Too Much Chlorine!!

[pkhall]

Free Chlorine 27
Combined Chlorine 1
PH 7.4
Alkalinity 110
CYA 120 (I diluted with 1/2 distilled water x 2) We have drained drained a little water at a time and refilling. It is slowly helping.
Calcium Hardness 100

Over the period of 2 1/2 weeks we have went from a deep dark green to a blue. Our water is now a bluish color. You can finally see the jets on the side of the pool and some shades on the bottom where there are a few patches of dirt. But, it is still extremely cloudy. We have kept filter running 24/7. I have added bleach each evening to keep the chlorine up to 25ppm after you told me that was our shock level with our CYA. It still does not seem to be clearing up. I'm starting to give up hope....any other ideas? Do I need to add more bleach and get it up higher than the 25ppm?

[Watermom]

Are you diluting your water sample before running the pH test? With the K2006 kit, if your chlorine level is higher than 10ppm, your pH test will be inaccurate. (With other kits besides the Taylors, the pH test is inaccurate when chlorine levels are higher than 5ppm.) If you haven't been, do so by mixing a 1/4 cup pool water with 1/4 cup distilled water. Then, use that to run the pH test but you don't have to multiply the results by anything. Just read it.

Let's do a test on your filter to make sure that it is working properly. Get a small bag of DE. Add a small amount to the skimmer and watch the return jet to see if any white powder is shooting back out. Report back with your result. If you see it coming out of the jet, then your filter needs work. If not, the DE may actually help you sand filter catch some of the stuff better. More about it here:> http://pool9.net/de-test/

[pkhall]

When I diluted with distilled water the PH still appears to be about 7.4. I've not been able to go get any DE yet to try that.