Algae Problem with Cloudy Water

[bmlocal175]

Quick question.. Can we swim in the pool today or is the chlorine just to high? I'm not even sure the exact number but I'm guessing 15 or higher.

[Watermom]

It won't hurt people to swim in a pool with chlorine level of 15 and a CYA of 50 but you might want to wear old swimsuits. Also, if it is cloudy, keep a constant head count. Don't want any tragedies from someone having a problem in the pool and not being able to be seen due to the cloudiness of the water.

[bmlocal175]

I'm still showing orange on my test, so it seems to be holding. I checked the cya and it seems to be 55-60. So for now I take it I can not add any for tonight and check it in the morning?

I swam today and the water seems clear until you go under water and visibility is not that far. Hopefully be better tomorrow.

[Watermom]

Yes, you can skip the evening dose.

Be sure you are running your pump 24/7 while trying to clear the water and backwash the filter when the pressure rises 8-10 psi over your clean filter pressure. Is the pressure rising by the way?

[bmlocal175]

Not really. My system usually runs around 20 psi and its still right there. I didn't have a real bad case of algae just enough though where I couldn't get rid of it permanently because I did not shock right. Pool is looking a TONS better. So if I'm orange in the morning go ahead and just run the SWCG like normal and wait for my kit to post full test results? If I'm not orange that means the chlorine was still fighting something and continue to maintain the orange throughout the day again?

[Watermom]

Keep the SWCG off while you are clearing up the pool. Using it to superchlorinate to shock level will greatly decrease your cell life. Wait until everything is clear and then turn it on for maintenance doses of chlorine.

You want to keep the chlorine high until the water clears. Has anybody talked to you about doing an overnight chlorine loss test? (This thread is getting long and I don't want to take the time to re-read the whole thing right now to find out.) If so, how long ago did you do it and what were the results?

[bmlocal175]

I shocked last night 8 gallons of 6%. I checked in the morning and it was still orange but I put in 3 gallons just to be safe for the day. Checked this evening and it was still orange. So If its orange in the morning it will be over 24 hrs of shock levels and it would of held a full night without dropping. I won't be able to check anything with accurate readings until the 2006c comes. I think I'm on the right track though. Thanks a million.