Small Pool, Cloudy Water

[sturev]

Hi Carrie, in your other post there were some alternate kits mentioned, did you check on those? I wish there was something we could do to get you the good kit at the USA cost... How far from the boarder are you? Do you have any friends/family in the USA?

The Intex pools are notorious for not having adequate filters/pumps, but since it's a pool that will only last a few years it's probably going to get you by... You'll just need to NEVER let it get fouled up as there will be no way for you to quickly clean it up with that setup. That's one of the main drivers for you getting a good test kit! You could easily end up spending a lot more than the kit cost trying to fix an issue if you get algae or something else.

[mja351]

a knee highstocking works as well as a skimmer sock just let it dry after use and brush the dirt off and re use next time

[mikemerritt]

The stocking may work , thanks.

"Are you ever going to 0 chlorine level during the day?"

I don't think it ever goes to 0.

Here are the latest tests.

PH 7.2

FC 2.4

CC .6

TA 100

CYA 27


EDIT by Watermom: Cyanuric Acid is CYA not listed as CA. Need to be consistent so your readings will be clear to other readers who are trying to help. CA could be confused as meaning calcium. So, the reason I edited, was to change it to CYA.

[Watermom]

Thanks for posting the CC reading. Go ahead and shock the pool again up to 15. Test several times today and each time, take the cl back up to 15. We'll see how the numbers look tonight. Also, keep the pump/filter running and watch your filter pressure. When it increases by 8-10psi over normal clean pressure, backwash. Hope this helps.

[mikemerritt]

Update on this little pool. I managed to get the water crystal clear without changing the water. I didn't change the water so I could learn how to deal with it. I'll have a larger pool next spring and changing the water would be expensive.

As I said earlier the problem was dead algae settling in the bottom and no way to get t all out. I replaced the bag on the little cheap vacuum with a hose and ran the hose out to the ground. Now when the stuff has settled the vacuum picks it up and takes it out of the pool. I find the filter to be OK because I think it gets all the tiny stuff. It won't act as a skimmer or get the small stuff that settles but once everything is under control the little filter does a great job.

Now I would like input on nut grass that grows right through the bottom of the pool. I have only had one get through but I easily could have had a crop of it. I also have crepe myrtle and some kind of small apple tree that is subject to put up a sucker off of a root at any time.

The other thing is the incredible heat we have around here. It gets to around 100 everyday with an index of 110. The water is so warm you don't want to get in it. I was thinking of trying a silver colored tarp to reflect the heat back.

I use about 6 ozs. of 6% bleach every other day. I have been cutting it down every day to see just how little I can get by with. This is where the test strips really have a purpose. They are cheap, fast and accurate enough for this.

I will do a Taylor kit test now that all is well and post the numbers.

Thanks for all the help. If any of you ever search the internet for help with painting, wallpaper or small engines you will probably run into me and we will get you going in the right direction.


MikeMerritt

[aylad]

Congratulations on getting your water back to clear--great job!

I wish I could help you with the nut grass, and if you find a solution that works, by all means post it here. I have an 1100 gallon koi pond next to my pool and am forever spraying the nut grass that grows up through the rocks around it. When they installed the pond they put down a very thick (1/8" or so) black matting under the liner, and so far the stuff hasn't grown through it, but it grows around it like crazy. Don't know what to do other than keep spraying it at the surface, but I know that's not doing anything for underneath.

As far as cooling your pool water, you might want to consider a fountain of some sort and running your pump at night. Here in Louisiana we're getting the same temps/heat index you describe, and my pool water currently is at 94 degrees--feels more like a hot tub than a swimming pool. We keep the slide running during the day while the kids are in the pool, so it's getting cold water refilled from the house and it does a fair job of dropping the temp a little, but aerating the water at night will help cool it off a little, as well (watch your pH, though, because it will rise due to the aeration).

Janet