Very Green Cloudy Pool

[CarlD]

Robin,
Yes, get it tested and plan on getting your own good test kit.

Guessing at problems and then throwing in chemicals is the second fastest way to get into pool trouble. The first, of course, is pure neglect.

Also, I believe in the Occam's Razor method (the simplest solution is the solution), very similar to the K.I.S.S. method. Start at the beginning: Chlorine, pH, Total Alk, CYA and Calcium levels. Don't go on to metals until those are fixed (well, calcium IS actually a metal, but we never see it as one, just as a salt. Throw calcium metal in water and it boils, which is better than sodium metal, which blows up!)

[Robin N]

I added a gallon of bleach last night to make sure the Cl level stayed high. This morning I tested at 6:30 am. My Cl was at 12 so I added 2 more gallons of bleach hoping to keep the Cl up. My pH was 8.0, and the chart on my Mark IV Test Kit reads that I need to add 6 1/4 pints of Muratic Acid. From what I've read on this site I should focus on the Cl first and get it under control first. I'll buy more Muratic Acid at the pool store today but I'm not sure on when I should add it; I did read that I should add no more than 1 pint per 10,000 gallons in one day. My Alkalinity was 240.

Also I read on Ben's post that most kits with my order # should ship Monday. I'll feel a lot more confident then.

I'll retest my Cl level at 7:30 am, take the fresh water sample to the pool store and post my results when I return. I'm assuming ALL I should need at the pool store is Muratic Acid and possibly the metal sequesterant.

Robin N
25,000 gallon pool with vinyl liner

[CarlD]

Before you test your pH, add two drops of chlorine neutralizer, thiosulfate (taylor R-0007) to be sure you're getting an accurate reading, otherwise that pH number may not be right. IF 8.0 is right, you need to bring pH down. Just getting it down to 7.5 will increase chlorine effectiveness immensely and shorten your job.

You can use muriatic acid or dry acid, but you do need to get it down, assuming the number is right.

[Robin N]

I retested the pH, adding the 2 drops of Chlorine Neutralizer first and I still got an 8.0 reading - my current test only goes up to 8, and it was a "heavy" 8 reading. Is it possible to dilute this test with 2 parts distilled water and multilply by 3, as with the Chlorine test?