returned and pool completely cloudy

[poolhelp101]

thanks. i hope i can get this cleared up. there's still no change in the pool this morning.

[poolhelp101]

the ph is rising. it's 7.8 maybe a little higher. i am keeping it at shock level as it is not getting any clearer. do i do anything now about the ph being high or what do i do about that if anything right now? please advise. thank you

[duraleigh]

poolhelp,

Post a complete set of current test results.....the advice will be far more helpful and accurate.

[poolhelp101]

ph- 7.8 maybe a little higher
cl-15
ta-180
cya-50
hardness-not sure, when i test, the color doesn't change. but about 3 weeks ago when tested at a pool store, they said the hardness was high, can't remember the actual results..i can look for them if you need those.
i do use well water and i have a water softener, however, so i probably do have hardness

[JohnT]

Start driving your pH down with muriatic acid. It will make the chlorine more active.

[duraleigh]

Poolhelp,

John's advice on pH is good to follow.

I am assuming you cannot test for CC's. You would be wise to get a kit that will do that.

I would test at dusk this evening and add enough Cl to bring it back up to 15-17 if your pool is vinyl...25ppm if your pool is plaster or Fibreglas.....calculate and add Cl accurately.

Test again tomorrow AM...before the Sun hits it too hard. If you've lost more than maybe 1-2ppm, you are still killing organics in your pool.

The solution to that is to keep adding Cl back up to those levels above over and over 'til the pool clears. A struggle for now, but you'll find it well worth the effort.

Cloudiness in pools can be from a variety of causes but your test results indicate that Chlorine is the answer to clearing your pool.

Remember to lower the pH....I'd shoot for 7.2

[poolhelp101]

thanks so much. i do have a vinyl liner, 20,000 gallons with heater.
i have a bioguard product that is for decreasing ph that i have had before i found this forum. is that okay to use that decreaser to lower my ph or should get and only use the muriatic acid to lower it?