Need help w/test results

[duraleigh]

Mermaid,

Simultaneously with Janet's advice, I would get your pH down around 7.2 - 7.5. You'll need muriatic acid to do that. Start with a quart and retest in an hour or so (pump running). You'll probably need a second quart.

[The Mermaid]

Duraleigh,

I've got some tri-chlor pucks dissolving in there now (for the stabilizer). I know it will take them a few days to completely break down, but they always lower my pH and raise cya. I was trying to avoid lowering pH now, then having to raise it again after the pucks dissolve. Do you think the pH is really that urgent right now? I honestly have no idea. What sort of bad stuff does high pH do? Does it happen quickly?

Melissa

[The Mermaid]

Oh and also.... I was trying not to add acid and chlorine at the same time b/c of poisoneous fumes. It seems I'm adding chlorine VERY frequently right now, so if you still recommend acid for pH, how much of a time lapse should there be in between chlorine dose and acid for safety purposes?

[duraleigh]

Adding acid and chlorine one right after the other will produce no adverse result.

Get your pH down now and your Cl will be noticeably more effective.

Do you think the pH is really that urgent right now?

Yes. Lowing pH with pucks is a little too slow for what you need to do. Leave the pucks in there if you like but you need to get your pH in a range you can test. You don't know how high it is.

[The Mermaid]

OK, thanks a bunch!!! I went ahead and added some acid last night and this morning pH tested at 7.2. I'm still maintaining FC at shock levels although the water is no longer green. It looks blue now but still a bit cloudy. I expect it will take a little time to filter out all the small stuff. I'm just going to continue to maintain FC and brush frequently and rinse out filter when pressure goes up a bit.

Do you think the pucks will eventually raise my cya up to an acceptable range? Or should I do something more aggressive? Is there a liquid stabilizer that I can add?

[duraleigh]

Sounds like you've got a good plan. The cloudiness is mostly dead algae and, you are correct, it will filter out over the next few days or maybe sooner.

Yes, the pucks will slowly get your CYA to the correct level. At this time of year, (since you won't have a big chlorine demand) that would be an acceptable way get the job done........two caveats......It will also lower your pH (slowly) and, if you don't monitor the CYA level, will continue to add it until you have too much and then you must drain and refill to get rid of it.

Keeping those things in mind, pucks will work nicely for what you want to do. Don't plan on using them next Summer for the above reasons.

[The Mermaid]

OK, thanks again. You've been a great help. I normally do not use the pucks unless my cya gets a little low. I normally like to keep it around 35-40. Probably a couple of times total in the summer, I end up having to add a couple of pucks to bring it back up, but that's it. Since my cya tested at 0, I don't think the few pucks I have in there now will raise it too much. In fact, I expect that I may need to add a few more, but will definitely do it slowly. Thanks again for the great tips. The pool is blue again and I'm a happy camper.