Chlorine question

[newbie2pools]

How long do I continue keeping the chlorine at shock level? A little background: I bought a house with an AG pool, 13,000 gallon, green, nasty with living creatures. I got rid of the creatures and the green, the levels are all good but the pool is still cloudy. We just changed the sand in my sand filter just last night because we didn't know how long since it'd been last changed and we found a bag of 'kiddie sand' near the filter so I assumed that was what she put in it. Maybe that will do it? I've let the chlorine go back down to the '3' level right now because all of the green is gone, the stuff is cleared from the bottom (got in this last weekend and felt around for the last of the pine needles) and all else seems good.

Thanks!

[traceyb]

As cheap as it is maybe you should consider Quick krete filter sand for pools.????
Just a thought.

[hulla]

Keep it shocked until it's clear.

[medvampire]

You do need to use pool filter sand due to consistency of size and impurities in other sand. Some play sand contains anticlumping compounds witch could lead to a host of chemistry problems. I would recommend changing the sand to pool sand as soon as possible.
You might consider adding de to the sand filter after you change the sand to get it to clear better. You can find some discussion on it here.
Steve

[newbie2pools]

Sorry, I wasn't very clear. We did buy sand from the pool store when we changed it out after hearing that kiddie sand wasn't really a good idea for pool sand filters. I'll up the chlorine again to shock level and maybe between the new sand and that it'll finish clearing it. Thank you!

Pam

[Watermom]

Also, keep your pump running 24/7 while you are trying to clear it.

[KurtV]

newb,
To answer your original question, you should keep the water at shock level (per the Best Guess table) until it clears AND it holds the free chlorine steady overnight. Only then will you have completely rid yourself of the algae. After that, keep the chlorine within the Best Guess table range for your level of CYA and shock when you have combined chlorine of 0.5 ppm or greater and you'll be unlikely to have another algae infestation.

Best of luck,
Kurt