green water

[wolfcue]

I have another question. Since starting the shock treatment my ph reading has gone down from 7.8 to 7.3. Is this suppose to happen?

Thanks
Peggy

[duraleigh]

No. No clue why it's doing that but it's better @ 7.3 than 7.8

[KurtV]

I have another question. Since starting the shock treatment my ph reading has gone down from 7.8 to 7.3. Is this suppose to happen?

Thanks
Peggy

Peggy, Have you been using only bleach to chlorinate? It seems from your posts that you are, but I couldn't tell for sure. Some forms of solid chlorine (e.g. trichlor) will lower pH so if you're using that it would explain the pH drop.

At any rate, Dave has you on the right track. Keep up the good work.

[wolfcue]

I did use granulars at first to get stablizer, but once the CYA was up to 35 or 40 I switched to regular chlorine bleach. Before I started the shock treatment we had to keep adding muratic acid to bring the PH down and to get the high AlK readings down.

Peggy

[geordie]

Once you get completely clear and let your chlorine drift back down, refer to Ben's best guess CYA chart in the sticky at the top of the chlorine forum. In your first post you listed your free chlorine as 2.0, but if your CYA is actually 35 or 40, you really do not want to let your chlorine drop below 3.0, ever. That is all it takes to let the algae get a foot in the door. I have my CYA right around 40, and I keep my chlorine about 4 or 5 at all times and it seems to work out pretty well in my full sun pool. Good luck.

[wolfcue]

Just wanted to thank everyone that helped me. For the last 2 nights the chlorine has stayed at about 20ppm. The ph is 7.2. It is still not totally clear, but I can see all the steps of the ladder, so I think the algae must be gone. I have been out about 3 times already today brushing the bottom and sides and I think it is working. I think my small cartridge filter might just take awhile to totally clear it up. Again thanks to everyone.

Peggy

[duraleigh]

Peggy,

Nice work. Now, reread geordi's post above. Don't fall back where you were before or the algae will come back. After your water is clear, keep the Cl in the 3-6ppm range and enjoy the rest of the Summer.