New to the site and new to pool ownership

[MC1987]

We inherited this in ground, vinyl, 20,000 gallon, sand filter pool last summer when we purchased our house. We had ups and downs with it last summer, due to lack of knowledge and inconsistent maintenance. This summer I am determined to be more consistent, educate myself, and have a clear, sparkly pool throughout the summer.

We opened our pool about 2 weeks ago. It was very swampish. We threw in 10lbs of shock and kept the filter going 24/7. We added a few more bags throughout the week and then starting this week it looked like it had plateaued so we added another 10lbs, yesterday morning. We have a cholorinator and have kept that replenished since opening. We have been backwashing daily.

I took our water in to get tested at the local pool store (I just ordered a Taylor test kit as recommended at Pool School, but won't be in until next week.) The analysis at the pool store yesterday was as follows:

CYA: 70
TC:10
FC:10
pH: 7.8
Tot. Alkalinity: 51
Adj. Total Alk: 30
Total Hardness: 204

We also added another 6 lbs of shock last night.

The surface of the pool looks fine, besides small bubbles (champagne like), but I feel like I can focus on that as soon as I fix the greenish, gray cloudiness of it. I plan on going to get the water tested again at the same pool store today and begin implementing the BBB method (as learned in pool school). Can you please help me clear up my pool? We are wanting to have friends and family over for the holiday this weekend. Let me know if you need anymore info and I'll see what I can do! THANK YOU!

[PoolDoc]

With a sand filter, and "greenish, gray" cloudy water, your chance of having a sparkling clear pool by Saturday, without extreme professional methods, is slim to none.

But, right now you are the dream customer for manufacturers of mostly useless, but really expensive, pool additives: desperate to clear up screwed up pool water, and willing to plunk down $$$'s for anything that *might* work instantly.

You'll be better off if you just stay the course, hope for the best, and plan to start sooner next year. If you give in, and blow big bucks on miracle additives, you are very, very likely to end up with a pool that is even harder to clear up.

There are a few things that might help, besides keeping your chlorine up, and filtering 24/7:

1. Inspect your filter internals, and make sure that you have the correct amount of filter sand. (Depending on the filter, this may NOT be a task to tackle right now.)

2. Buy and use one of the blue 'clarifier' products, but do NOT overdose. 'Some' may help; 'too much' will actually make it worse!

[MC1987]

Ben--thank you for the quick response!

So basically my patience is getting the best of me? Would you attribute the greenish, gray cloudiness to dead algae and the pool requiring more time to clear? If after the water analysis today, the FC and TC is still around a 10, would you recommened adding more bleach? Anything else? I did notice the TA was low. (Or will it all depend on the readings?)

1. Yes--I wondered about the internals of our filter. I'm not sure when the sand was last changed/cleaned/etc. Any tips on how to know when to change?

2. What blue 'clarifier' products do you recommend?

Thanks again--great website and prompt service!

[MC1987]

Also--any advice on the small, foamy bubbles?

[PoolDoc]

Changing or cleaning the sand is rarely necessary; replacing 'missing' sand is often needed on AG pools with oversized pumps and undersized filters.

I don't recommend any in particular; even known brands change ingredient chemicals regularly. But, I've never known one of those products to make things worse, UNLESS an overdose was applied.

Cloudy,gray water is the typical aftermath of algae; cloudy, greenish often indicates not-quite-dead algae. So keep stepping chlorine levels up, till you arrive at "cloudy, gray". Brushing will help remove and kill algae that's on floors and walls.

Check for air leaks around the pump -- otherwise, leave the bubble issue till later.

[MC1987]

I went back to the pool store and got the water tested again:

CYA: 70
TC: 10
FC: 10
pH: 7.8
TA: 44
Adj Total Alk: 23
Total Hardness: 206

So from yesterday, it looks like everything stayed the same except the Alkalinity went down, but my pH stayed the same, so is the TA ok?

I also went ahead and added 2 gallons of 7.86% bleach since the pool was still that greenish gray and looked the same as yesterday. I put clarifier in, as you recommended (3 oz) and gave it a good brushing and vacuum.

Staying the course! Thanks!