Need Help!

[Watermom]

Yep. That is high alright -- just what i suspected. The only way to lower it unfortunately is to do a partial drain and refill. Retest it one more time to make sure you got it right. Actually, why don't you go ahead and post a current set of all testing numbers for everything for us to look at.

By the way, how does the water look today?

[wxwmn02]

I figured that would be your answer. We will have the other #s for you this afternoon.

[wxwmn02]

Here are the #s. They seem a bit off so I may need to get them again. However, the pool is being refilled now so I expect them to be different.
FAC = 9
TAC = 1
PH = 7.1
Alk = 80
CH = 500
CYA = 65

[Watermom]

I think you need to do a partial drain and refill. But, do NOT totally drain this pool! if you can drain about half, that should get your calcium level and your cya levels down to a more manageable reading. Then, I would not use any more cal-hypo. Stick with bleach. Watch your pH. It is pretty low. Don't want it below 7.0. or it can damage your pool. May want to add a cup of Borax to the skimmer slowly while the pump is running and see how high that will raise it. Anywhere from 7.2-7.8 is ok.

Your chlorine numbers are not quite right. FC + CC = TC. So, your FC can't be 9 and your TC 1. Maybe try that test again.

EDIT -- I just now reread your post and noticed you said it is being refilled. How much did you drain? After it is refilled, retest and repost with new numbers, but still -- keep an eye on that pH. It is pretty low.

[wxwmn02]

We only drained it to just pass the skimmer. It's now refilled so I will have to get the new readings tomorrow. I can always drain it again and refill it for a 2nd time if the new chem levels are high. I didn't think that chlorine levels were right. Hopefully I can figure them out tomorrow.

What is Borax? Where would I find that?

[aylad]

Borax is commonly found in the laundry aisle at WalMart, Target, grocery stores, or some have also seen it at Lowe's and some hardware stores. It's called 20-Mule Team Borax, and is still in a green box at our WalMart, although their website has it pictured in a new white box. It's used to raise pH without significantly raising TA.

Janet

[wxwmn02]

Here the chem levels.
CH = 230 or 540. The directions said wait for the color to turn from red to blue, however the water never really turned to a blue color. it did change from redish pink to a purple. I kept adding drops for it to change over to blue, but instead it kept getting to a lighter shade of purple. So the first # is when it changed over to a purple and the 2nd is when it got to a really light shade of purple.
CYA = 42
TA = 60
PH = 7.2
FC = 8.4
CC = 1
TC = 9.4

I don't feel very confident in my #s because their idea of red is my idea of pink and basically their color scheme was not what I was expecting.

I know that my TA is low and I can add baking soda to bring that and the PH up, right? Would you suggest doing that?

Also, the water is still cloudy so maybe the high CH is correct?