Opening Pool Questions and Levels

[jrsdws]

I think I'm getting on the right side of the fight now. Pool is far less dark...a lighter green now...and not as much scum in it.

I'm losing some chlorine since morning, of course, sunlight and algae.

FC = 18.5
TC = 21.5

[jrsdws]

UPDATE: Water is slowly cleaning up I think. FC has dipped a bit today but I'm still in the zone.

FC = 13
TC = 15.5
pH = 7.2

Going to try to keep FC closer to 15 for the next few days.

[madwil]

that's the plan- maintain your FC as consistently as you can, and it will take care of your problem
Keep it at that level until an overnight drop in FC is <1, and your CC (TC-FC) is <.5

[CarlD]

With your FC at that level, don't try to adjust your pH as long as it's reading the way it is. There are two reasons:
1) Measuring pH at FC levels of 15 with a CYA of 40 is highly inaccurate.
2) Chlorine is generally more effective at lower pH than at higher pH.

IOW, keep on doing what you are doing, run your pump 24/7, test and adjust FC 2 to 3 times a day, vacuum to waste everyday. Brush the walls and bottom every day to knock algae loose.

Carl

[jrsdws]

Yep...staying the course!!! Tonight I'm able to see about 18" down the sidewall so we are burning out the algae.

I just ordered more DPD Powder and the FAS/DPD Chlorine Test reagent from the site so I can keep up with it.

I'm hoping we'll be able to see bottom this weekend so I can start working on the next problem.

It looks like we have warm, sunny weather coming next week so it'd be nice to be able to put the solar cover on and get the water warmed up!!

[jrsdws]

Can see through the water to bottom now. Water still has a light green tint to it so I know I'm still killing algae, but I'm making great progress.

It's been easy to hold FC levels within a few ppm pretty much all week....with the exception of a huge rain that really dropped it down.

I have a day off today so I'm going to really scrub the heck out of the walls and floor today several times.

When I backflush I'm still flushing out really dark nasty water so I know I'm really getting the stuff out.

Hopefully by the end of the holiday weekend I'll be pretty squared away on the algae situation so I want to prepare for how to fix the other problems. I'd like to have everything on hand I'll need.

What to work on next and what do I need?

[Watermom]

Read the following guide on lowering alk.

http://www.poolsolutions.com/gd/lowe...p-by-step.html

As far as lowering your calcium hardness, we usually suggest a partial drain and refill, but since your fill water is apparently extremely hard, I'm not sure what options you have in that regard. ????

[jrsdws]

I think for now I'm going to forget about the calcium hardness issue, unless I find a product that will help that without screwing anything else up.

The pool is now crystal clear and I've been able to hold FC of 12 overnight for 3 nights running.

New test results:

FC: 12
CC: 13.5
pH: 7.8
TA: 520
CYA: 35

I will now start to lower pH so I can begin aerating to lower TA.

Thanks all for all the help....now if the sun would just stay out enough to warm things up we'd be swimming!!!

[madwil]

you can swim in it now, with your current levels...
however, your tests do still show CC, so you may want to keep the FC up another day or two.
I think what you listed as CC might be TC, and only 1.5 CC, but you should still maintain the FC until the CC drops <.5

[jrsdws]

Oops my mistake. Yes CC was 1.5 so TC is 13.5

Water temp only about 70 degrees so we have to be patient....at least I do....the kids might get in.

We'll maintain another day and check it as I lower pH and start aerating.