Pool Nub

[Michaelam]

Just installed a Wilbar 33' round x 54" AGP (~28,000 gallons). Equipped with a CircuPool RJ60 SWCG, 1.5 HP motor/pump & a 150 ft^2 cartridge filter.

Pool has been up for about two weeks & full of tap water for about 10 days. To make a long story short, the SWCG arrived way late and was the wrong voltage to boot. Finally got it functional yesterday. However, I let the water circulate for the duration having added only ~800 lbs of salt. Saturday and Sunday we had inches of rain, and voilà, pretty blue water was instantly green. Soooo,

Last night I got the SWCG up and running on "super chlorination," tested (with a 5 way kit that came with the pool; Taylor K-1000, FAS-DPD K-2000, & Saltwater Test Kit on the way) and got the following:

5/15 PM
Salt 3100 ppm (read from controller)
pH >8.2 (acid drop test took 18 drops to get pH in 7.6-7.8 region)
Cl- non-detectable

Added 4 cups Muriatic Acid

******************
5/16 AM
pH still >8.2

Added 4 cups Muriatic Acid

******************

5/16 PM
pH >8.2, but acid drop test only took ~8 drops to get into the 7.6-7.8 region
Cl- non-detectable
TA 130 ppm

Water around perimeter of pool has turned blue, center is still a murky green

Installed BleachCalc, plugged and chugged and came up with 6 gallons of bleach to get to 15 ppm CL-

Have not yet added any additional Muriatic Acid, but did add 3 bottles of 1.42 gallon 6% bleach (4.26 gallons). Have SWCG bypassed for next four hours.

Within 15 minutes could tell a visible difference.

Questions: Am I on the right track? When should I add additional acid? Wait until next evening for additional bleach? My current test kit has no test for CYA, but a strip (I know) shows basically non-detectable; when should I add CYA and how much?

BTW, this is a great resource. I've been lurking for several days, but had to, pardon the pun, take the plunge. Arrggggggghhhhhhh

[aylad]

You are on the right track. You can go ahead and add a little more acid, but keep in mind that high chlorine levels give falsely high pH results, so you probably need to do that while the chlorine is low. Once you get the green cleared up, go ahead and add your CYA-- follow your SWCG manual to see what your unit requires. Having the right amount of CYA will help your cell last longer.

[Michaelam]

To continue the above, tests this morning yielded (still waiting on the FAS-DPD K-2000):

CL- >10 ppm
pH >8.2 (acid drop 15 drops to get to ~7.6)
TA 120-130 ppm

Left as is and headed to work. Tests this evening:

Water blue, but cloudy
Cl- non-detectable (no stabilizer, all day sun, oxidation)
pH >8.2 (acid drop ~ 5 drops to get to 7.6)
TA 150 ppm
NaCl 4200 ppm (ideal is 3500, 3000 is too low, so I'm not going to feed and bleed at this time)

Added 3 cups HCl

Will add ~5 gallons of bleach before bed

Questions:
1) Why is pH still high - from day one? (neighbor's pH has always been low - same water)

2) Based on above recommendation (no green), will it be ok to add CYA tomorrow?

3) Any additional suggestions?

[PoolDoc]

+ Add 4 gallons of PLAIN 6% bleach each evening
+ Add 1/2 gallon of muriatic acid; test pH following AM (adding acid page linked in my sig)
+ Turn off your SWCG -- you're just wearing it out, and it's not all that helpful in this situation, anyhow. (Use SWCG to MAINTAIN clean pools; not clean up swamps!)
+ There are all sorts of reasons why your pH might be high -- not going to speculate. Let's get your pool cleaned up, and then see if you have a pH problem.
+ Do not worry about salt levels, TA, CH, etc till your pool is clean.
+ Do worry about CYA: what was your stabilizer level on closing this fall, and what is it now?

[Watermom]

Test your pH when your chlorine is low and you're more likely to get a more accurate result. (When your chlorine is below 5ppm or with a Taylor K-2006, when it is below 15ppm.)

[Michaelam]

Here's an update:

Water is now clear. SWCG still off. Adding 4 gallons 6% bleach per night. Here's my dilemma: I measure pH when Chlorine is low - in the evening so that I get a more accurate reading. Using a phenol test, I get a very light pink color (as in a light shade of the highest on the scale), which appears to be 7.8 to 8.2. I have been second checking with strips, and they indicate 7.8 to 8.4. My problem is that when I do an acid drop test to see how much I should add to get pH lower, it doesn't progress through any of the colors on the pH scale - it goes from the light pink to almost clear. Sooo, I've been hesitant to add any more acid. In short, I need some advice on how to proceed.