Strange test results, help!!

[lisak]

Link to the phosphate remover:

http://www.halosource.com/userfiles/...Remover(2).pdf


Link to the clarifier:

http://www.halosource.com/userfiles/...Remover(2).pdf

This one doesn't even say what it is, just "trade secret" sigh......

[aylad]

If your CYA is at 30 (I assume you've recently measured it, since the pucks continually raise CYA), then your shock level is 15 ppm, which you should be way over at this point. Try testing again tonight after the sun is off the pool, and again in the morning before the sun hits the pool. If you lose less than 1 ppm of chlorine when comparing those two tests, then you can let the chlorine drift back down to the 3-6 range and continue filtering to get all the dead algae out. If you do lose more than 1 ppm of chlorine overnight, you need to leave the chlorine at above 15 ppm so you can overcome the chlorine demand ( which is probably either residual algae or the phosphate remover).

Janet

[CarlD]

You will want to backwash every day.

You may want to get "skimmer socks" and use them, too. They will catch surface stuff.

If you have a sand filter you should add a little DE powder (normally used for DE filters) to through the skimmer (but not with the skimmer sock in place). You add just enough to raise your pressure by one pound and add it anew after backwashing. This increases the filtration capability of the sand. Do NOT add DE to a cartridge filter. Initial amount of DE is 1/4 to 1/3 cup, no more. Add more only if your pressure doesn't increase by a full pound.

[lisak]

I do have a sand filter but have never tried that. I'll go get some today. Have also never used a skimmer sock so will get one of those too. The filter has been running continuously since I left for vacation on 6/30. Am I right in assuming that all the crap on the bottom is dead whatever that the chlorine has killed? Thank you for helping.

Lisa

[aylad]

Yes, the "crap" on the bottom is dead algae, combined with the other normal pollen, dirt, etc that blows into the pool on a daily basis. The link that you put in the above post for the clarifier was actually a repeat link for the phosphate remover, but in any event, a lot of the clarifiers also contain a flocculant, designed to make small particles clump together and go to the bottom where they can be vacuumed out. Just keep vacuuming this stuff out as much as you can--I would vacuum it to waste and bypass the filter, that way you know it's going OUT of the pool. Just make sure that you switch your pump to "rinse" before going back to "filter" to rinse all the residual out of the pipes.

When you get ready to add the DE, like Carl suggested, start with a very small amount and wait several (up to 30) minutes before adding more, because the pressure rise can be slow. You don't want to increase your pressure more than 1 psi. If you overshoot it, just backwash it out and try again.

Janet

[lisak]

Here is the link for the clarifier.

http://www.halosource.com/userfiles/...20Clarifier%20[Rev03].pdf

I just put the DE right into the skimmer basket?

[aylad]

Here's Carl's stickied post about adding the DE..

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

Janet

[PoolDoc]

Right, DE goes in the basket.

Ben
"PoolDoc"