Need help! Please!!!

[duraleigh]

I have kept my cl at 20+ (up to 30+ per duraleigh) for several days now.
The green is gone, and I continue to have a milky blue pool.
At this rate, it could be October before my li'l cartridge filter knocks out all of the cloudiness.

My pH has consistently tested at 7.0. Should I raise it? I read that pH readings could be off when running super high cl levels.

If I need to raise it, do I use Borax? How much?

Thanks.

Leave the pH alone. Focus on chlorine.

Vacuum to help your pump and filter.

You need something that isn't posted as often as it should be on the forum. you need POP (pool owner patience).

If bring your Cl up to shock level at least twice a day, you will clear your pool. Vacuum, brush the sides to expose the algae to the chlorine, and keep the faith.

Probably 20 - 30 times a day the advice given here on the forum is "Keep your chlorine up". It works if you'll do it.

[bgray]

Sorry about the dual-thread confusion

With my cartridge filter, I cannot vacuum to waste; so if I vacuum, it'll be to filter.

Two schools of thought: (1) Let my Polaris buzz around, stirring up sediment and suspending it in the water for my filter to catch; or, (2) letting it all settle and trying to vacuum the bottom (which I cannot see).

Since I don't have Ben's test kit (sacrilege, I know...), and my hth OTO kit only goes to 5, it is difficult (to say the least) to test for levels of 30+. It takes a 5:1 dilution. But, my tests have ben consistently showing 20+. So, keeping my cl up does not seem to be the issue.

I am considering a partial drain/refill. I am not sure if a partial drain would hurt my plaster?

[duraleigh]

Hmmm. You seem to have lost faith that Cl will clear your pool. That's your call.

I can offer no other remedy. Partial draining may temporarily clear your pool and it may get it good enough so your filter can finish the job. The pool water that you do not drain will still be contaminated, however, and, unless you use Cl, I can think of no way to keep it clear on a permanent basis.

[bgray]

I have not lost faith in Cl. I still have 17 bottles @ 1.84 gallons each.
I am admittedly impatient. I guess after seeing it turn from green to blue, it is now difficult to see ANY progress.

Question: does the high cl levels "eat" the dead algae? Or, are we relying on the filter to get it all, while maintaining high cl just keeps more from growing?

I really do want to understand.

Also, is it totally evil to consider a little clarifier to speed up the process?

[duraleigh]

I have not lost faith in Cl. I still have 17 bottles @ 1.84 gallons each.
I am admittedly impatient. I guess after seeing it turn from green to blue, it is now difficult to see ANY progress.

Remember...POP

Question: does the high cl levels "eat" the dead algae? Or, are we relying on the filter to get it all, while maintaining high cl just keeps more from growing?

Good question...I don't know. I suspect probably a combination of both

Also, is it totally evil to consider a little clarifier to speed up the process?

Another good question...I would say it's likely a fine idea. Just don't fall into the trap of giving false credit to the clarifier thinking it "cured" the issue. The Cl cured the issue...the clarifier (floc) speeded the clearing process. Those that take that bait, throw clarifier in the pool after the pool goes green and that simply wont work