Going. Insane. Need help, please

[BigDave]

One other thing: your pH is very low you should bring it up with borax before you bring the pool to shock as it is difficult to read when you have high chlorine levels.

[USAMariner]

Thanks for your help and insight.

The test kit I use also tests for acidic levels, is this the same as the CYA test? If not, I can research and pick up a new kit that covers all the neccesary tests. Any suggestions?

For now I will take your advice and stop using the Dichlor shock and just concentrate solely on using the Trichlor and some vigorous brushing/vacuuming and backwashing.

Based on my levels above, and should my test kit I currently have not be able to test CYA, is there an acceptable amount of bleach (store bought) that can be added without doing any "damage".

Also, what is borax? I've never heard of it, and is it also available at say Walmart?

Again, thanks for your help!!

[madwil]

first, don't use the triclhlor either- it adds CYA same as dichlor... and trichlor will also cause a pH drop.
Borax is found in the grocery aisle at Walmart...
As far as how much bleach, the amount depends on your CYA. 1.4 gal Walmart bleach should add around 3.8 ppm FC in your pool- that's the big jug of walmart 6% bleach.
your target FC is based on CYA- do you have a pool store in your area that can test your water and give you an initial CYA until you get your own CYA test?

[Watermom]

Until you get a CYA level, stop using dichlor AND trichlor. For now, just use bleach as your source of chlorine. If your kit doesn't test CYA, go to a reputable pool store and ask them to test it. Then post it here. But, don't buy all the stuff they are going to push at you.

In your pool, each gallon (4 quarts) of 6% bleach will add about 2.7ppm of chlorine. Test two or three (or even more if you able) times per day and each time, take the chlorine back up to about 10 for now. (When we know what your CYA reading is, we may advise a different level but go with that for now.) Continue to sustain the high cl level until you can go from sundown one day until sunup the next day without losing more than 1ppm of cl overnight.)

Your pH needs to be brought up ASAP. A reading below 7.0 is acidic and can damage your pool. Actually, a test kit cannot differentiate below 6.8 so yours may lower than 6.8. 20 Mule Team Borax (laundry aisle at Walmart) can be used to raise pH. Start by adding a box slowly to the skimmer while the pump is running, breaking up any clumps. After 2 or 3 hours, retest pH, and add more if needed. Anywhere 7.2-7.8 is Ok, but I like 7.4-7.6.

You may want to bump your alk up a little to help control those pH swings. Add 2 lbs. at a time slowly to the skimmer. Wait a few hours, retest and redose until you get alk around 100 or so.

Do yourself a favor and get a good test kit so you won't have to rely on a pool store for readings. We recommend the Taylor K-2006 or 2006C which is the same kit with larger quantities of some of the most used reagents. If you order it through the Amazon link in my signature below, the Pool Forum makes a little money on the sale which helps keep the forum online. Only buy if the seller is Amato Industries, however. Some other sellers are substituting the K-2005 which you do NOT want.

Repost with your CYA reading.

(By the way -- ignore the bromine reading. You have a chlorine pool.)

[USAMariner]

Thank you for your help everyone. Sorry I was not back on sooner, but work and other commitments kept me away.

All that I have done the last couple of days is give the pool some vigorous brushing etc and have notice the shade of algae start to lighten which is giving me some hope.

I will get the water tested ASAP (by tomorrow at the latest), but in the meantime since my FC is so low and based on the above post where I should bring it up to around 10, I will go ahead and add some bleach to the pool. Since it is so low (less than 4) I think that around 2 gallons will be safe (should bring the ppm up by about 5.8)

I will also pick up some Borax and add that to the skimmer line and retest every couple of hours until I achieve the correct reading of approx 7.4.

And of course I have the Alkalinity Up already which I will add to help steady those pH swings.

[madwil]

I wouldn't worry about the alkalinity right now...
just adjust the pH up, and keep the chlorine up, as the algae clears
The more often you can test and add chlorine, the quicker it clears!

[Watermom]

I would go ahead and raise the alk a little as I suggested above. It will help with your pH swings. Since you already have it, go ahead and use up the alkalinity up. But, in the future, don't buy any more. You can just use baking soda to raise the alk and it is cheaper.

[USAMariner]

OK, so I was finally able to get my water tested at the local pool company and here's what I got:

Free Chlorine: 5
pH: 7.4
Total Alkalinity: 70 (the pool place advised I add 10lbs on Alkalinity)
CYA: 50
Calcium Hardness: 150ppm
Total Dissolved Solids: 400
Phosphates: 300

What should my next steps be? I am still continuing to brush and vacuum as best I can.

I have no chlorine tabs in the skimmer line and I have not added any shock in 4 days.

I am off tomorrow and plan on spending as much time as possible out by the pool to make this right,

I have read in other threads about advising people to take their FC up to 20, but my test vials only go as high as 5. Is the figure of '20' figured by adding bleach into the pool and multiplying by a certain number?

I bought 2 4lb boxes of Borax and also 2 bottles of Clorox bleach (1.42 gal.) Should I add either or both? I know the borax will go into the skimmer basket, and I'm assuming that the bleach I add directly to the pool.

The Borox is what I am using as the Alk Up, correct? If not, what little I added the other night so I may to get more - regular Arm & Hammer baking soda? and how much?

oh, and should I space out when I add the chemicals, or is adding Borax and bleach at the same time safe?