cloudy

[Buggsw]

Amy, post your new readings. pH low doesn't tell us much.

If your pH is lower than 7.0 and you have a vinyl pool you should not add any more pH- Don't ever let your pH go below 7.0 in a vinyl pool.

[Amy]

Sorry, I forgot. When I said the ph was low this AM, it looked to be 6.8 on the test strips and with my liquid test kit as well.

I added the 4lbs of turbo shock, but didn't put in the remaining PH down as the pool dealer instructed in lue of the reading. I was told to use the ph down because my total alk was 146. I would have purchased muratic acid via Lowes/Home depot, but I don't know what racio to use. So I bought the PH down instead.

I just go home, back washed filter and rechecked the readings. FINALLY, my chlorine level is between 5 and 10 PPM so this AM's shock seamed to work, It has been fitering for 5 1/2 hours the alk is 120 and the PH was ok, at 7.6 again.

OH, yes I do have a vinyl liner. At some point today I was told to vacume to waste. Problem is I can't see the bottom. Should I wait, or vacume blind just to help it along? I have vacumed it twice blindly and it isn't any fun, but it is doable. Of course this is prior to the cloudy water. Also what is the deal with phosphates? I have never heard of that. I am about to look around to see what I can find on the net. I just find it hard to believe after 7 seasons, now they are giving me trouble.

Thanks for your advice.
A

[Buggsw]

It's the trendy push thing this year, I guess.

Some people do have a phosphate problem, but I think they have to be really high to be a nuisance. It would be one of the last things I would worry about in most circumstances.

You've treated for them and they are now hopefully gone, so you are most likely dealing with the after effects.

Keep your chlorine high and since you used a phosphate treatment, they usually recommend or give you clarifier to use to clear up the cloudiness.

Normally, I don't recommend clarifiers, but in the case of post-phosphate treatment, you may need to do so.

Vac to waste bypasses the filter, alleviating getting all the stuff in your filter and having to backwash as often. After a phosphate treatment, if yours were indeed very high you may find you need to backwash several times a day until your pool is really clear of the debris in the water. So, vacuuming blindly and slowly can help some.

[Amy]

Here are my updates. Man is this frustrating.

Original reading: Friday 6-22

FC 0.1 Low
TC 0.3 Low
CC 0.2 OK
TA 146 High
PH 7.6 OK
CH 151 Low
CA 37 OK
Copper/Iron 0.0 OK
Total Dissolved Solids 1,000 OK
Saturation Index 0.07 OK
Very High Phospates

Monday's reading 6-25

FC 10.0 High
TC 10.0 High
CC 0.0 OK
TA 102 OK
PH 7.1 Low
CH 167 Low
CA 17 Low
Copper/Iron 0.0 OK
Total Dissolved Solids 1,000 OK
Saturation Index -0.55 Corrosive
Very High Phospates I saw the reading, I don't remember the numbers but it was the darkest blue on the vial reading level.

Last night I added PH up to increase PH. This AM ph is back to normal. I did buy Calcium Hardness increaser, do I really need to use this? My original numbers the CH was 151 and as of yesterday 167 so somthing has made it increase. I feel like a yo-yo, do this follow our instructions then Bamb there are other things now wrong that were ok before.

I forgot what effect stabillizer tabs have on the levels. I think it was the Cyanuric Acid. Is that what all talk about for CYA levels? Ok, I need your advice. THanks,
Aim

[Buggsw]

Hi Amy, well things are looking better with your readings.

Are you keeping that chlorine up day and night?

You very well may have to treat several times for phosphates. If it's really that high - I'd do it.

Yes, CYA is stabilizer. If there is none it is bad because the sun burns out the chlorine quickly in the summer. If it's too high, it renders chlorine ineffective. The ideal range is 30 - 50. You cannot lower CYA by any other method than dilution so try to watch what products you use that may add it, such as pool store shock, tablets and such. They add quite of CYA with each application. If it's low, you can use them but when it gets to 50, stop using them.

You have a vinyl pool - you don't need to increase your Calcium Hardness. Take it back and get your money back.

[Amy]

Hey Buggs,

Thank you for all your time you invest on this board. I appreciate your input.

Yes, I am keeping the Chlorine levels up. Right now Ph, Alk, and Chlorine are all at normal levels. Unfortunatly, your reply arrived after I added the Calcium increaser. I purchased a 7lb tub even though they recommended 10 1/2 pounds. I only put in about 3lbs. The lable stated to broadcast it into the pool. The first scoop I did and noticed how it started to react to the water yet sink quickly. I didn't want to have the pellets. (they look like the size of the old styrophome beads in a bean bag) laying on the bottom of the pool, so I diluted them first in water. That was freaky in of it's self. I could feel the chemical reaction in the bucket since I was standing outside of my pool and holding the bucket on the pool rail. I mixed quickly and poured it around the pool.

Yesterday morning June 27 th, exactly two weeks from starting running my pump, my pool was crystal clear. So I don't know if the calcium helped or if it was just it's time to turn clear finally. I grumbled when I read what you wrote to me of not needing the calcium. The pool store knows I have a vinyl linner, why do they say you NEED it or it will pool what it needs out of the linner. hmmmmm bones have calcium, I don't know about plastic. Or if she ment deteriorate instead. hmmmmm. Such is life, live and learn.

At this point, I know the phospates were in the 2,000 range. I watched her do the test and I read the kit while she was waiting on someone else. I have the Phose free plus, still. I wonder if I should bother using it or not. I don't know if it will help in removing more or just maintain the current level.

She tryed to sell me some other stuff that will be comming in to help remove more. Some type of Phos floc. At this point I don't feel like dumping another 30 bucks in the pool to remove, what I have never seen or heard of . ARG....this can be soooooo frustrating at times.

What do you recommend? I still have the bottle, and am still debating about returning it. It was rather heafty at $42.00 for a 1/2 gallon.

Thanks again,
Amy