Crazy Cat Lady's Murky algae pool

[crazy cat lady]

Watermom,

The shock I used is HTH Ultra its 56 % cal pro and is a 6 in one product has claryfier, water softener and anti scaling additives. I used 10 lbs . The store ran out of Ultra so I then used HTH Select also 56% cal pro no additives 5 lbs. The label calls for one lb per 10 k and I used 1.5 lbs per treatment so approx 10 treatments over approx 2 weeks as I was adding the shock every two days maybe three as the levels called for.

The ph I think is a false high as it was 7.4- 7.6 before the shock. I'll dilute and if still high I'll add the acid looks like I need 32oz per the link if I read that correctly.

The de alt is a cellulose fiber no chemicals listed you add 2 cups for 200 lbs of sand broadcast over the pool after backwashing until you get 1 lb increase on the gauge.

The water is clearing around the edges a few inches down and at an angle looks clearing in the other areas of the pool just murky green looking straight down. I think stuff is settling on the bottom and reflecting back up and some floating stuff that the filter can't grab too small. I'll vacuum to waste, add more water, put on the socks and either use the de alt if you say ok or replace it with regular de then add the acid and bring up the cl level again after I get out. Thanks

[Watermom]

I wouldn't use the Ultra 6-in one product at all. I also wouldn't use the HTH Select because your CH level is very high and you really don't want it any higher or you risk having issues because of it. I also wouldn't use the cellulose fiber. Stick with only bleach and if needed, Borax or muriatic acid. Nothing else. But, don't add any acid until you confirm your pH reading via dilution.

Keep the chlorine at shock level by using bleach. Glad to hear it is clearing some. Keep at it.

[crazy cat lady]

I haven't used the HTH since I started dosing with the bleach. I'm on day 3 bleach only. The ph was 7.8 with the dilution test so I'll check it again tomorrow if the cl level drops again and dilute again when I test and see what I get to confirm. If its still on the upper range I'll add the acid tomorrow. Vacuumed to waste added more water looking like a cloudy green color maybe with a grayish tinge now so its the fine stuff that has to filter out some more. Hope the level holds better tonight so I know I'm going in the right direction. Thanks

[BigDave]

I have used the cellulose fiber material and if you haven't, DON'T. Sorry for shouting.

It did nothing to help the filtration and it formed big clumps in my filter and doesn't backwash out. Many cellulose fiber clumps are still there years later. I remove the top of the filter when winterizing and remove chunks of that junk every season - it looks like a newspaper left in the driveway in a snowstorm and driven over for a week.

Leslie's told me that DE was illegal and that the cellulose fiber was the only alternative - This is not true.

[CarlD]

I have used the cellulose fiber material and if you haven't, DON'T. Sorry for shouting.

It did nothing to help the filtration and it formed big clumps in my filter and doesn't backwash out. Many cellulose fiber clumps are still there years later. I remove the top of the filter when winterizing and remove chunks of that junk every season - it looks like a newspaper left in the driveway in a snowstorm and driven over for a week.

Leslie's told me that DE was illegal and that the cellulose fiber was the only alternative - This is not true.

Whoa! Which Leslie's store was THAT???? I've never heard anything so ridiculous in my life. Best pool store I know of in NJ (that doesn't make it the best, just the best I know) is Sun Pools on Route 22 East in Green Brook. Their 5 gallon carboys of "12.5%" LC always test at 14%, and they can usually get any part you need, and probably have it in stock. Their private stock line of chems is a bit pricey but generally is as good a quality as you can get. I don't necessarily trust them, but I trust them more than any other store I've been in. Some of the Leslie's stores are OK, some only so-so (the one just a bit further East of Sun Pools is a so-so one).

[BigDave]

That's the one. The guy at the one in Springfield / Mountainside laughed when I told him what I'd been told. I like the guys at Sun as well.

[CarlD]

Is the Springfield one the one on Rt 22 near Sam Ash, Guitar Center and Harbor Freight? I've not been in it but past it several times but it's a schlepp to get there. The Parsippany store on 46 generally has more knowledgeable people as well.