adding DE to a sand filter, it sometimes doesn't show the pressure increase immediately, so don't add more for at least 30 minutes. If, after that time, you still don't show the 1psi increase, then add just a bit more.

[George in Georgia]

Well, I knew the liner was due for replacement, but I'd hoped to be able to wait till fall. But, after a drop in level of 4 inches in one day....Bwaaah!

I've added flocculant in the hopes of being able to see the bottom so I could check for a leak and patch it, maybe. I've also heard the suggestion of adding food coloring at potential leak points - drain fitting, returns, etc, to maybe spot a leak.

Of course fresh water would let me have the proper chemistry from the beginning. Now if only the SWG cell doesn't fail.

Any other ideas? This summer is turning into a nightmare. At least our insurance covered replacing the roof, thus freeing up money for the new liner. Grrrrrrrrrrrr!

[George in Georgia]

More complications. I suspect a leak in the returns. I'm posting under Repairs.

And the water was clearing nicely....

Thanks for the help on water quality. I'll be ready when the liner/leak problems are resolved.

[aylad]

I hate to hear about the new leak problems--just when you were finally getting the water cleared up!!

Hoping for an easily located and fixed problem, so that you can start enjoying your summer.

Janet