Green Hair????

[readytoscream]

Okay, took the water to a different store and here are the results,
Free chl........1.4 was 0
Toal chl........1.4 was 0
Ph...............7.0 was 6.8
Cal Hard.......125 was 30
total alk.......45 was 43
Cya.............18 was 29
copper.........1.7 was1.3
Iron.............0 (last test did not tell which was which one was copper and Iron)

I found out the Keetrol does not get rid of metals, just ties them up. They suggested Baquacil Metal Control. One bottle treats 10K gallons of water. I went ahead and bought 2. This is supposed to get rid of the metals. The directions say to broadcast it over the water and doesn't say anything about the rest of the chem levels. I haven't put it in yet. I also bought a floater for the chl. I have on hand 20 mule team borax, baking soda, bleach, and chlorine tabs. Where do I go from here? Won't do anything until I hear from you. Sorry if I've been trying to fix the problem in a hurry. The water is crystal clear.

[waterbear]

Okay, took the water to a different store and here are the results,
Free chl........1.4 was 0
Toal chl........1.4 was 0
Ph...............7.0 was 6.8
Cal Hard.......125 was 30
total alk.......45 was 43
Cya.............18 was 29
copper.........1.7 was1.3
Iron.............0 (last test did not tell which was which one was copper and Iron)

I found out the Keetrol does not get rid of metals, just ties them up. They suggested Baquacil Metal Control. One bottle treats 10K gallons of water. I went ahead and bought 2. This is supposed to get rid of the metals. The directions say to broadcast it over the water and doesn't say anything about the rest of the chem levels. I haven't put it in yet. I also bought a floater for the chl. I have on hand 20 mule team borax, baking soda, bleach, and chlorine tabs. Where do I go from here? Won't do anything until I hear from you. Sorry if I've been trying to fix the problem in a hurry. The water is crystal clear.

First, about the Keetrol and the Baquacil metal control....they both work exactly the same way...Neither one gets rid of the metals. They both just tie them up so they do not react with anything. You have been 'pool stored!" If your pool is 24 ft and has about 4 feet of water it is just under 14000 gal so we will go with that number. If I am not mistaken i1qt. of Keetrol Plus treats 24000 gal for up to 2 ppm metals. Is that what you used? How much of it did you put in. If you put in the whole quart bottle you should be fine and can return the Baquacil metal control. If you did not put in Keetrol Plus then please post the dosage intructions for the one you put in and how much you used so we can see if it is enough or if you need to add some more of the Metal Control. That should tie up the metals. This pool store did much better testing but you still need your own test kit. Have you looked for the aquachem kit I suggested?

Next step is to get your total alk up. Dont start on this until you have run the filter for 24 hours after adding the proper amount of Keetrol or metal control! Total Alk (TA) is raised with baking soda. Yu will need two four pound boxes of it for a total of 8 pounds. predissolve about half a box at a time in a bucket of pool water and put it in the pool. brush the pool to distribute it and mix it and then repeat until you have put in all 8 pounds. At this point put a chlorine tab in the floater and open the floater up about half way and put it in the pool. You now have to be patient and wait 48 hours and then bring the water back to the pool store that did the last test (return the unopened Baqucil metal control when you do) for a restest. If the TA is ok (It should be) we can then work on your pH and chlorine levels......you WILL be swimming soon! Post your new test results when you get them and we will take it from there!

Your calcium hardness is perfect for a vinyl pool. DO NOT let any of the pool stores try and sell you calcium....you don't need it...and they will try!
Just smile sweetly and say you already have some at home
Ditto for any other chems they might say you need. Just say that you are well stocked right now but you will buy from them when you need more.

I suspect your green water was from the copper and not from algae. What color is the water now? You said it was crystal clear but does it have any color to it? If it doesn't and you have put in the correct amount of metal seqesterant for 14000 gal and have run the filter for 24 hours then go ahead with the baking soda.

[readytoscream]

Waterbear,

I did put in the whole qt. of keetrol on Tues. The dosage instruction for this was the same as the metal control, it did not say anything about the other chems. Just said to pour it in away from the filter. Knowing I put it in, I cannot understand why the copper is higher. Do I still need to add some metal control?
I am still looking for the aquachem test kit. I'll have to find it, I cannot afford the Taylor Kit. Husband is going to stroke out when he finds out how much I've spent already LOL
The water hasn't been green for awhile now....At least 3 wks. Not even a tinted color.
Mikki

[waterbear]

The water might still test for metal even when they are chelated. Go ahead with the baking soda, etc. as I told you in the last post and you might want to keep a bottle of the metal remover on hand in case the water gets a green tint again. this is possible as long at the copper test is above about .3 ppm. If it does turn green after shocking or adding a lot of bleach just put some more seqesterant in.
After you have added the baking soda and put the floater in wait 48 hours, retest, and post the results...you are not very far from swimming now

[readytoscream]

Going to start the baking soda now. Will post again in 48 hrs.

[readytoscream]

Quick question, I backwashed the pool before I put in the baking soda and the backwash water was GREEEEN! Is this a normal thing after adding the Keetrol? I did not put in the baking soda, I wanted to ask if it is still okay to go ahead and add it?

[waterbear]

It is possible that some of the copper has precitipated out in the filter. this is what you want to happen but it usually doesn't. If it is then you are one of the lucky ones. It could also just be algae. Hard to tell. Just go ahead as planned for now.