Need help! Please!!!

[duraleigh]

Ben's chart is (I hope this is right) his approximation based on his experience and education as to when you actually reach breakpoint.

Importantly, it also protects vinyl liners from potential fading at those high levels. You have no vinyl to protect. Raising your Cl to 30 absolutely insures that you reach breakpoint...allowing your Cl to be more effective. It will come down to normal levels as the Sun and new organics continue to consume it.

I see no downside to shock level Cl in the low 30's for a gunite or Fibreglas pool.

DISCLAIMER: This opinion is based entirely on anecdotal evidence and, given the intelligence level of the opinionator, I would take it with a small grain of salt.

[bgray]

duraleigh,

To clarify, I was not questioning your opinion, as I tend to agree with it.
I think my question was worded poorly...
Now that my algae is dead (???), do I need to keep Cl up in the 30s? Or, in the 20s? Or, some other "maintenance" level?

OR

Should I wait until the water is crystal clear before I allow it to come back down?

I want to do what I must to clear up the pool. I'm just thinking about the pain of dilution testing, the cost of the bleach, etc.

Thanks so much for your help through this.
bgray

[duraleigh]

Bgray,

No prob....I heard what you were saying...just didn't clarify my answer.

Short answer - keep it up there 'til your water looks crystal clear.

You wont waste any Cl...that high level will simply kill all the bugs an dthen keep doing it's job keeping your pool sanitized. As it comes down, you would've used just as much at lower concentration.

Now, once your water is crystal (and it will be) let it drift down and then maintain it between 5-10ppm...that's your maintenance level and the level you need to keep your pool sanitized at that CYA level.

Nor will you consume excess bleach at that maintenance level. You will simply be holding higher concentrations than someone with lower CYA.

Order Ben's kit to reduce your testing workload. I think it's mandatory for keeping your pool clear year after year.

[duraleigh]

I have kept my cl at 20+ (up to 30+ per duraleigh) for several days now.
The green is gone, and I continue to have a milky blue pool.
At this rate, it could be October before my li'l cartridge filter knocks out all of the cloudiness.

My pH has consistently tested at 7.0. Should I raise it? I read that pH readings could be off when running super high cl levels.

If I need to raise it, do I use Borax? How much?

Thanks.

Leave the pH alone. Focus on chlorine.

Vacuum to help your pump and filter.

You need something that isn't posted as often as it should be on the forum. you need POP (pool owner patience).

If bring your Cl up to shock level at least twice a day, you will clear your pool. Vacuum, brush the sides to expose the algae to the chlorine, and keep the faith.

Probably 20 - 30 times a day the advice given here on the forum is "Keep your chlorine up". It works if you'll do it.

[bgray]

Sorry about the dual-thread confusion

With my cartridge filter, I cannot vacuum to waste; so if I vacuum, it'll be to filter.

Two schools of thought: (1) Let my Polaris buzz around, stirring up sediment and suspending it in the water for my filter to catch; or, (2) letting it all settle and trying to vacuum the bottom (which I cannot see).

Since I don't have Ben's test kit (sacrilege, I know...), and my hth OTO kit only goes to 5, it is difficult (to say the least) to test for levels of 30+. It takes a 5:1 dilution. But, my tests have ben consistently showing 20+. So, keeping my cl up does not seem to be the issue.

I am considering a partial drain/refill. I am not sure if a partial drain would hurt my plaster?

[duraleigh]

Hmmm. You seem to have lost faith that Cl will clear your pool. That's your call.

I can offer no other remedy. Partial draining may temporarily clear your pool and it may get it good enough so your filter can finish the job. The pool water that you do not drain will still be contaminated, however, and, unless you use Cl, I can think of no way to keep it clear on a permanent basis.

[bgray]

I have not lost faith in Cl. I still have 17 bottles @ 1.84 gallons each.
I am admittedly impatient. I guess after seeing it turn from green to blue, it is now difficult to see ANY progress.

Question: does the high cl levels "eat" the dead algae? Or, are we relying on the filter to get it all, while maintaining high cl just keeps more from growing?

I really do want to understand.

Also, is it totally evil to consider a little clarifier to speed up the process?

[duraleigh]

I have not lost faith in Cl. I still have 17 bottles @ 1.84 gallons each.
I am admittedly impatient. I guess after seeing it turn from green to blue, it is now difficult to see ANY progress.

Remember...POP

Question: does the high cl levels "eat" the dead algae? Or, are we relying on the filter to get it all, while maintaining high cl just keeps more from growing?

Good question...I don't know. I suspect probably a combination of both

Also, is it totally evil to consider a little clarifier to speed up the process?

Another good question...I would say it's likely a fine idea. Just don't fall into the trap of giving false credit to the clarifier thinking it "cured" the issue. The Cl cured the issue...the clarifier (floc) speeded the clearing process. Those that take that bait, throw clarifier in the pool after the pool goes green and that simply wont work

[bgray]

OK, today I added some Super Blue clarifier (10 oz. for 28k gallon pool). I also added about 3 more gallons of bleach. The water is definitely clearing up. HOORAY!

My question is: how frequently can a clarifier like Super Blue be used? My spa cleared up beautifully, but the shallow end of my pool is still a little cloudy and I still cannot see the bottom of the deep end.

Thanks,
BG

[mkamp1515]

BGray...keep up with the patience. I understand it is hard to do at times. By the way, your first name would not happen to be Bernard would it? If it is, I bet you are a football official in the Fort Worth Chapter. I am in that chapter (10 years). Let me know.

Mike Kamp