Help a newbie?

[CarlD]

New numbers -
...
Also my Chlorine level really went down in a matter of a few days - so maybe it is an algae thing afterall?

Sounds like it--or some other organic. Evan's advice is pretty good--but the trees are news. You need to run your chlorine up to 15ppm--with the distilled water method mixed 2parts distilled to 1 part pool the WalMart test will reach 15ppm. Use 4 1/2 to 5 quarts of Ultra bleach (6%) to raise it there. Or use 5 1/2 to 6 quarts of regular (5.25) bleach. Either is fine. Test the water 2x-3x/day and raise chlorine back to 15 when it drops (anything from 12 to 15 should be OK, but below that, add).

It may take a few days to get results.

[GlenKlein]

Thanks Carl,

I added more dichlor - Evan said I should wait until my CYA is 50ppm, and then switch to bleach? I will check the Chlorine a little later again.

Also note: I just pulled my filter, and as you might've guessed - it too was pumpkin orange. I just rinsed it out under hot water and it cleaned right up - no problem.

[CarlD]

You need to raise CYA a little, but anywhere between 30 and 50 is fine. I actually like 40ppm. At that point you stop using di-chlor and switch to bleach. You can, however, follow Evan's advice with confidence--I'd stop sooner than 50ppm but that's me.