Thank you for the hints and help. It's been a busy few days with the pool! I was finally able to catch the pool store open on Saturday morning. Prior to that, I just kept keeping the course and started to see some slight improvement daily, which was finally motivating. I took a pool water sample in and a hose water sample. I had lots of good news and kudos to the mom and pop pool store! By Saturday morning I was pretty beat down with the whole situation and if he would have recommended some magic potion, I might have been weak enough to cave.....but he DID NOT!!! Here is what I learned with the results of his testing:
Chlorine is high - well, that was what I expected...however, it was actually lower than I thought it was based upon my testing. So, now I don't know which test to trust....so I split the difference and brought my chlorine level up a few points higher.
PH is high - no surprise there either. He suggested I go ahead and lower it because it could help the chlorine be more effective. I figured I had nothing to lose but 20 oz of MA, so I'm in on it.
CYA also tested higher than the results I had been getting. It was showing at 45. Not bad but that would justify additional chlorine as well...again, I'm in on that.
Iron/Minerals - all negative. Even the algae presence tested negative.
He said - and I quote...."I could sell you an algaecide (sp) but I think your doing everything right and I don't see it helping you. Just be patient, stay the course, it will turn around...." WOW!!!!!! Lifetime customer for anything I need from a pool store going forward!
I went home, one more vacuum/filter clean, make adjustments - tested and retested and brushed the rest of the day. Wake up Sunday morning and I see BLUE. woohoo! Before I get too excited, I brush the tanning ledge and there is still "poofing". Brush, brush, brush and water is green by the time I am finished. Ok, I can handle that, I know I haven't turned the corner but maybe I'm at the intersection.....Test, chlorinate - but again, not losing too much chlorine. Tested last night around 10pm - tested this morning around 7am - half my chlorine is GONE. BUT.....the pool is more blue - maybe some gray - and NO GREEN. I can clearly see the bottom. Bring chlorine back up, brush, brush, brush....some poofing but not as much. I can still see the bottom by the time I finish and it's still not green. Maybe now I'm halfway thru the turn at the corner but I know I'm not done yet...but oh...oh....so close!!!!
I am seeing some foamy/bubbly yellowish stuff in the skimmers. I'm guessing this is from the algae? It is getting less as the pool is getting clearer.
Again, can't thank everyone enough for the advise and encouragement and the help. I'm hoping that by tomorrow my pool will be looking closer to perfect and I'll post a beautiful pic!
Chlorine is high - well, that was what I expected...however, it was actually lower than I thought it was based upon my testing. So, now I don't know which test to trust....so I split the difference and brought my chlorine level up a few points higher.
PH is high - no surprise there either. He suggested I go ahead and lower it because it could help the chlorine be more effective. I figured I had nothing to lose but 20 oz of MA, so I'm in on it.
CYA also tested higher than the results I had been getting. It was showing at 45. Not bad but that would justify additional chlorine as well...again, I'm in on that.
Iron/Minerals - all negative. Even the algae presence tested negative.
He said - and I quote...."I could sell you an algaecide (sp) but I think your doing everything right and I don't see it helping you. Just be patient, stay the course, it will turn around...." WOW!!!!!! Lifetime customer for anything I need from a pool store going forward!
I went home, one more vacuum/filter clean, make adjustments - tested and retested and brushed the rest of the day. Wake up Sunday morning and I see BLUE. woohoo! Before I get too excited, I brush the tanning ledge and there is still "poofing". Brush, brush, brush and water is green by the time I am finished. Ok, I can handle that, I know I haven't turned the corner but maybe I'm at the intersection.....Test, chlorinate - but again, not losing too much chlorine. Tested last night around 10pm - tested this morning around 7am - half my chlorine is GONE. BUT.....the pool is more blue - maybe some gray - and NO GREEN. I can clearly see the bottom. Bring chlorine back up, brush, brush, brush....some poofing but not as much. I can still see the bottom by the time I finish and it's still not green. Maybe now I'm halfway thru the turn at the corner but I know I'm not done yet...but oh...oh....so close!!!!
I am seeing some foamy/bubbly yellowish stuff in the skimmers. I'm guessing this is from the algae? It is getting less as the pool is getting clearer.
Again, can't thank everyone enough for the advise and encouragement and the help. I'm hoping that by tomorrow my pool will be looking closer to perfect and I'll post a beautiful pic!
