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

[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.

================================================== ==
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:

[sbrouillette]

Ok, I see now that the links are showing in some of your posts but not all of them. No need to try and fix it, I should try and open my eyes a little bit more

I will try the 2nd soda wash dose tonight and see what happens.

I have this: Kem-Tek (dry acid) sodium bisulfate 7lbs, how much of the pH minus should I add and when should I add it? How long do we need to wait before swimming in it after adding it?

Thanks again for the help!

[PoolDoc]

I'd broadcast 1 cup at a time, and wait 5 minutes. Retest pH after an hour.

By the way, I was not implying testing carelessness on your part -- there is some intrinsic variation in test results.

(We try not to clutter the page with all those sig blocks!)