New Subscriber/supporter totally stumped!

[PoolDoc]

On my way out the door for some 'volunteer' duty at Chattanooga's Riverbend -- heat index 104 and climbing! (Yuck, yuck, yuck)

But, if you don't want to drain, you just need to uncover and filter and clean.

If your OTO is clumping into brown particles, the chlorine level is REALLY high. Everything is dead and/or oxidized. Polyquat would be completely useless at this level of chlorine.

Don't worry about any other test results -- they wouldn't likely be valid anyhow.

Sunlight, filtration, cleaning . . . and patience: LOTS of patience. Many pool owners get to this point in clearing their pool, and then -- under the influence of the urge to DO SOMETHING! -- make it worse. Do NOT add stuff you don't need; do NOT do something that won't help.

If you can't drain, you must filter and with an inadequate filter, there's really no way to speed that up. But there are many, many ways to slow it down, and your neighborhood pool store will be very happy to sell you some of them.

Good luck

PoolDoc

[PoolLoverinMI]

On my way out the door for some 'volunteer' duty at Chattanooga's Riverbend -- heat index 104 and climbing! (Yuck, yuck, yuck)

But, if you don't want to drain, you just need to uncover and filter and clean.

If your OTO is clumping into brown particles, the chlorine level is REALLY high. Everything is dead and/or oxidized. Polyquat would be completely useless at this level of chlorine.

Don't worry about any other test results -- they wouldn't likely be valid anyhow.

Sunlight, filtration, cleaning . . . and patience: LOTS of patience. Many pool owners get to this point in clearing their pool, and then -- under the influence of the urge to DO SOMETHING! -- make it worse. Do NOT add stuff you don't need; do NOT do something that won't help.

If you can't drain, you must filter and with an inadequate filter, there's really no way to speed that up. But there are many, many ways to slow it down, and your neighborhood pool store will be very happy to sell you some of them.

Good luck

PoolDoc

Hi again PoolDoc,

Wow 104? I feel bad for you having to endure that kinda heat during a volunteer event! Hopefully it's not too humid! (Although I must admit I'm a bit jealous of the temp, we are currently only at 60 so I wouldn't mind having 20 or so of those degrees sent up my way). Sadly at least thus far today, getting into the pool doesn't look to be in the cards.

Thank you for ALL of the great & thorough advice above ...now that I know I've done what I can to kill all those ickys I will just have to be patient & wait for my wonderful bleach to make sparkling clear water! (& keep checking that filter)

Don't worry, no pool store salespeople for me! I've done enough damage on my own LOL. But, I do feel much better knowing I've done the best I can. NOW just have to be PATIENT & WAIT!

Kindest regards,
Monica

PS: OTO test came back Cl bright orange like last week then started to break up into small particles the same as yesterday afternoon but not nearly as bad & the pH was still hanging in there around 7.8-8.0. ~ Thanks again!