I'm in big trouble - I turned water green

[PoolDoc]

Hi Joe;

First things first . . . unfortunately, you've got several first things.

=> pH, chlorine, copper

FIRST:
Get a CHEAP drops test kit -- the kind that turns yellow for chlorine, and yellow to purple for pH, and test your pool. We need to know if your 6.2 pH reading is real, or bogus. Some pool stores might be able to test for pH; in others it's just going to be a bogus reading. I'd like to see YOUR readings, to either confirm or repudiate the pool store readings.

Verify that your pH is actually very low (yellow on the drops kit -- but don't confuse OTO drops (yellow = chlorine present) with phenol red drops (yellow = low pH). Don't test pH if the OTO drops turn orange: the chlorine / bromine is too high for phenol red to work well.

SECOND:
Dose with 1/2 gallon of bleach each evening, simply to maintain sanitation control a way least likely to conflict with anything else.


THIRD:
Assuming the pH is low, gradually start raising it, using 1/2 box of borax per 10K gallons, added every few hours. If you have a pump timer, disable it, and run your pump & filter 24/7.

FOURTH:
Answer some questions:
=> Do you have a heater?
=> Have you added any algicide, recently or last fall? What kind?
=> Do you have a Nature2, 'mineral' or any other gizmo that might contain or add copper.

FIFTH:
Do the fingernail scrape test I described, and include the results from that.

SIXTH:
Post your info, after you've collected it. Post the pH as soon as you've confirmed it -- if your pH is REALLY that low, and the color was yellowish-brownish-greenish, I know what it is.


PoolDoc

[joecus]

Thanks -
first - the 6.2 ph reading came from my local pool store. I have both the strips and the tester that you add yellow and red drops. I just took the strip reading, showing ultra low ph. The drop tester turns water yellowish when I add the red drops indicating a very lowph. I will work first on getting the PH up.

second - I did the bleach
third - I am running the filter 24/7 and will add borax (1/2 box ? what size box?)
forth - I'm sure the copper came from the Algicide I added since this is when the water started to change color to greenish/yellow upon adding shock. Like I said, the water quickly turns back to clear. I do have a heater. The copper reading of 1.7 also came from my local store.

fifth - I did the fingernail test on the black spots and it does dissipate.

So, tomorrow I will work on getting the ph up using the borax, correct? Don't add the backing soda yet, correct? What about the alkalinity, don't worry yet? Is there a reason you don't want me to raise both ph and alkalinity at same time using baking soda? Lastly, what do I do about copper? Thanks a million, again. Did I forget anything?

[Watermom]

I'm gonna let PoolDoc address most of this with you but just a couple of comments. I think the only size of box of Borax that I have seen is 4lbs. 12oz. Don't put off until tomorrow adding the first 1/2 box of Borax. Go ahead and get it in there tonight. Low pH is REALLY bad for your pool. Critical to get it above 7.0 ASAP. After a couple of hours, retest and redose as needed.

Also, baking soda raises alk a lot, but not the pH much. The low alk is nowhere near as critical as the low pH.

PoolDoc will be by shortly to direct you further.

EDIT -- Baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) and washing soda (sodium carbonate) are not the same thing. Washing soda is the same thing as soda ash.

[aylad]

Also keep in mind that one side effect of dichlor is lowered pH.....

Janet

[Watermom]

That's right, Jan. I wasn't thinking about that. At any rate, Ben wants him to use bleach right now for his chlorine.

[joecus]

OK - borax is in. I will retest when I wake up. I will wait for other answers to questions.
Thanks.

[joecus]

Sorry - I forgot to mention, I'm was using the Arm and Hammer baking soda instructions on how to raise the PH and Alkalinity. I bought this 12 lb bag at Costco and it has specific instructions for raising both. I'm not sure why some people are saying washing soda instead of backing soda.

[CarlD]

Sorry - I forgot to mention, I'm was using the Arm and Hammer baking soda instructions on how to raise the PH and Alkalinity. I bought this 12 lb bag at Costco and it has specific instructions for raising both. I'm not sure why some people are saying washing soda instead of backing soda.

Because they aren't the same thing! Baking soda comes in the famous orange box and is, among many things, edible.

Washing Soda comes in a yellow box, contains soda ash, and should NEVER be consumed.

Despite Arm&Hammer's hype and package info, Baking Soda is a LOUSY way to raise pH, but a GREAT way to raise Total Alkalinity. It's also what pool stores sell as "Alkalinity Raiser" for inflated prices.

Washing soda, or soda ash, is a great way to raise pH BUT it raises Total Alkalinity as well. Pool stores sell THIS too, packaged as things like "ph Up!" and other catchy names, also at inflated prices.

But we like Borax (20 Mule Team Borax) best because it doesn't raise Total Alkalinity but raises pH as well as Soda Ash. Pool stores do NOT sell any version of this, but some sell the test kit for Borates (which Borax adds and can inhibit algae).

I have seen the giant 12lb bags of Baking Soda at Costco. But please don't use it to raise your pH--it's not very good for that.

[joecus]

I just woke up and retested the water, ph is still low (measuring yellow on strips and drop tester.) I added the other 1/2 box of borax. I will retest in 6 hours. I have another question, a few people have said my low ph is very dangerous. What exactly can happen? Is is bad for swimmers or the pool and equipment?. I have not let anyone swim since I found this problem. Thanks for your help.

[PoolDoc]

If you are going to be home today, I'd start adding borax, 1/2 box every 2 hours, until you begin to see your pH rise -- go from yellow to orange-ish yellow. Then slow to every 4 hours, till you reach 7.0.

Don't go higher. The copper is most likely from your heater (not so good) but if it's not leaking, you may be OK.

Maintain reasonable chlorine levels -- 1 - 3 ppm, but don't worry about alkalinity or anything else, except pH.

Once you see a pH change, you can begin swimming, BUT . . . anyone with light colored or dyed hair is likely to end up with seriously green hair from the copper. This includes blonde OR gray hair. So, basically, only brunettes with no gray hair can swim. (That rules me out! )

PoolDoc

BTW, the color you have been seeing is bromine gas in the pool. Not so good. Try not to do that anymore. It's not likely to get out of the water, but if it does, it will rest on the pool surface and be VERY TOXIC to any swimmers.

Chlorinating by adding small doses of bleach to the skimmer should help avoid that. Once you get the pH up, it will quit.