cloudy pool please help

[aylad]

Just wanted to note that I am usually against the use of flocs/clarifiers myself, but having had a messed-up pool from filter blow-back for almost 3 weeks that no amount of vacuuming/shocking would fix, the clarifier I used was a last resort. The problem I had at the time was that the stuff was too fine for any filtering to get it out. So--that's why I suggest that you try the shocking first, to eliminate the possibility of algae. If shocking doesn't change anything, and your other numbers remain in line, then it might take a clarifier to remove the reallly fine stuff from the pool.

That being said, I agree with Carl in that if you're going to drain the pool, go ahead and do that before adding anything else to it.

Janet

[Mary eaton]

Ok we drained over half of the pool and are filling it now. It still has a few thousand more gallons to go but my husband wanted the chemicals checked.

ph is 7.4
FC 22
cc 0
CYA 65
TA 220

So now the TA is really high. Hubby wants to sit tight until pool is filled and see what happens. He did add chlorine again. (this am FC was over 30) I read about the murantic acid/aeration method. Husband doesn't want to be chasing our tail as I am sure we made the TA high adding the soda ash and sodium bicarbonate.

Like your situation, Janet, the flocculant we added did nothing. The bottom is perfectly clean so the particles were suspended although looking fairly clear so far with the new water diluting them.

Thanks, Mary

[CarlD]

It's generally a bad idea to add both soda ash AND baking soda. Usually, if you want to raise pH and TA you either add Borax and baking soda, or just soda ash, because the latter increases TA levels for any pH level.

BTW, Arm&Hammer Washing Soda in the yellow box in the detergent section of your supermarket is soda ash--exactly the same stuff the pool stores sell.

You may find with such a high TA you have trouble keeping your pH down, and you'll have to lower it just by lowering your pH.

[Mary eaton]

We added 7 lb of sodium bisulfate last night.

today's readings:

ph 7.6
TA 175
FC 17
CC 0

Should we add more acid? Let the chlorine float down now? What is a swimmable level of chlorine?

The pool is much clearer than before our backwash but not as clear as before the ill fated party.

Should we ever go back to the pucks? If not do we check the chlorine like every day? We typically give 4 gallons of chlorine(12.5% sodium hypochlorite) so is the bleach the same amount?

Thanks for your advice-it's made a big difference. Mary

[Watermom]

With a CC reading of 0, your on the right track. Since the water is still somewhat cloudy, I'd probably go ahead and maintain the high cl level for another day and run the pump 24/7. If you still show a CC of 0 tomorrow, and if you don't lose more than 1ppm of chlorine from sundown tonight until sunup tomorrow, then you can go ahead and let the cl drift down. With a CYA of 65, you want to keep the cl level between 5-10 all the time. If you drop below 5, you'll risk an algae bloom.

I would not use any more trichlor pucks. They have CYA in them and your level is high enough. Yes, to checking your chlorine level (and pH level) daily. Regular bleach is 6% sodium hypochlorite so it will take more bleach than pool store chlorine to get the same amount of chlorine.)

Work on lowering the alk. Take a look at the following thread.

http://www.poolforum.com/pf2/showthread.php?t=191

Hope this helps. (BTW -- I deleted your other post since it was essentially the same as this one. If you post and it doesn't show up immediately, it means it is in the moderation queue waiting for one of us to mod it in.)

[Mary eaton]

Ok, got it. I think we are now on the right track so we will follow the protocol on your link for getting the alkalinity down. Thanks so much you've all been a great help.
Mary