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

[PoolDoc]

Hm-mh. Did you buy any Sams or Kem-Tek dichlor? If not, you may need to use some of those things. Let me work through your list:

• Natural Chemistry- Phos free -- do NOT use. It's a phosphate remover, and will cloud up your pool. Unless you have reason to think your phosphate is really high, using it will only complicate things right now.
  
  
• EZ Clor Metal Magnet -- an EXTREMELY diluted solution of HEDP. Specific gravity 1.01 - 1.02!! Unless the MSDS I have is a misprint, this is basically a bottle of water.
  
  
• EZ Clor Super Shimmer & Shine -- foamy algaecide. Do NOT use.
  
  
• HTH 3-1 chlorinating skimmer tablets - Cal hypo tablets diluted with magnesium sulfate, with STPP (sodium tri-polyphosphate - ALGAE FOOD!)
  
  
• HTH Super Shock 'n Swim -- Cal hypo diluted with magnesium sulfate.

I think it's interesting that they sold you a product to remove phosphate, AND a product that ADDS phosphate! I guess that's what they call good marketing!

[sbrouillette]

I ordered the Kem-Tek Dichlor granules and I started using it on Tuesday. I followed the dose instructions on the container. I bought the Unicel filters as you suggested. Just by using the Dichlor and new filter since Tuesday I have seen a huge improvement! I couldn't see the bottom before and now I can.

I have been cleaning the filter at least 3 times a day. The filter is usually a brown with a hint of red colored. There is a lot of stuff at the bottom daily and I am trying to keep up vacuuming it. I also added a Culator pack, thought what the heck it didn't cost too much to try!

I am running the filter 24/7.

I will try the washing soda tomorrow and see what happens!

I am also needing to add some water. Any special instructions for that?

Thanks for the help!

[PoolDoc]

Raise the chlorine some, before adding water. Add the water as slowly as you can, via the skimmer.

[sbrouillette]

On Sunday I added the polyquat in the am and then in the evening I added the washing soda. The water turned cloudy right away. This morning the color is still light green and I can see the bottom of the pool. The filter was full of brownish red junk. These are my levels this morning:

Total Chlorine - 1
pH -8.2
TA - 330
Hardness - 340
CYA - Dot didn't disappear

[PoolDoc]

Brownish red gunk = iron -- a good thing to remove.

TA increased from 310 to 330 . . . but that might be testing error.
CH decreased from 370 to 340 . . . . which ALSO might be testing error.

However, since both values moved in the expected direction, probably not. I'd try again, with 2x the dose, and see what happens. Then, if it's successful again, you can decide if you want to do it 'for real'. What you don't want is to push the pH so high -- it's probably 9.0 now -- that you can't swim UNLESS it's a one-time event. So we don't want to test more than that before either going ahead, or waiting.

You probably want to read the muriatic acid sticky linked in my signature -- no matter how you go, you're going to end up needing some.

[sbrouillette]

I tested quickly before work this morning, could have been testing errors on my part. What do you mean by doing it for real? What is all involved with doing it for real?

What are some of the issues with swimming in a pool with a high pH? I ordered the pH minus that you recommended and I do have it at home. I am not able to see anything linked in your signature but I think I know where to find it on the boards.

It is supposed to be in the 100's all week this week. I would like for us to be able to use the pool if at all possible this week. Will any of these "treatments" make the pool unusuable for any amount of time?

[PoolDoc]

The problem is that your pH is NOT 8.2 exactly, it's 8.2 or HIGHER. Higher, above borax levels (~9) gets irritating. So, we don't want to go there.

By "doing it for real" I mean, adding a LOT of soda ash, all at once, to drop out all the calcium and a lot of the iron. That will make your pool unusable for now. We do NOT have to do that right now. It sounds like the best idea would be to try the 2x dose, to see what happens, and then use the pH minus to take the pH back to just below 8.2

We can strip the rest of the calcium and metal, AFTER the 4th. Or, not at all, if you prefer. The metal doesn't look good, but it won't hurt anyone.

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I don't understand why you can't see my signature, and the only way I can find out is to log in as you. To do that, I have to change your password (I can change your password, but I can't see what it is, currently).

When I change your password, it will kick you off, but I'll email you the new password. You can then go back into your profile and change it back. I won't do this till after lunch (1 pm EST). Just to verify, you can't see THIS: