Major Chemistry Problem on open

[psciotti]

thank you for all the help much appreciated....I'll post back in a day or 2.

[psciotti]

AARRGGHH! This is very frustrating! The PH level has again gone down below where I can read it... below 6.8. I tried with a 1/2 full vial on the test and it barely looked like it was 7 - interpolating I'm guessing a ph in the 3-4 range. I know I have to bring immediately but how do I stop it from dropping so quick?

I'm thinking of dumping about 1/4 of the water (I can only do this much with running into issues) and refilling with clean water and starting from scratch. Normally I would not care how long this took but I have a graduation party next weekend and I need it clear by then..ph or not at this point.

Does dumping water make sense?

thanks

[PoolDoc]

Dumping 1/4 of your water won't make or break your situation. To FIX thing by dumping and refilling, you'd have to do 3/4 or more AND have high quality fill water.

At this point, where we've at least hit a higher level of pH, I think if you simply run your filter 24/7 and add borax every couple of hours, 1/2 box at a time, you may be able to do fine. Do not clean your filter too much -- watch for the pressure increase on the gauge, and do not clean till you've seen pressure go up 4# above whatever the pressure was when the filter was clean.

One more thing: can you test your tap water, or whatever water you fill your pool with? We need to get a handle on how all that calcium got into your pool in the first place. If we don't figure that out, we can't really resolve your problem, since it's likely happen again.

[psciotti]

Makes sense what you say. Just very frustrated when I look out at pool and the water looks horrible and knowing I have 5 days to get this somewhat presentable. I will continue down this road and cross my fingers. I will test the tap water tomorrow and get back to you all.

Possibly the high calcium and high acid level might be from the 1" quick dissolving tabs I used for a couple of weeks or possibly from all the rain and pollen we have had here in the northeast. I opened the pool initially to an almost overflowing water level between the snow melt and rain. Either way I'm sure it will clear up sooner or later....hopefully sooner.

Thanks again for all the help!

[PoolDoc]

M. Just very frustrated when I look out at pool and the water looks horrible . . . . .

Possibly the high calcium and high acid level might be from the 1" quick dissolving tabs I used for a couple of weeks

I understand the frustration. The danger is, and we see this a LOT, that your frustration will drive you to "JUST DO SOMETHING" expensive and often useless that sometimes even makes things worse! Pool stores live for those moments in pool owner's lives, because they add immensely to the profit margins (and most pool stores aren't doing all that well, thanks to salt systems).

Regarding the 1" tabs, can you look on the label, and see what the chemical ingredient in those tabs is?

[psciotti]

Will do when I get home from work. PH was at around 6 this am after adding 1/2 box borax last night at 10:30. Added another 1/2 box this am and will continue to watch it (water still very cloudy). FC/TC still way up there - that's a mistake I won't make again. Like Watermom said I bleached out my liner a bit and caused a brown stain on my fiberglass steps.

Would any of these issues have any affect on pool chemistry:

- My "flooded compressor" issue with my heater - http://www.poolforum.com/pf2/showthr...ter-Compressor - (sorry don't know how to just copy the header link). Could I be leaking some kind of heater chemical?

- The sand in the sand filter has not been changed since pool was new - going on 9th season

- old Nature 2 cartridge system (with old cartridge in) still tied into flow?

Thanks

[PoolDoc]

Would any of these issues have any affect on pool chemistry:

Yes.

+ The compressor could add oil to the pool. If have a heater bypass, open it and close the pipes to the heater.
+ Sand doesn't 'wear out' but it can clump up. Most often, however, it gets blown out of the backwash by mismatched pumps, and needs to be replenished. You should check it, after 9 years.
+ With your pH levels, it would add LOTS of copper. Remove the cartridge . . . and don't buy another one.

[psciotti]

Just had son check the ph and it's hovering right at 6.8 so I told him to add another 1/2 box borax and check again at 12. At least the ph has stabilized. I am going to by pass the heater since it doesn't work at this point anyway but no bypass I'll have to do some reconnects. As far as the Nature 2 thing it came with the pool and I have never bought another but I will take it out of the system too when I get a chance. How do you add copper and what purpose does it serve? I wish i paid more attention in chemistry class all those years ago!

Thanks

[PoolDoc]

+ Copper kills algae and causes stains.
+ Low pH dissolves it out of Nature2 cartridges, but if you want to know more use the PF customs search (link in my sig) to search for "Nature2"
+ Chemistry classes would help less than you think -- my older son is graduating honors with a Biology degree and Chem minor -- he LOVED organic chemistry -- and my younger son completed honors high school chem with a 97 on his final, and when I ask them stuff, they are both constantly saying stuff like, "Dad, we didn't study THAT!"

[psciotti]

I am pulling my hair out and there is not a lot of that left...all my readings are off my chart or even a best guess level. The pool is completely turquoise color. I do not want to put another thing in this pool until I can get accurate readings. I can't even do basic math anymore it's so upsetting. Since all the colors are off the chart if I use a 1/2 full vial with the Leslie DPD kit do I use the same amount of chem drops and either double (or 1/2 for ph) the readings??

When I backwash it is a total turquoise discharge.... in my head I'm thinking that maybe my ph is actually sky high and adding the borax is actually making it worse. Right now I turned up the two jets and I am getting small, what appear to be soap type bubbles on the surface.

All this when I had crystal clear water 3 days ago but a non-existent ph level...... AARRGGHH!