Newbie

[Sarak]

I have a 25k inground pool. I am using the bbb method but can not seem to get the cloudy out of my pool...

[Watermom]

Hi, Sara, and welcome to the Pool Forum!

We'll need some additional info to be able to help.

1. What kind of pool is it? Vinyl, fiberglass, gunnite?
2. What size pump and what kind and size of filter?
3. Exactly what all have you added to the pool, meaning ingredients and not just product names like 'shock.'
4. What does the water look like?
5. What is the source of your fill water --- a well or city water?
6. Do you have a drops-based test kit? If so, what kind? Post current numbers.

If you don't have a good drops-based test kit:
The test kit that we think is by far the best is the Taylor K2006 or 2006C (better buy). Not available locally but you can get it through this link that takes you to Amazon: http://pool9.net/tk/

But, 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, a couple of boxes of 20 Mule Team Borax (laundry aisle) and a gallon of distilled water.

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

(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.)

[CarlD]

The basic tests we'll be looking for will be:

FC (Free Chlorine)
CC (Combined Chloramines)
TC (Total Chlorine, which is what you get with the HTH kit--TC=FC+CC)
pH (same as high school chemistry)
TA (Total Alkalinity)
CH (Calcium Hardness or just Hardness)
CYA (Cyanuric Acid, aka Stabilizer, aka Conditioner, aka Isocynuric Acid)

If you have a Taylor K-2006 (or equivalent) it tests for FC and CC separately, and you add them to get TC. The test measures when the solution goes from red/pink to totally clear.

If you have the HTH kit or a simple OTO/Phenol Red kit, they only test for TC. Only a few measure as high as 5ppm (ignore the Bromine test readings--you've got a chlorine pool, not a bromine one). If it's yellower than that scale on the kit, we'll show you how to measure higher levels (using the steam-distilled water--only steam distilled water).