cloudy water

[aylad]

Even though it's late in the process, I think it would be okay to go ahead and add the Polyquat and sequestering agent. The worst case scenario is that you may have to use the ascorbic acid again, but at least now you know what order to use them in. Just watch your chlorine, because as Marie said, the acid will use a lot of it up, as will the Polyquat. Be prepared to add low amounts of chlorine to make sure there is "some", but not "a lot" of chlorine in your pool.

I know balancing metals and chlorine is tricky, but mbar is the resident expert (besides Pooldoc) on metals around the forum, so if you'll stick with her advice, she'll get you on the right track

Janet

[Watermom]

mbar is the resident expert (besides Pooldoc) on metals around the forum, so if you'll stick with her advice, she'll get you on the right track

Absolutely right!

[mbar]

aaw shucks

[mrszaff]

I appreciate everyone's input, thank you!
I added the sequestering agent and polyquot around noon. at 8pm I added a gallon of bleach because my Cl was < 2 and will prob drop .
I just took a reading and FC 7 cc 1 ph 7.2 alk 70 cya 50 I will check it in the AM again.
The deep end is still cloudy, I cannot see drain. I have filter on 24/7.
When I checked the baskets to remove insects, I noticed there is a green film gathering and green bubbles. I do not notice this on the pools surface though. Is this a sign that the algacide is working?

[mbar]

I am not sure what was in your skimmer basket. What kind of algecde did you use? Some algaecides can cause some bubbles. I will be interested to see how much chlorine you lose overnight.

[mrszaff]

We are in the middle of a of a major thunderstorm right now, the pool is filled to capacity so I dont know how this affects the water reading. I lost all the Cl according to my test , FC abd CC are less than 1. I had to turn off the filter because of the overflow.
when it stops raining, and the lightening stops I will backwash and drain the pool back down to the right level. As far as I can tell it its still cloudy.
what next?

[mrszaff]

I backwashed and a lot of green came out and I brushed the walls and pushed everything to the deep end before I drained the water to the correct level. I also added 2 gallons of bleach. No more green slime in the baskets today. I used Leslies brand poly 60 algacide yesterday. I ordered the one you recommended from amazon but it will not be here till friday as well as sequestering agent and ascorbic acid so that I have it for the season.
The deep end is still cloudy but also green today. Rain has stopped. I will take another reading around dinner time I guess.
Any ideas?

[mrszaff]

Here are my 5pm numbers I am totally obsessing and I apologize but Im on vavation today and I could cry about this pool...
FC 4.4
CC .2
PH 7.4 (might be 7.5 hard to tell)
Alk 80
cya 45 (lowest I can remember it being in years..) pool is still not clear
I can almost see the drain I think but its murky and tinted green in deep end, low end looks hazy
I also have a curalator bag in basket for the last 2 weeks. I dont know if its helping still hasnt turned a color
thanks, very frustrated....

[mbar]

Unfortunately it sounds like you still have algae. You probably didn't get it all before, it comes back if you don't kill it all at the same time. The only way to make sure that you did is to take your chlorine up to (with a cya of 80) at least 20 and keep it there until you don't lose more than 1ppm overnight. You will have to get rid of all the algae before you tackle the stains, or you will just be wasting your money and pool time. You can swim with stains, but you can't swim with algae! If it were my pool, I would take it up to shock, keep it there until it holds chlorine for 24 hours, especially that it does not lose more than 1ppm overnight. Once you are sure that you have no algae, and the water is clear - not cloudy, then you can start with stain treatment, if you have any. When you are ready, take the ph down to 7.0 - 7.2. Add enough sequestering agent for your pool according to the bottle. Sometimes this will be enough to lift off the newer stains. If you still have stains, make sure you add some algaecide, let the chlorine drop low and use ascorbic acid. Let it circulate for 1/2 hour on recirculate setting on you filter, when you don't see anymore stains you can put the filter back on filter and keep it on 24/7. After about 12 hours you can start to bring your ph up. Once it is back in range (7.2) start to add bleach a little at a time watching for stains. You want to get it up to 5 with a cya of 80. If you see any stains start to come back add some more sequestering agent. Make sure your chlorine never goes down to 0. Sequestering agent uses up chlorine, and also brings your ph down. You will have to test a lot, and keep up with it. You should then be stain free! Let me know if you have any other questions,

Marie

[mbar]

I was typing while you posted! Since your cya is lower you can keep your chlorine at about 3 - 5ppms. All else is the same!