So lost!

[ChuckD]

Gah, I just wrote, and posted an edit, but it doesn't appear to have posted.
Anyway, I looked at the filter and it's a Hayward swim pro high rate sand filter. There was a model number on it(SW166T) but I couldn't find it on their website at all!
I have some pictures of it, so perhaps someone might recognize it, and be able to tell me if it's connected properly?

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...a/100_3106.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...a/100_3105.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v4...a/100_3104.jpg

Thank you.

I'm thinking you may have misread that number and it's actually one of these:
http://www.haywardnet.com/products/d...ductID=41#five

The smaller certainly looks like it.

ChuckD

[ratgirl]

Okay, so I guess according to that manual our filter is hooked up properly. So that's a good thing. Anyway I used one of those test strip thingys and the free chlorine is way over 10 because it immediately turned darker purple than the one that represents 10. Our PH is over 8.4, total alkilinity is between 120, and 180 which the thing says is between ok and high, and the cyanuric acid was between 100 and 150 which is between ok and high. Our pump has been running all day for the last 2 days, we've been puting loads of chlorine in, and still the water is bad. We're getting ready to just give up and sell the thing. *sigh* Any more suggestions?

[Bleach=Chlorine?]

***This advice is based on test strip results which are border-line useless. Get results from a pool store or use a kit and dilute the water if necessary.***

Ratgirl,
There have been discussions on this post about the effectiveness (or lack there of!) of chlorine at high pH levels. I am not sure how much an effect a 8.4pH would have but it is NOT GOOD! You need to add some muratic acid as chlorine is most effective in the 7.2-7.4 zone of the safe range. Once you have the pH down some I think the chlorine will be more effective in cleaning up the pool.

I noticed that the CYA is between 100-150 (need more specific numbers) but this coupled with the high pH is rendering that 10ppm of chlorine rather useless. You need to get the chlorine level into shock territory for CYA of >100 and also get the pH down ASAP!

[Rangeball]

I was just reading some info today that stated chlorine was most effective at PH levels too acidic for a pool. At the recommended PH of 7.6, it is only 50% effective. Any higher and the effectiveness drops off the map.