Taking Over Care for a Pool - Need Help

[poolie]

Hello,

I'm taking over care of the family pool after my father passed. Unfortunately, I didn't retain much of the pool stuff he shared with me so I'm coming at this pretty green. We have an in-ground pool, 19000 gallons, we have an Autoclear ACL-14 salt to chlorine converter, and will post back later today on what the make and model of filter and pump.

Basically, the problem now is two things - the low salt light is on the salt/chlorine converter and when I did a test on the unit it reported code 91 which means low salt and a couple of other things. In the past, I remember dumping at least 3-4 bags of salt in the pool. Can't remember if this was every year, but so far this year I don't think anymore salt has been added. The company my mom is using to test the water says there's plenty of salt in the water. Can I test this with a test kit myself so I don't have to rely on them.

Secondly, the pool was getting clear, but now today it's cloudy and green. I did kick up quite a bit of algea yesterday when I vacuumed the pool so hopefully that is what's causing the pool to be cloudy now.

Can anyone help me out? thanks

[Watermom]

Sounds like you need a good test kit! The one we recommend is the Taylor K2006 or 2006C (better buy). You won't be able to buy it locally but can get it (and also a good salt test kit) through this link:> http://pool9.net/tk/

In the meantime, go to Walmart and see if they have the HTH 6-Way drops-based kit (no test strips!) and get that. If they don't, get an OTO/Phenol Red kit (yellow and red drops) instead. Use it to test and then post your numbers. Also while you are at WallyWorld, get several jugs of their generic 8.25% bleach and a couple of boxes of 20 Mule Team Borax (laundry aisle).

--Tell us exactly what all you have added to the pool -- meaning ingredients and not just product names like 'shock.'
--Find out the info about your pump and filter.
--Turn off your SWCG right now and just use bleach for your source of chlorine while you are trying to clear this up. (It will save on the cell life of your unit.)

Repost with requested info and then someone here can try and help you.

(I'll let someone else help you with the issue with your SWCG.)

Welcome to the Pool Forum!

(Until you registration is completed, you won't be able to see the rest of the forum while you are logged in. So, copy that link and then paste it into a browser window after you log out.)

[poolie]

Filter is Hayward C-800 Star Clear Filter. Pump is A.O. Smith Centurion Switchless Motor

Ordered one of the test kits you recommended and also found a test kit at my mom's.

Chlorine test didn't show any trace of chlorine
Ph was normal
Total Alkilinity test says I need to add 1 1/4 gallons of muriatic acid.

I'm starting to think there's not enough salt in the pool. The water doesn't taste nearly as salty as I remember it tasting when the pool was sparlking clear last year. The low salt code is on the salt to chlorine converter too.

Should I still go ahead with adding the bleach? Do I still need to get the other testing kits from walmart as well while I wait on the other test kit?

[Watermom]

You need some way to test until your other kit comes in so you should pick up something while you wait.

What did you use to test with today?

Yes to keep adding bleach. Did you add any this evening? If not, in the morning add 3 of the 121-oz bottles of bleach. Run the pump 24/7 and clean the filter as needed.

Tomorrow, try and pick up one of the cheap kits from Walmart so you can use that to test for now.

You may or may not be right about the amount of salt. But, for now, it doesn't really matter. Since you have algae, the SWCG should be off anyways and by the time you get the algae cleared up, hopefully your salt kit will arrive.

Edit -- by the way, did you order a K2006 AND a salt kit? You'll need both.

[poolie]

For testing yesterday I used:

Pentair Pool Products - Pool and Spa Test Kit
78Hr Tests for: Chrlorine, ph, Acid Demand, Alkalinity

I'm heading to Walmart to get the temp test kits and the bottles of bleach

I also ordered a salt kit (hadn't done that originally, thanks for the reminder!) last night and it should be here in the next couple of days as I had it shipped 2-day.

Thanks for the help on this, it is much appreciated!

[poolie]

Here are my results from the HTH 6-Way drops-based kit
Chlorine - trace amounts if any
Ph - between 7.2 and 7.5
Total Alkalinity - took nine drops to turn water color
Total hardness - initial water color was lavendar/purplish.Took 19 drops to turn blue
Cya - 55ppm

Just cleaned the filter and the droid. Added 3 121-oz bottles of bleach as recommended. Do I need to do anything with the 20 Mule Team Borax?