Help with Blue Cloud that is my pool!

[S-T-THREE]

thank you aylad,
-Yes the pump runs 24/7.
-I have a bucket of stabilizer. I will start that today.
-The pump pressure builds up the longer it runs, and goes down after a backwash.*
*The pump issue leads me to another question. As far as D.E. is concerned, I'm not really sure what that is. Is it a power that works in corelation with a D.E. Filter? Is it a product I get for the pool store? should I be concered about it if my pump is not throwing anything back into the pool?

[aylad]

DE stands for diatomaceous earth, and it is the stuff that is used in DE pool filters. You can get it from the pool store, or from Lowe's or Home Depot, and I have even seen it sold in smaller bags in Walmart's pool section in previous summers.

You should not see anything shooting back into the pool from the returns except water. If you do, then you have a filter issue that needs to be addressed. If you don't, then that's a good thing! You can add a handful through the skimmer, give it about 30 minutes and check your pressure--you're looking for no more than a 1 psi rise in pressure. The DE will help coat the sand, and will help catch the finer stuff. It will wash out when you backwash, though, so you'll have to add more after a backwash.

If the pressure builds while it's running, and goes down after a backwash, then you're doing what you need to do--keep filtering and backwashing as the pressure indicates, and the pool will clear, you just gotta be patient!

Janet

[S-T-THREE]

I added stabilizer last night. I'm shooting for the 30 CYA range. I tested jsut over 20 this morning and I still see a little bit of granules that hav not yet desolved float to the top when I sweep. I can now make out subtle color variations on the pool bottom. I also was able to see a small group of leaves that I have missed. I scooped the leaves and got hte pool back to shock level. Making progress!!

[Watermom]

CYA (stabilizer) takes a while to dissolve fully. Don't waste your reagent. Wait a week before checking it again or adding more. Glad things are looking better.

[S-T-THREE]

Updates!
I can now see the pattern of the vinyl liner at the bottom. I still have a fine green/brown powder that sits on the bottom, I'm hoping leaving the pumps run 24/7 and sweeping will have it eventually get filtured out. I can vacuum if needed, but hate to void that much water from the pool if I don't have to.

Current reading are not complete because I'm waiting to refill reagents, So..

CC-FC = need reagent (But using an older kit I still have a very high reading. ( I know this does not help!!) :-(
CYA = 30ish
CH = 600 (i think this might be atributing to the cloudyness i'm still fighting
PH = 7.2
TA = 60

[Watermom]

You don't always have to vacuum to waste. Instead, you can vacuum to your filter and that way you don't waste so much water. (If a pool is really green and full of algae, it is best to vacuum to waste, though.) Secondly, I think you are right that part of your cloudy water problem is due to the high calcium hardness reading. That is really high. You really might want to consider doing a partial drain and refill to lower it. Glad things are looking better.

[aylad]

Is the CH that high in your fill water, or have you been using cal-hypo for chlorination?

Janet