Need some help: Blue-Green Cloudy Water

[CelticDaddio]

Here are my latest numbers:

FC: 4 (ish)
TC: 4 (ish)
pH: 7.6-7.7
TA: 230
CH: 360
CYA: 70

The (ish) numbers are as close as I could match the colors. Ditto for the pH. I have a hard time matching the colors.

I have had water samples tested by three local pool supply places. None of their treatment helps. My water is blueish green (more blue than green) and cloudy.


Thanks,
Ed

[mikemedic]

With your CYA at 70 , use Ben's best guess chart and shock to get your FC to 25.
Check the level next am and if not 25 re bleach until you get to 25. Holds like that for a few days and you be crystal clear.

My wasn't quite as bad but merky and greenish tint.
My CYA is about 50 so I brought FC to 20 and held it and it's clear now.
Just keep at it and keep your filter running

[CelticDaddio]

Yikes! I don't have to leave my Cl at 25 do I? That's just a shock level right?
Ed

With your CYA at 70 , use Ben's best guess chart and shock to get your FC to 25.
Check the level next am and if not 25 re bleach until you get to 25. Holds like that for a few days and you be crystal clear.

My wasn't quite as bad but merky and greenish tint.
My CYA is about 50 so I brought FC to 20 and held it and it's clear now.
Just keep at it and keep your filter running

[Watermom]

Yes, it is just a shock level. Actually with a cya of 70, you need to keep your chlorine level between 5-10 ALL the time and your shock level would be about 20. It may take a few days of maintaining the high cl levels to clear it. Run your pump 24/7 while you are trying to clear the water. Also, your TA is too high. Read the sticky at the top of the alk forum on steps to lower it to 80-125. Good luck.

[CelticDaddio]

Is this the sticky you refer to:

"HOWTO: Step-by-Step Guide to lowering your alkalinity" at

http://www.poolforum.com/pf2/showthread.php?t=191

If that is, it seems very involved.... and I am extremely irritated, as my most trusted pool guy just had me dump 30 pounds of baking soda and calcium carbonate into the pool (and 50 pounds each about a month ago).

What are the repurcusions of not lowering my TA?

Should I lower my Stabilizer? If so to what?

Ed

Yes, it is just a shock level. Actually with a cya of 70, you need to keep your chlorine level between 5-10 ALL the time and your shock level would be about 20. It may take a few days of maintaining the high cl levels to clear it. Run your pump 24/7 while you are trying to clear the water. Also, your TA is too high. Read the sticky at the top of the alk forum on steps to lower it to 80-125. Good luck.

[tsandershsa]

Is this the sticky you refer to:

"HOWTO: Step-by-Step Guide to lowering your alkalinity" at

http://www.poolforum.com/pf2/showthread.php?t=191

If that is, it seems very involved.... and I am extremely irritated, as my most trusted pool guy just had me dump 30 pounds of baking soda and calcium carbonate into the pool (and 50 pounds each about a month ago).

What are the repurcusions of not lowering my TA?

Should I lower my Stabilizer? If so to what?

Ed

What are the repurcusions of not lowering my TA?

Your PH will be hard to keep stable..... and with a vinyl liner, a low PH is BAD!

Should I lower my Stabilizer? If so to what?

I think your stabiler is OK.... I ran mine at 70 last summer with no problems...
there are several on this board who keep their stabilizer that high on purpose claiming less clorine usage..... the only way to lower it though is a partial drain and refill

Todd

[CelticDaddio]

Water finally starting to clear. At what chlorine level can we get back to swimming? I have seen sevaral products whose instructions say DO NOT swim until chlorine level is 5 ppm or lower. If I need to keep my FC 5-10 all the time, these products must be wrong.... right?

Ed

Yes, it is just a shock level. Actually with a cya of 70, you need to keep your chlorine level between 5-10 ALL the time and your shock level would be about 20. It may take a few days of maintaining the high cl levels to clear it. Run your pump 24/7 while you are trying to clear the water. Also, your TA is too high. Read the sticky at the top of the alk forum on steps to lower it to 80-125. Good luck.

[CelticDaddio]

Two days (or so with) FC = 25. I didn't think I was seeing much difference until I look at previous pictures and new pictures:





Still cloudy but getting bluer....

Ed

Water finally starting to clear. At what chlorine level can we get back to swimming? I have seen sevaral products whose instructions say DO NOT swim until chlorine level is 5 ppm or lower. If I need to keep my FC 5-10 all the time, these products must be wrong.... right?

Ed

[fcfrey]

Go to my thread in the china shop http://www.poolforum.com/pf2/showthread.php?t=3920 There is a lot of information there but you can draw your own conclusions from there.

[Pool_Mike]

I was wondering the same!


In the last couple of days......... and still counting, that my pool is starting to look like yours.

I am sure its all the rain were getting here in Central Texas. I was really worried, why, why, why my pool was looking / turning green. To find out, this pool will need to be shocked!!

I just don't really want to shock it yet. Suppose to be all week/weekend were getting at least 50% rain per day. So all I have really been doing is backwash to drain my pool from over-flowing.

I am sure due to all the rain, that is why my pool is starting to turn green. For almost a year owning the pool, this is the 1st time I ever seen my pool look the way it is.

Mike