With your help.. we are going from mess to success!

[Watermom]

Great. Sounds like you are doing the right things. Keep us posted how it is going.

[senniss]

Day 3 and the pool was cloudy... added 8 ounces of flocculent this morning and just came in from vacuuming up a brown bottom. Pool is clearing nicely and still maintaining the shock level without much help at all..

Am having a little trouble getting the PH to stay up and the alkalinity, but am working on that...

I think we'll have a nice clear pool tomorrow with a few more brown spots, but so far looking good.

From what I've read.. I should maintain the shock level for at least 2-3 days after the algae appears to all be dead, correct? So if I have a clear pool tomorrow evening.. that would mean I could start bringing the chlorine level back down around Monday?

Also.. with the Available Chlorine... my numbers are low now.. is that gonna be a worry later?

Thanks again so much for everything!! I'm looking forward to loving my pool again!

[Watermom]

You should probably post some current water testing results.

[senniss]

Ok.. right now we are at:

FC: 2.2
TC: 17.5
PH: 6.8
TA: 120
CYA: 30

Water is clear, but a bit cloudy. I was able to vacuum again this morning (more dead algae). Now.. how long will it take chlorine levels to come down? Also, do I need to bring the level down before I let the pump rest overnight to let the debris settle to the bottom for vacuuming? Working on the PH, but can't seem to get it up there... not sure what's going on with that.. will add more Borax later this evening and see if that'll do the trick..

Anything else I might be missing?

[Watermom]

FC + CC = TC. So, something isn't right with your chlorine readings. And I know you can't possibly have a CC reading of 15.3. Try those tests again.

Keep adding the Borax. Most kits won't register a pH reading below 6.8 so if you get a reading of 6.8 it could be MUCH lower than that in reality. PH below 7.0 is acidic and can damage your pool so it is CRITICAL that you get that pH up ASAP! Go ahead and add 3/4 of a box of Borax at a time until the pH starts to move and then go with smaller additions. After you add some, wait about 2-3 hours and then retest and redose. Don't put this off or you could damage your pool. Do it ASAP. (Meaning --- now, not this evening!)

[senniss]

Free Chlorine reading now is 2.3
Chlorine (misprinted earlier) is still at 17
PH is up to 7.4 !!! 3/4 box did it perfectly!!
CYA is still at 30
TA is still 120

So.. with that said (sorry about the boo boo before).. Do we have to wait patiently on the chlorine to lower? We haven't added any Clorox today at all.. last time we added was yesterday at 5pm.. and the reading is still holding..

I'll have to add some water tonight so I can vacuum tomorrow, which I know will mess with the levels some, and I will adjust accordingly.. Just wondering about the shock level and waiting for it to come down now...

Thank you for your help!

[Watermom]

Glad you got your pH up. 7.4 is a good level. TA is also ok. I still think there is a problem with your chlorine numbers. What type of test kit are you using? Can you explain the procedure you are using to get the cl readings? Something is not right or else you have a big problem on your hands if your CC reading really is that high! (Remember FC + CC = TC so if your numbers are right, then you have a CC reading of nearly 15 which is NOT a good thing!! I'm really hoping it is a testing error!