kjh9835's pool

[kjh9835]

Had already gone to bed when you replied. I did wash the filter out after cleaning the bottom and after testing this morning and reading your post, I put a new one in since these were my readings:
FC orange (test only goes to 5 so I figure it's plenty shocked)
pH 7.5
TA/CA 250
CYA 60 (so new filter to keep more out).

Since my bottle of CYA solution is only good for three tests (22 ml bottle, takes 7ml each test), I'm assuming I can purchase single bottles of solutions? Nearest pool store is quite a drive for me and I go back to work today so online is my best option. Who uses what company for the best prices/shipping options?

Once I get home tonight, should I start on the lowering the TA level with the step by step method I printed off yesterday?

I understand about the post approval before appearing, I usually won't look right away as it takes time for other members to read/reply anyway. I just have trouble with my internet and didn't want to aggarvate anyone by having two or three single posts of mine show up and have to be removed. I usually have to post, copy that post, submit, log off, log back on, refresh then paste my post in again before it will even give me the message "waiting on approval". It's not your site, but any forum I visit. I just deal with it but sometimes I do have duplicates show up.

Have a great day and thanks again for your replies/assistance.

kjh9835

[Watermom]

How does your water look today? Yes, you can go ahead and start working to lower the alk. It is a gradual process so don't expect huge changes quickly.

I'll let someone else advise you where to buy CYA reagents but to answer your question, yes, you can buy bottles of it. In fact, you can buy much larger bottles of it than what comes in the kit.

While you are doing the online ordering of the CYA reagent, do yourself a big favor and go ahead and order a good test kit. We recommend the Taylor K-2006 or 2006C which is the same kit with larger bottles of some of the most used reagents. If you order through the Amazon link in my signature, the Pool Forum makes a little money on the sale which helps keep the forum up and running. Only buy if the seller is Amato Industries, however. Some other sellers are substituting the K-2005 which you do NOT want.

Regarding making duplicate posts -- don't worry about it if it does happen. One of us will just delete the extra one. Glad you found us and hope we are helping! You have a great day, too.

[aylad]

I believe you can also order reagent refills from Amato Industries, but you can also get them directly frrom the Taylor site (taylortechnologies.com). I usually get mine from www.spspoolspas.com, since they have one of the best prices I've found. You might look at the instructions that came with your 5-way kit and see if there's a phone number there to reorder reagents, and compare their prices.

I would wait to start lowering your alk until the pool shocking is done, because the amount of acid you use at a time to lower the pH and alk depends on an accurate pH result, which you won't have when your chlorine level is above 10 ppm. With chlorine levels above 10 ppm, pH results tend to read falsely high, so you might end up accidentally lowering your pH by too much by depending on a false high number. Get your chlorine issues adjusted first, and then when you can let the chlorine drift back down to "normal" ranges, then start working on the TA.

Janet

[Watermom]

I would wait to start lowering your alk until the pool shocking is done, because the amount of acid you use at a time to lower the pH and alk depends on an accurate pH result, which you won't have when your chlorine level is above 10 ppm.

Good catch, Jan. You're right.

[kjh9835]

Water is still hazy. I vacuumed the bottom again but only got about 1/2 teaspoon of white granules and a few specks of debris in an hour so if the chemical residues are now gone and the water is still hazy, it must be the high alk level?

FC is still orange (so high, same as this morning)
ph 7.5 (same as this morning)
TA/CA 250 (same as this morning)

[aylad]

It is possible, but it is also possible that you're barely holding off a nascent algae bloom because your chlorine kept dropping before. If you can see this link http://www.poolforum.com/pf2/showthr...a-good-testkit), try testing your chlorine tonight after sundown and again in the morning before sunup, to see if you're losing more than 1 ppm of chlorine overnight. This is a ballpark, but maybe it'll be close enough. If you are losing chlorine overnight, then the haziness is probably due to algae trying to bloom, and you'll need to maintain shock level a little longer.

It is possible that the haziness is from overuse of clarifiers, and the only thing I know to do about that is shock the pool to try to break them down and filter it out.

It is also possible that the high alk is causing it, in which case you'll need to lower it with muriatic acid per the steps that you've already printed out--but make sure that you rule out overnight chlorine demand before you let it come back down.

Janet

[kjh9835]

Oops, posted before I was done.
I did not test the CYA level again.

Once the chlorine level is down then I'll start with getting the alk level down. My husband rigged me up aeration with his air compressor and I also think I can use a garden hose with shower setting on and put it just under the water level for more bubbles. I'll read more about that this evening.

How did the alk. level get so high anyway? Is it the well water?
I guess I could test it straight from the hose and see what I get?
Once I get the level down, is it going to be a continuing battle all Summer?
Is there a problem/damage to pool if it stays high?

Kathy

[aylad]

How did the alk. level get so high anyway? Is it the well water?
I guess I could test it straight from the hose and see what I get?
Once I get the level down, is it going to be a continuing battle all Summer?
Is there a problem/damage to pool if it stays high?

The alk level would get that high from either adding chemicals to raise it, or more likely from your fill water. You could take a sample from the hose and test it to see what you get, and that will give you your answer. If your fill water is that high, then you will be battling the high alk each time you have to top off the pool with fresh water. It's not necessarily a problem for now--it won't damage the pool, but it will contribute to milky water if your calcium levels get too high, and it may make it difficult for you to change your pH if you need to. IF it is indeed the cause of the haze, then your water may just be hazy all summer.

Since you're able to see the other links now, I'm going to wait until I know you've seen this post, and then I'm going to move your post back to where Watermom had it, so that it's in the right place in the forum, and may be helpful to others that have this problem.

Janet

[kjh9835]

Yes the link showed up. No distilled water on hand but will get after work tomorrow. I'll monitor it that way until I can get a kit ordered end of the week.

Kathy