What have I done?

[MarleneK]

Timmie, Try Walmart or Home Hardware. I've seen it both those places, as well as The Super Store or Save Easy.

Wollypog,
Thanks for that tip. Should I take the Chlorine pucks out of the chlorinator until we get things under control?

[MarleneK]

ok, I got my TAylor test kit today, and I have a couple questions. When testing for Alkalinity, is the water suppose to go from green to red and stay red, or just flash red and go back to green? If that's the case, I have that reading, if it's not, I have to go back to the drawing board so to speak. When I tried testing for Calcium Hardness, the test liquid sunk to the bottom, and stayed blue. Even after adding the other chemical. So now what do I do there?
Here are my numbers:
FC 2
TC 3
CC 1
PH 7.4
CYA 50

I know I have to get my chlorine up. I haven't been around to doctor it unfortunately. I'm going to add bleach in a couple of minutes. I still have a cloudy pool. Do you think that it will brighten up when I get my chlorine levels up?
Thanks for letting me pick your brain!
Mar

[Watermom]

The alk test should go to red and stay red. On the calcium test, did you swirl it to mix it up? Shock your pool and try and hold your chlorine at shock level. Letting it yo-yo up and down won't clear the water. Also, run your pump 24/7.

[MarleneK]

Ok, I'll have to try that test again. The red one. The Calcium hardness test, I did swirl the water, but the blue chemical just stayed on bottom. It looked like a dot on the bottom. I'll try that one again as well. My pump has been running 24/7 and I'm not seeing anything like dead algea on the bottom of the pool anymore.

[MarleneK]

I'm 99 % certain that the algae is gone. Nothing dead in the pool, nothing coming out of the back wash. I still have a cloudy pool
Here are my latest numbers:

water temp 70
FC 6
TC 5
CC 1

Ph 7

ALK 80

Cal Hardness 50

CYA 50

I know I have to get my Ph up, and my Calcium Hardness, but which do I take care of first? Is it going to be harmful to my pool if I don't get my hardness up? I have an 18 x 33 AG with sand filter.
Thanks,
Marlene

[duraleigh]

Marlene,

Your pool is cloudy because you have not used enough chlorine. You must bring your chlorine level up to 15ppm (not 10 or 12) and KEEP IT THERE until your pool is clear.

Your pH and TA could use some fine tuning but your not in any danger zone....work on them after your pool is clear.

You need more chlorine.

[MarleneK]

I've managed to get my chlorine up. A few moments ago when I tested it was 15-16 range. Hopefully I won't get rain for the next few days. We've had about 6 inches in the last week and a half. Horrible on trying to get the pool where it needs to be for the season!

[MarleneK]

Hi all,

I've kept my chlorine in the 15 range for the last week. It has been fluctuating at all. When I look down into the water, I see bottom just fine. Today I got into the water to see how the water and the bottom was feeling and I couldn't see the other end of the pool. I'm keeping the chlorine up there, but could I be facing a mineral problem? My husband is getting frustrated with me!

Smiles,
Mar

[duraleigh]

What are your current test results?

[MarleneK]

As of a minute ago, they are as follows:

FC 15
TC 15
Ph 7.1
TA 120
CH 50
CYA 60