Need help...still cloudy after more than a week...very hard water

[2inthecountry]

Chlorine has been at shock level the past 2 days, however my TA 300 and CH 750 are still very high. PH 8. I have added water to be able to backwash sufficiently and that doesn't help the hardness. Would that be causing a problem I need to deal with?

[Watermom]

Yes, the cloudiness could be in part to your high pH, TA, and CH. Read about the process to lower pH and TA in the following links:>
http://pool9.net/alk-step AND http://pool9.net/ma/

Your CH has jumped a lot since your readings in your post above. Have you used any products with calcium in them such as cal-hypo or is all that from your water supply!? (Well or city water?)

How are your chlorine (FC and CC) readings this morning compared to last night?

[2inthecountry]

I will work with muriatic acid to reduce the TA and follow the other suggestions. It is higher because of adding new water, nothing else.

Chlorine levels were the same at 20 ppm. However, my husband did add another gal of bleach last night. We are having guests Sun. so I am keeping it high to be sure, maybe too high?

I will monitor it closely, as suggested, before sunset and 1 hr. after sunrise.

I can get in, mix it up and vacuum again this afternoon to help aeration.

[Watermom]

Report back tomorrow your results of the overnight test.

[PoolDoc]

With almost no stabilizer present, 20 ppm of chlorine is rather high. FC=20 *and* CYA=0 is high enough to damage swimwear and be irritating to some swimmers.

BUT, if you *really* have no stabilizer, you'll lose almost all your chlorine in an hour under full sun. So, that's a sort of the test. FC=20 and CYA=20 is very different and NOT a problem, even if still rather high.

[2inthecountry]

Yesterday, I added 32 oz. muriatic acid in small doses. I cleaned and vacuumed well and went in to stir the waters. There was still debris and cloudiness but I could see the bottom through it.

This morning, it it still cloudy, but the CH has improved and the FC remained at 15 from last night. TA is same and PH is way over (inaccurate with FC so high, right?)

Last night: This morning:
FC 15 FC 15
TA 275 TA 275
CH 750 CH 425

I really think the filter is not doing its job efficiently and needs a sand replacement and considering adding salt to help with the high TA?

[PoolDoc]

If this --- CH: 750 => 425 --- is accurate, your filter is doing a heck of a job removing suspended calcium particles. You can test it with the DE test: http://pool9.net/de-test/

Retest your pH with 1/2 pool water and 1/2 distilled water (gallon jug from Walmart: MUST be "distilled"). Distilled water changes the pH very little, but reduces the chlorine by 1/2, so you can get valid results.

However it appears that you are doing a "lime softening" process without intending it: given your very high CH, this is a GOOD thing. Do not stop! What's happening, apparently, is the high pH + the high TA are continuing to produce calcium particles that your filter is removing. This is GOOD!

So . . . don't add any more muriatic acid, now. Continue cleaning your pool. After you complete the DE test -- assuming the filter 'passes' the test, you can continue to add DE to help the filter remove very fine particles. It will result in more frequent backwashes, however.

NOTE: salt has NOTHING to do with TA, and has no effect on it. WaterMom already gave you the link to the alkalinity page -- you need to read it.

BUT, do NOT try to lower your TA yet; doing so will STOP the CH removal process!

Instead:
1. Complete the process of removing all the debris from your pool; vacuum up calcium dust as needed.
2. Complete the pool equipment form: http://pool9.net/pf-equip-form/ That will help us know how to help you.
3. Keep your chlorine high-ish
4. Test your FILL water, and report those results. You only need to test pH, TA and CH