Just need to make sure....

[pettinej]

Hi,
This is my 3rd year with the new pool and opening it this year was a suprise. It was deep green and very black at the bottom. After three days here are my numbers.

FC = 7.5
CC = 2.5
ph = 7.2
alk = 90
cal = 80
cya = 0
temp = Very cold under 60 still.

It is a cloudy white color. It seems to be getting better every day. I have vacuummed and scrubbed. I think I am ok but I am wondering if I should bump up the bleach.....

Thanks for the great site and help.....

[Watermom]

I'd probably shock it up to about 10 or 12 if it were my pool.

[pettinej]

Thanks for the tip.

My new numbers are

FC = 16
CC = 0
ph = 6.8
alk = 90
cal = 80
cya = 0
temp = Very cold under 60 still.

Not sure why the ph went down so far..... I tested it 3 times to be sure.
Seems like it is getting better.

Is the best advice to fix my ph and keep FC above 10 until it is completely clear?

[Watermom]

Yes. You need to get the ph above 7.0 asap. Any reading below that is acidic and can damage your pool. And, keep hitting it with bleach. Good luck.

[pettinej]

Ok I got the PH up to 7.2 and I have been keeping the FC above 15. It is at 22 this morning. I am still cloudy and I am wondring if I should use a clarifier. The water is still cold so we won't be swimming any time soon but I want to get my water clear.

Thanks again for the help.

[Watermom]

Give it some time. I know you are anxious, but sometimes the best thing you can do is to have what we call P.O.P. -- pool owner patience. Keep at it. Keep your pump running. I would not suggest adding a clarifier at this time. Sometimes getting in too big of a hurry to add extra stuff just causes extra problems. Especially since your water is cold and you won't be swimming for awhile anyways. It'll clear.

[pettinej]

New numbers

FC = 30
CC = 0
ph = 6.8
alk = 90
cal = 80
cya = 15
temp = 62

The weather here in NY is starting to break. Should be 82 today. I checked the pool this morning and my numbers are listed above. For some reason the PH is down again. I am headed to the store to bring it back up asap. It has been 8 days since I opened the pool and wife and kids are starting to get on my case. Any reason why my PH keeps going down? I have not put anything but bleach and baking soda in my pool in the last 6 days. Pool is still cloudy, pump running 24/7.

[pettinej]

FC = 17
CC = 0
ph = 7.2
alk = 140
cal = 50
cya = ~10
temp = 70

I can see the bottom of the shallow end but I still can not see the drain in the deep end. I guess it is getting there but man is it taking a long time. Is my Alk to high now?

[Watermom]

Your alk is a little high, but not enough at this time to worry about. Right now, just focus on getting your water clear. How many times a day are you testing and hitting it with bleach? The key to clearing water is to sustain the high cl reading and not let it yo-yo up and down. Glad it is getting better. Hang in there. It'll clear. Keep your pump running 24/7 while you are trying to clear it.

[pettinej]

I try to test it twice a day. I now understand that I want to keep it at a certain level and not yo-yo. I have a cartridge filter and I have been running 24/7. My filter pressure was a bit high (15 psi) I have cleaned it and it was back to 7psi. Today it is a 11 but if I understand correctly I should not clean it to often because if it is a little dirty it will help filter the finer particles. Is this correct? Thanks for the help.