Need help making pool "swimmable" please

[blessedbeingmom]

Ultimately, all decisions about your pool are your own--we can only suggest.

However, if your pool is still green and cloudy, it means your chlorine is being "eaten" killing it. If when you test you see chlorine levels have dropped a lot from the last test, your chlorine is being consumed.

Of course, I realize you can't tell me what to do. Thanks for the help though. The pool is only cloudy, not the least bit green at all. After we rinsed the filter thoroughly last night, we checked it again this morning, and again, there was a light brown algae coating the filter. We replaced the filter this morning. Our chlorine level (via dilution method) was probably over 20. It was definitely over 10 last night, and we added about 2 quarts of bleach before going to bed. I'm pretty sure the algae is dead, just needs to be cleaned out thoroughly. I'm thinking about buying a bunch of replacement filters and just replacing them daily for a few days or something to help it clear up faster. Not sure about that though.

[blessedbeingmom]

Hint, hint ---- Buy a K-2006 --- hint, hint. (Was that subtle enough? )

Really, it will make this whole pool care thing SO much easier for you. Then, you won't have to be diluting and trying to decipher how high the cl is. The good kit will tell you precisely how high it is.

http://www.poolforum.com/pf2/showthread.php?t=10006

I'm sure you read so many posts here (and are very helpful, thanks so much!) that it's hard to remember what you read by whom, but I did mention in my initial post that I've already purchased the Taylor K-2006 earlier this week, just waiting on it (not so patiently I suppose) to arrive, and doing the best I can in the meantime to guesstimate the chlorine levels to see if we need to add more.

Then I started reading more posts here and ordered the Taylor K-2006 test kit this past Monday (June 28). It was late Monday, so we probably won't get it until at least next week. Not sure how long it will really take. We ordered it from SPS Swimming Pool Supply company.

I try to be a quick learner!

Thanks again!

[Watermom]

I'm sure you read so many posts here (and are very helpful, thanks so much!) that it's hard to remember what you read by whom

You got that right! But, sorry I missed (or had forgotten) that you had already purchased. Sorry, sorry! (Sometimes, especially on some of these threads that get pretty long, it is time-consuming to have to go back and reread the whole thread each time a new post is added. Especially at times when there are lots of posts waiting to be answered. Sometimes we miss things, but really do try and do our best!)

Hope your kit will arrive soon!

[blessedbeingmom]

Sometimes we miss things, but really do try and do our best!)

Absolutely! I am very appreciative!

[blessedbeingmom]

DH tested the water this evening and our best guess is the chlorine level was about 6 or so. He added about a liter of bleach to the pool tonight. We're pretty sure the algae is dead, and we're just waiting for the pump to be able to clear the water up for us. I'm not really wanting to get back in until I can see the bottom of the pool in the middle. We are considering upgrading to a larger pump/filter set.
I've been writing my thoughts about that in a different forum:
http://www.poolforum.com/pf2/showthread.php?t=10060

[aylad]

I posted a response to that one in the other thread...
Janet

[blessedbeingmom]

I just wanted to write that DH says the pool is getting clearer by the day. He & I got in the pool tonight (after the kids went to bed) and it was fine and very nice. We are going to check the chlorine level again tonight and add some more bleach before we go to bed. We are still waiting on our Taylor K-2006 kit to arrive.
There isn't one bit of slime to the pool floor or wall, which is nice!

[Spensar]

Congrats Tricia. Great folks on this forum. I've walked in your shoes, and it can seem to take forever to go from green to cloudy, then finally clear. When I have algae, I always err on the side of caution and would rather have to much chlorine than let the level get to low and give the algae a break.

Many new pool owners get hung up on "balancing" their water and waiting way to long before adding chlorine, when it is essential to get sanitizer in to the pool. Enjoy your summer of swimming.