HUD "Protected" Pool - Lots of Problems, please Help!

[Poconos]

Hi and welcome to the forum.
While running without a gauge be sure to check the flow often. Running without flow can damage or destroy the pump. If the flow stops all the motors energy goes into heating the water in the pump chamber and if it gets hot enough you'll ruin the pump. So, running overnight is a risk at the moment until you get a better feel as to how much the filter is plugging. As for the duct tape, it doesn't stick under water so it's probably just trash that found its way into the pool. Until you get your test kit you can dilute the sample to get in in range of your present kit. Use distilled water and if you dilute equal amounts sample and distilled, double the reading. 2:1 triple etc. Good enough for what you need now. You may also want to measure your water level between backwashes to see if something is leaking. Use a plain ruler to measure the depth to a known spot like a specific point on your steps. With calm water you should be able to get accuracy to 1/16 inch. See if there is any drop between backwashes. You'll get some due to evaporation but probably not much if the relative humidity is high.
Al

[PoolDoc]

Just a couple of quick notes:

#1 - Your pH reading is more likely to be correct when the chlorine is low, than when it is high.
#2 - Your best best for removing (more likely: lightening) rust stains on the deck is Iron Out, but do NOT put this in your pool.
#3 - Yellow (orangish!) stains that appear AFTER adding chlorine can be iron -- chlorine tends to precipitate iron. In your case, this may mean you've got more than 1 or 2 bits of iron or steel in the pool.
#4 - Vacuming to waste is the best way to get rid of sludge, so long as you don't P.O. your neighbor!
#5 - You may want to add some liquid metal control agent BEFORE you raise the pH. Otherwise, you may have a bunch of copper and iron stains.

[Rocket Man]

I am certain there is iron in the pool I just don't know how much. The fence they used for a pool cover was badly oxidized and was over the entire top of the pool. Throw a few galvanized fence staples in there as well.

The algae does not seem to be dying fast enough. I had two days of progress and then everything stopped despite insanely high level of chlorine (14+) as near as I can tell. It does die slowly but I can not vacuum the deep end due to all the debris at the bottom of the pool, and I can't see the debris to remove it. The shallow end is easy enough, although I had to buy an extra long hose to reach the shallow end.

Not worried about the neighbors, the closest one to the pool is about 1/4 mile away.

PH is holding steady at around 7.2. It does not seem to have changed any in the last few days. How do I know I have a correct reading with a high chlorine level?

Wish there was a better way to get rid of the dead algae.

[PoolDoc]

How do I know I have a correct reading with a high chlorine level?

Buy some steam distilled* water at the grocery store. Mix your pool water with distilled water 1:2 (1/4 cup pool water + 1/2 distilled water). Test both pH and chlorine levels in the mix. Multiply your chlorine reading by 3; take the pH reading as is.

* MUST be distilled water, not spring or 'bottled' water!


+ Do NOT raise the pH above 7.0 - 7.2 till you are sure the metals are gone
+ Be SURE to add the metal magic type products mentioned earlier -- Jacks Magic Pink Stuff, if you can get it.
+ Brush (stir up!) the bottom of the pool as much as you can -- this will kill algae and lower chlorine)
+ Buy and use an overdose of polyquat (www.poolsolutions.com/gd/polyquat.html) once the chlorine level drops.
+ Tell us what you HAVE (and HAVEN'T) done, so I / we don't have to keep reminding you.

[Rocket Man]

Pretty much everything in this thread is what I have done and not done. I bought quite a bit of salt but have no plans to put it in until we are done getting the algae out of there. Going to put the new pressure gauge on tomorrow. Chlorine level still super high. I guess while I am out getting the gauge I will get the metal treatment as well.

I have only been brushing the pool twice a day. I guess I can put my sons to work brushing it more often.

[PoolDoc]

I'm surprised at the high chlorine level, when algae still remains. Have you added more chlorine? Have you tested pH with distilled water? What does the pool water look like (color / clarity)

[vinper]

Why wouldn't you just drain and power wash and start over with new water?