Newbie needs advice....so confused

[AndieP]

Here's my story....23,000 gallon white guinite pool. Started using Pristine Blue this season at my pool dealers suggestion b/c I battled water problems all season last year with using chlorine.

Well, I've continued to battle water problems this season too. And after doing research on PB I'm thinking I should switch to back to chlorine and after days of reading on this forum I'm very interested in BBB.

A few days ago our water was cloudy and starting to turn a little green. Also had a weird brownish film starting to cover the pool wall and floors. Took a sample in and she tested and said Phosphates were high and gave me PhosFree and a Bioguard Oxider Shock. No Iron showed up and Copper was 0.2. I poured the phosphate stuff in the first night. The next morning some of the "film" was starting to disappear and there was alot of sediment on the pool floor. The water was really turning green. Added shock last night and this morning most, not all but most, of the brownish film is gone and lots more sediment on the pool floor and the water is clear.

I take a sample back today with these readings
PH 7.4
Alkalinity 80
Copper level 0.2
No chlorine showing on my test kit as of a few minutes ago
No CYA either

I still have almost a full bottle of $41 PB left and the dealer wants me to try 2 more weeks now that the phosphates are taken care of. I hate to waste the PB and the $$ but I am also leery of putting more back in the water. I questioned her about PB ability to kill bacteria and she said it does kill but that is also what the weekly shock is for.

So......should I just ditch the PB and start with bleach? If I do this do I just need to use the bleach calculator and start adding bleach? If I add PB should I add some chlorine too?

Sorry so long but I would appreciate any suggestions or help anyone might have. Thanks so much!

[CarlD]

Boy, I'm not sure I'd know how to convert from P/B It apparently uses copper ions...but your copper levels are low.

[AndieP]

Boy, I'm not sure I'd know how to convert from P/B It apparently uses copper ions...but your copper levels are low.

At a copper level of 0.2 will that do anything toward sanitizing? I am worried if I don't get either more Pristine Blue in or start with the bleach that I will not have proper sanitization.

Can I add bleach with 0 CYA? I don't have any and our Walmart doesn't have it either. I can't get to a pool store until tomorrow or Wednsday. I do have access to the chlorine pucks...if i put the pucks in the skimmer will that raise the CYA? How many?

[mbar]

I would put in a metal sequester, then use bleach to shock your pool. Get rid of the pb - make sure you put in enough of the sequestering agent according to the size of your pool - that will bind with the copper that is in the water, so that it doesn't fall out when you shock. You will need to get some cya in the water, you can add it in the skimmer but you can't backwash the pool for a week, or you can put it in a sock and let it dissolve. With a cya of 0 you can take your chlorine up to 10 for a shock. Keep it there until the chlorine holds overnight, and be consistant - everytime it goes lower than 10, add enough to bring it back to 10. Test as often as you can and leave your pump running 24/7. They didn't test your calcium? You will need between 200 - 400 in a gunite pool, your ph and alkalinity are fine.

[AndieP]

I don't have a metal sequester and won't be able to get one until tomorrow or possibly Wed. So what should I do in the interim? Go ahead and put bleach in to achieve 10ppm? How long do I leave it at 10ppm? The water is currently clear but i can still see some of the brownish film along the bottom 1/2 of the deep end walls and on the floor of the pool. (I shocked last night using a bioguard shock) The film has been slowly going away since i put in the PhosFree.

So to get some CYA in the water should I use the pucks until I can get to a supplier to buy it?

Sorry for all the questions but thanks so much for your input!

She has tested calcium several times before and has said it was fine....can't remember the exact number. I just found my Taylor kit so I'll test it myself in a bit.

[Watermom]

I am definitely not the metal expert on the forum, but I do know that you don't want to shock if you have metal in your water as it can fall out and stain your pool. (Reread Marie's post above - #4.)