Insatiable and Cloudy -- that's my pool -- please help

[CarlD]

Jan is right. Stop adding stuff, you are just making it worse.

If you have an FC of 10-12 and add 1 quart of 60% Polyquat algaecide, in 48 hours your FC will be ZERO! That's just how PolyQuat works. I even figure that in to my pool closing--after the FC sinks I add bleach back to the shock level and close.

You need to add 4 gallons of 10% all at once. Then see where your FC is in an hour. Check and adjust FC 3 times a day--You have approximately 20,000 gallons (the difference is negligible). One gallon of 6% should add 3ppm, and one gallon of 10% should add 5%. You NEED to get your FC to between 15 and 20 ppm and keep it there! Otherwise you won't kill the algae.

I have NO idea what all the other junk you added has done. I NEVER use or have used anything but polyquat. I came home from 2 1/2 weeks on vacation to my own cloudy, green pool and it is now crystal, crystal clear again, and was in less than a week...I followed the same advice I, Jan and Lisa are giving you.

It works. We've seen it work for other owners many, many times and for ourselves as well.

[kearpaul]

First, thanks to John, Jan and Carl for your insight.

Now, if you can stomach them, some subsequent events.

I again cleaned the cartridges. They were coated with a light yellow crud, kinda like a flour and water mixture. (This was less than 3 days after the previous cleaning.)

Then, just for yuks I guess, I took a water sample to our local pool store. Drum roll, please.

I hasten to add that my pool-store folks seem competent and, I think, honestly believe in what they tell/sell.

My PS 234 readings were very close to theirs (exception was ph; they said 6.7 vs. my 7.2) I was told my TA and ph were too low. Correct these and then shock, sez they. They recommended 10 pounds of baking soda, er, excuse me, "Biogard Balance Pak 100" to raise TA and Balance Pak 200 to raise ph. They told me liquid chlorine would be fine for shocking. I proceeded to buy some goggles for my daughter, but that's all.

Anyway, I have added baking soda (perhaps 2 pounds) and will add 4 gal of 10% LC as Carl suggested.

Cheers and thanks again,
Paul
_ _ _ _ _
Nothing is better than the unintended humor of reality.
Steve Allen

[Spensar]

Generally the advice I've seen here is shock and knock out the algae before balancing the water. Maybe bring the PH up but worry about the alk later. As stated, the key is to keep the chlorine trucking at a high enough level for a while so all the algae is knocked out. If you get a good amount of stuff accumulate on the pool bottom, you can vacum to waste and spare the filter.

[aylad]

I proceeded to buy some goggles for my daughter, but that's all.

Way to go!!!! One less pool-stored story--that's what I like to hear!! Your plan of attack is good, add the chlorine like you intend, but keep the chlorine level at 20 until the water clears up--a one-time dose probably won't do it.

Also keep in mind that if you're going to adjust your pH, do it based on readings taken before you shock--once your chlorine gets above 15 or so, the pH levels will be falsely high. (And I would trust the PS 234 over the pool store anyday.)

Janet

[CarlD]

I agree with Jan.

Furthermore, if your pH is 7.2, it's a feature of chlorine that it's more effective at lower pH--7.2 is better for fighting algae than 7.8--but the water is easier on the eyes at 7.8.

Your T/A is 80, which is the lower end of the acceptable range. Unless you are having troubles holding pH steady I wouldn't add baking soda. I also only add one pound at a time, wait a few hours and test T/A. It's always MUCH easier to add more and wait than to correct for too much. The ONLY exception is chlorine--you want to hammer the algae hard!

[kearpaul]

Ok, I added 4 gals of 10% LC last night. The pump ran about four hours overnight. At 9am today, my FC was a mere 1.0.

Should I be scared?

[CarlD]

No. Add another 4 gallons. You are fighting algae, that's why your FC is low. You want to get your FC up to 20 and keep it there...when it drops, you need to get it back up or you'll be back to square one.

That's why we say test and adjust your water 3 times a day when you are fighting algae.

[ivyleager]

I think you may see improved results for your effort if you run your pump/filter several days 24/7. This step is critical.

CaryB