Water "Color" Problems!! Ready to give up!!

[sbrouillette]

So, the beginning of summer we bought a 15X48 pool, hold about 4,500 gallons. We filled the pool with our well water, which I have learned the hard way is hard to manage. I shocked the pool and it instantly turned the same color of Dr Pepper. Drained the pool after talking to a local pool shop. Refilled the pool, with 2 socks over the hose and added metal magnet. Filtered the water for a week and a half and after trying a sample shocked the pool. We now have olive green pool water. Reminds me of lake or pond water. I did check the levels and the PH level is 8.4, Total Alkalinity 240, Cyaniric Acid 30-50, Hardness 200 and 0 chlorine. HELP!!! I have no idea what to do next!!!! On the verge of calling it quits and draining the pool.

[aylad]

Lower your pH to 7.0-7.2, add a dose of Polyquat 60 algaecide (the only algaecide we recommend--the cheap stuff isn't the same and will create more problems than you already have), maintain your chlorine levels at 3-5 ppm, and then add the Metal magnet. Then you can do one of two things--either keep the chlorine low and keep adding metal magnet as the chlorine breaks it down, or put a trichlor puck in your skimmer and superchlorinate the water right before it hits your filter, and hopefully the metals will drop out on your filter so you can wash them away when you clean your filter.

Anytime you have metals in the water, high chlorine + high pH are gonna make them precipitate and create that Dr Pepper (or green) water. So the question becomes: do you want to try to remove the metals, or learn to manage the pool with them in the water (or drain and refill using a non-well source)?

[sbrouillette]

I just want to do whatever is the easiest thing to do....I'm beginning to think that being a pool owner is too difficult for me to do.

[aylad]

That decision is entirely yours....it's not hard to do any of the above, but it does take some persistence and daily treatment of the pool. Take a look at this thread when you get a chance--it was written by somebody in very much the same situation as you, and it might give you some insight into the whole process.. http://www.poolforum.com/pf2/showthr...ll!&highlight=
Wish I could tell you it is easier--and it is, without metals in the water--but with metals, those are the choices you're pretty much faced with. Let us know what you decide, and we'll be happy to help you go from there.

[PoolDoc]

On the verge of calling it quits and draining the pool.

If you want easy, you need to
1. Drain and clean the pool.
2. Get the stuff I tell you to get.
3. Do NOT refill or restart till you (a) have everything and (b) understand the plan.
4. Refill & follow the plan.

For a 4,500 gallon pool (PF=27), your costs will probably run about $250 for the test kit and chemicals, and better filter cartridges. I'm going to work on a general metals start-up guide, but I'll help you specifically, but ONLY if you are in for the ride. I don't want to start, and then have you bail out because it's not what you want. If it doesn't work like I say, and you bail out, that's fine. But, if it's going the way I expect, I don't want to be working on it with you, and then have you go, "Wait, wait, I've changed my mind!"

I've tried this with people before, and they don't follow up. My pay-off here is working with someone who will follow the process to the end, so I can understand it better, iron out the kinks, and improve it for the next person. I'm sorry for being so blunt, but I really don't want to start this again with someone else who either doesn't finish, or else DOES finish, but doesn't tell me the end story.

Lemme know if you're interested. What you'll need to do is not that hard, but it will require attention to detail, including the schedule. (In other words, you can't start filling, and then announce you are going on vacation in a week!)

[sbrouillette]

PoolDoc- I'm in. We are beyond frustrated at this point and willing to follow your guidelines. My biggest concern is adding a lot of nasty chemicals to the water.

Are the items I need to purchase available at local pool shops or online? The nearest pool shop is about an hour and a half away.

[PoolDoc]

Mostly online -- they may, or may not be available locally.

I'm not even supposed to be here at the moment -- my wife's family reunion is ongoing -- but I think I can get you started:

1. Read this page about taking care of your pool WITHOUT well water:
http://www.poolforum.com/pf2/showthread.php?17055

2. And then this (partly finished) one about dealing with well water:
http://www.poolforum.com/pf2/showthread.php?17166

3. Then, start ordering. You'll need
+ K-2006 testkit
+ polyquat (you can use this now, to make your pool sorta usable, till you can drain)
+ HEDP
+ Unicel cartridges (if you have a cartridge filter)
+ PAC floc
+ dichlor, unless you'd rather use bleach.
+ dry acid, unless you'd rather use locally purchased muriatic acid.
+ measuring cups, etc.

You can also do the metals bucket test, if you want to see how bad your problem is:
http://www.poolforum.com/pf2/showthread.php?16946

Don't feel bad, if you feel overwhelmed by the info overload. Just do what you can, read as much as you can stand, and by the time you have the items you need, we'll get it sorted out.

Kem-Tek 60% polyquat @ Amazon
Nava 60% polyquat @ Amazon

Jacks Magic The Pink Stuff 1qt (60% HEDP) @ Amazon
20% KemTek HEDP @ Amazon

Kem-Tek (dry acid) sodium bisulfate 7lbs

GLB Pool & Spa Products 71408 1-Quart Drop n' Vac Pool Water Clarifier @ Amazon

HTH 6-Way Test Kit @ Walmart

K-2006A @ Amazon
K-2006C @ Amazon

Feel free to buy anything locally, you can find locally. Just be VERY careful. If you buy locally use the Amazon links to make sure you know what you're looking for.

You can get all this shipped for free 2-day, if you accept the trial of Amazon Prime (~$90). Remember to cancel it, if it's not a good deal for you. I personally live by it, at Xmas (I'm a late shopper) but it's not a great deal for everyone.

This optional -- don't get it, if you aren't sure you want to try it. The CuLator product is a special patented plastic material, contained in a bag that goes into the skimmer, that can slowly take metals OUT of your pool water. We think it works, and have some evidence that it does, but not proof yet. (Not likely to be available locally.)

1 ppm Culator @ Amazon
1.5 ppm Culator sold by Amazon, shipped from Periodic
4 ppm Culator sold by Amazon, shipped from Periodic
Poolmaster 16242 Poolmaster Skimmer Basket Liner @ Amazon (to protect CuLator from being damaged by scum)

Amazon Prime

[sbrouillette]

Ok, I am ordering everything that i need off of Amazon today. Here are the things that I have currently, that was sold to me at a pool store.

Natural Chemistry- Phos free
E-Z Clor Metal Magnet
EZ Clor Super Shimmer & Shine
h&t 3-1 chlorinating skimmer tablets
h&t Super Shock 'n Swim

Are they of any use to me??

[Watermom]

Phos free -- no

What are the actual ingredients in these other things?

[sbrouillette]

Watermom- there are no actual ingredients listed on the EZ Clor bottles.