cloudy water

[slowtan]

My water has been cloudy the last couple of days. I checked my #'s at home and everything looked fine. I even did the crazy thing of going to the pool store and my #'s were good there too. They advised to clean my DE filter and add some water clarifier. I cleaned the DE but didn't get the clarifier. What is in the clairifier and do I really need it to have clear water.

TC 7
FC 7
CC 0
PH 7.6
Hardness 290 (according to the pool store, it would not run for me at home)
Alc 110 when I run it (82 at the pool store , they said because of stabiler correction)
CYA 95 (I know this is high but I did 3 water changes, I used only pucks last year so I think that is why my CYA was super high)

last year purchased pool and they said add 4 pucks and shock 1lb every week. water was clear but was like bleaching my clothes and I always bought something from them everytime I left the store. Before I buy this year I rather ask here first.

Stephen

[Watermom]

What are you chlorinating with? If you aren't already, I would suggest just using bleach. Try running your cl up to about 10 for a few days and also run your pump 24/7.

[slowtan]

This is my 1st year of bleach and only my 2nd year owning a pool. Last year I listened to the pool store and spent lots of $$.

I just checked and chlorine was 0. I added 2 gallons which should be 14ppm.
According to my CYA shock would be at 20 ppm. Should I get my chlorine up to 20 and hold it there or is 14 going to be ok. How long do I need to keep my chlorine high?? 2-3 days and try something else or just keep it up until it clears up.

Cloudy has now gone to murky. I am no longer able to see the bottom of the pool.

Please help

Stephen

[aylad]

Get your chlorine up to 20 and hold it there until it clears. You really need to test 2-3 times daily, and each time add whatever amount of bleach necessary to bring it back up to 20. Keep your filter running 24/7 during the process, and scoop out any debris you can. It'll clear up, just pour the bleach to it!

If you have a test kit that will test for combined chlorine, when that test result is zero, you're ready to let your Cl come back down to normal levels. If you don't, then keep the cl up until the water is clear.

Janet

[slowtan]

added 2 gallons of bleach last night and no chlorine in the pool this morning. I added 2 gallons again this morning and 2 hours later 0 chlorine.

Do I have a more serious problem??

I really can only look at this twice a day. 3 gallons should add 20ppm for my pool which is the shock level because of my CYA. Can I just add 4 gallons before bed and check in the AM and over shock again. I am out of bleach and I am going to bed (work 3rd shift). Any suggestions would be appreciated.

I have a bunch of pucks (tri-chlor) left from last year and shock leftover from last year. Should I use either of them or stick w/bleach?

Stephen

[aylad]

With a CYA of 95, I definitely would NOT use the pucks--they're what got your CYA so high in the first place. I also would steer clear of the powdered shock--dichlor is going to raise your CYA, which is already high, and cal-hypo will raise your calcium, which is also already high. If you have a vinyl lined pool I wouldn't over shock with bleach to keep from bleaching your liner, but if it's concrete, then it wouldn't hurt to go a little overboard with the bleach. Keep hammering it with the bleach--something in there is consuming it! It may take a good bit of bleach to get it cleared up, but your other levels are really too high to use anything else.......

Janet