Help! I'm ready to pull my hair out!

[mortimay]

I just checked my chlorine using the shot glass method. The best I can tell I think the chlorine is at around 12. Should I continue to add bleach even if I show the chlorine at 12 or wait until it drops? It is no longer showing orange in my tests, but a dark yellow.

[mortimay]

I'm still fighting the green. My numbers are PH 8.2 the chlorine turned orange using the shot glass method and diluting it with 3 shots of distilled water. The alkalinity test turned a light blue and then yellow when adding the titrant. I added 6 gallons of 10% sodium hypochlorite about an hour ago. I have no clue what to do. My pool is getting just a bit clearer but I have been battling this for almost 3 weeks. I've seen pools turn around in a matter of days so I'm obviously not doing something right. I guess I need more detailed instructions on chemicals, time-frames, etc.

[Watermom]

How often are you adding chlorine? Don't worry about any other numbers right now except chlorine and pH. Do yourself a favor and order a better test kit -- Taylor K-2006. You can click on the Amazon link in my signature to order it. It will make it SO much easier on you. I just checked and they have 16 in stock from Amato Industries which is the place we recommend. You'll be glad you bought it.

The key to killing algae is to sustain the high cl reading. If you let it yo-yo up and down, it will take forever to clear. Run the pump 24/7 and backwash when the pressure rises 8-10psi over clean filter pressure. Did you take a sample to the pool store and ask them to test for metals? Please do so and while you are there, go ahead and let them run a full set of numbers but don't buy a bunch of stuff that they will try and tell you that you need.

Don't test your pH when you have just added chlorine. It will give you a false reading. Hang in there. We'll stick by and continue to help and encourage you! It'll clear if you are consistent with the chlorine levels.

And again, get a good kit. This wouldn't be so hard if you had one.

[mortimay]

I had my water tested at a local pool store:

FC 4.5
TC 5.2
pH 7.6
Alk 155
Stab 21

I forgot to have them run the metals test. I'll have to go back later today. I've been adding chlorine once a day. Last time I added was last night.

[Watermom]

It would be better to add chlorine more often while you are attempting to clear it up. At least morning and night and more often if you can.

[CarlD]

Watermom has been giving you absolutely the advice you need. But if you don't test and adjust the FC 3 times a day (or, minimum 2x a day), you'll never get it sorted out. Keep doing what Lisa's telling you.

Meantime, let's look at your pump and filter.
1) You need to be running it 24/7 until it's clear.
2) You need to vacuum the pool to waste every single day. Get the junk out!
3) You need to brush the walls and bottom every single day. This knocks the algae loose so the chlorine can kill it.
4) You need to backwash your filter whenever the pressure rises. So...backwash, and note the pressure. When it goes up 5 psi, backwash again.
5) Get a small box of DE powder, 10 pounds or less. After backwashing, add about 1/3 cup to your skimmer and wait about 20-30 minutes. The object is for the pump pressure to increase a little, about 1 psi, no more than 2. At this point, the DE will improve the filtering for the sand. 10 pounds of DE should be less than $10. And it should last you all summer, if not 2 summers.
6) Get skimmer filters. These are generically called "Skimmer Socks" but can be called "Filter savers". It's an elastic filter that goes in the skimmer, about 4 or 5 for $10. I find one lasts a month. Rinse it out every single day or when it gets clogged. It will catch all kinds of stuff for you.
7) You must have P.O.P.P. Pool Owner Patience and Persistence!

Carl

[mortimay]

Thank you for the help. How much chlorine should I be adding each time? I still only have the cheapie test kit. I'm working on getting the better one. If I vacuum to waste every day do I go ahead and fill the pool daily also? I won't be able to get my water tested for metals (I have well water) until Monday morning. What is DE powder and what does it do? The pool is getting clearer. I can see my skimmer net on the bottom of the pool now and it looks like the water is bluer - I hope that's not just wishful thinking!

[madwil]

the shotglass method will work for now to test FC, keep the FC at shock levels as consistently as you can and keep filter on 24/7...
Yes, keep your water level filled when you vacuum- if it is starting to clear, you can possibly even vacuum through filter instead of to waste to conserve water/chemicals...
DE is Diamataceous Earth (spelling?), you can add a cup at a time to your skimmer, wait 15-20 minutes and check pressure on your filter- when your pressure raises 1 psi, you've added enough- it fills in gaps in your sand, creating a finer filter media to filter out more suspended crud from your water; then it will be removed along with the crud when you backwash, so you add it again, the same amount as you determined the first time by the cup method!

[mortimay]

Back to square one. I busted my strainer lid last night and had to shut the pump off. Still haven't gotten it up and running, having issues with leaks. Not been a good day. Anyway, I took a sample to the pool place and here's where my numbers are now (or at least this morning before the sun hit it):

FC 6.9
TC 7.6
pH 5.0
Alk 135
Stab 18
TDS 1400
Iron .12
Copper .74

She told me to add 3 lbs pH increaser and 2 lbs Stabilizer and I did buy the Metal free and she told me to add half of the 33.9oz bottle.

I havent' done anything yet except work on getting my pump running again. Figured I'd ask what you all thought I should do before doing anything.

Thanks!

[PoolDoc]

FC 6.9
TC 7.6
pH 5.0 <==
Alk 135
Stab 18
TDS 1400
Iron .12
Copper .74

Something is seriously wrong here -- I actually looked in your registration to see if you'd included a phone number -- but there are three possibilities:

1. Your previous test results were all wrong, or
2. You added a BUNCH of acid, but didn't mention doing so, or
3. This most recent test is bogus and should NOT be trusted!

Pools don't mysteriously go from pH 7.6 (next to last test) to 5.0 (last test) for no reason. A pH of 5.0 *can* damage your liner. But if you didn't add acid, it's almost a certainty that the last test result is bogus, and should NOT be trusted. This means you should NOT add all that pH UP.

Ben