PPM --- How do I figure IT

[Cloud26]

I'll go get some more Bleach today. The PH was @ 8.3 so a little high. Should I worry about that now?

[Watermom]

Yes. A pH of 8.3 is too high. Get some muriatic acid and add some very slowly in front of a return jet while the pump is running. Wear glasses, gloves, stay upwind of fumes, pour close to the water surface to avoid any splashing. It is nasty stuff. Start with about a cup. After a couple of hours, retest and redose as needed until you get the pH between 7.2-7.8.

[Cloud26]

I added six more gallons of bleach this evening. I went to Lowe's trice today and forgot acid both times. I hope there is not some illegal drugs made from bleach. I have bought about 20g from the dollar general.

[aylad]

lol, as far as I know there's no legal restriction from buying that much bleach at a time, but I think we've all experienced the "what in the world...." looks from other people. I just smile back and let them wonder...

[Watermom]

With a straight face, just tell them that you have really dirty clothes!

[Cloud26]

I'm making a little bit of progress, but it is still green. My wife was wiping the walls and the green clouds were awful. The chlorine is above my little kit so I know were making progress. I did put another 10 gal of bleach in tonight hoping to push it over the top and get this cleared up. With 10 gal my Chl should be over 25 plus what ever it was before.

I don't think I will let the kids swim tomorrow or Sunday.
My Ph is also rising so I will get Acid tomorrow to lower it.

Here's my question. What does the polyquat do? And where do I get it.

[Watermom]

You may find it in a pool store or you may have to order it online. But, it is a better preventative than it is effective at helping when you already have an existing algae bloom.

[aylad]

I don't think polyquat will help you much right now, since as Watermom said, it is a better preventative than it is in killing existing blooms. You'd be better to stick with straight bleach, keeping that chlorine up above 20-25 ppm as consistently as possible until the pool clears. It will also help to brush the pool daily during this process, to try to loosen as much algae as possible from the pool walls.