White Cloudy Water - Twighlight Zone

[szampino]

OK, I'll go with that.

7/23/06 - 11:29, checked my FC to make sure I got the FC high enough. Rightnow, based on Dilution method (this time I used drops and mixed 3/1 distilledwater:PoolWater). I dumped in about .75 gal of Bleach at my last post and it rased it to about 20. Now I'll add another .75 Gal to get it up to 25.

[mbar]

I noticed that your calcium level and alkalinity level went up also, so you may be fighting two different battles here. Adding any cal-hypo after a stain treatment is not recommended. It may be that your calcium and alkalinity are contributing to the cloudiness. You may want to lower your ph and aerate your water as you shock your pool. Filtering will eventually take out the precipitated calcium, but that may be one reason that your water got cloudy after the chlorine was added. My experience is that the high chlorine levels will clear up your water no matter which one it is. Just have patience, I know it is easy for me to say - but I think this is going to clear up, and you should have clear water for the rest of the summer if you use bleach and keep it at the proper levels. I am rooting for you!!

[szampino]

ScoreKeepers Update:

7/23/06 - 1:09pm

Did water make up for TA, FC, PH, Hardness
FC - 25 (Dilution method)
TA - 140 (Water fountain has been on 24/7 Since last Saturday-8days)
PH - 7.2
Hardness - 210

No change in water clarity.

[ssweaser]

""How important is the Vaccum to waste? My pool doesn't quite accomodate that very well.""



You can vacuum to waste with that pool one of two ways. Using your pump, disconnect the return line where it connects outside the pool. Lay it on the ground and vacuum through the pump with the water going to the ground. I don't know if you have the new vacuum set up that goes through the skimmer, if so, just hook that up - disconnect your return hose and turn the pump on. Works great, but makes a mess.

If you don't have the new system, you can purchase a pool hose - don't get a cheap one as they break real easily. Go to Lowes and pay around $30 for a semi-decent one. You will need to measure your output port and the end of the hose and buy a rubber bushing to attach between the hose and your port nipple. You will also have to buy a vacuum head that fits the hose. Disconnect your input hose, turn on the pump and vacuum. ***Make sure you get all the air out of the hose or you'll be fiddling with the pump for days. I do this by turning on the pump and holding the hose near enough to it to pull the air through, then pull the hose back so the air rises to the surface in the water.

Another way you could do this is using the hose set up on the output nipple inside the pool. You could connect a hose using a rubber adaptor and then hang that hose outside the pool. The advantage of this is you can get the water that's draining to waste further away from your pool so you don't end up with a muddy mess right next to it.

I have found Vacuuming to waste to be the quickest - though maybe not the easiest - way to getting the pool cleared of dead algae, debris, and calcium fall out in these pools. You still have to keep your CL levels up, but it clears up much more quickly if you can get the stuff out of the pool.

Suz

Intex AG 18x48 Metal Pole pool 3rd year

[szampino]

Thanks for the Vac tip. I actually rigged it so I can vac from the skimmer. Never thought about disconnecting the other end. The challenge I'll have is if/when I do this I will need to put more water in from the well. This is obviously a little trick since I'm having such trouble now.

Q. Shouldn't I see the water clear first, then see whats sitting on the bottom of the pool? Right now I can't even see the bottom.

Scorecard:

7/23/06 11:20pm.

FC - 15.

Adding more bleach to bring it back up.

[gerri]

If it were me I'd go ahead and vac "blind" - whether you can see it or not, there's stuff down there. It will help your water clear to get it out.

When you add new water be sure to put in the sequestering agent (metal treatment) and you should be ok.

Good luck!

[szampino]

If I vac and refill I will need to bring my Chlorine down to 1 in order for the Sequestering agent to bind properly. Do you still think I should do this? Mbar - what are you thoughts on the vac/refill/sequester? Should I wait till my fight is over?

Scorecard:

7/24/06 - 8:08am
FC - 25 (looks like it held overnight)
No change in water clarity
filter is running 24/7

[mbar]

Do not bring your chlorine down to add the sequestering agent. Since you held the chlorine overnight, I would keep the chlorine up there for another day. After that if there is no improvement in the water clarity, I would use a clarifer, or floc. Let the water circulate for a while, then shut the filter off overnight. Then vacuum to waste. You can add the sequestering agent with the chlorine high.

[szampino]

Scorecard:

7/24/06 - 7:06pm.

I just checked my chlorine and it dramatically dropped.

FC - 12

**The clarity on my water has changed a bit. The water almost looks a little purple/lavender. It could be because of the Blue Blow Up ring on the top of the pool. It appears like I can see a litt further down in the water though, I can vaguely see an additional step in the water. Could this actually be working.

I'm going to bring the chlorine back up again.

[szampino]

Scorecard -

7/25/06-7:50am

FC - 25

**Water Clarity got a little worse, Water still has a purple haze. Could this be Jimmy? :-) (trying to keep a sense of humur).

I'm going to add the following clarifer. HTH Super Concentrated Clarifier, product does not contain alum.