Hello Everyone. I'm Bryan and I live in Pittsburgh. I am another classic example of "had enough of the pool store". Here is my situation.
I have been using SUSTAIN products for the last few years. I have had decent water but have spent a fortune, especially when a problem arises (now) .
This year: I opened the pool about four weeks ago. The water was still cloudy after a week, which is when it usually clears up. Every sample I took to the pool store they said my numbers were "excellent". The pool would not clear. In the process, I have added 2 bottles of blue clarifier, 1 bottle of pool first aid, and probably 11 bags of sustain shock. In addition to my pucks and pellets. I cleaned and soaked my filters which are newer. I pressure washed the cartridges ( I now know that I am not supposed to do that). It was still not clear. The pool store suprisingly mentioned dumping 5 gallons of muriatic acid in the pool (although ph was "good"). That cleared it up about 80%. They then had me add a little ph and alk increaser. Then it got cloudy again instantly. The last thing they suggested was a product that basically clogs the filters and makes it able to "grab much smaller particles" This was like $30 and they said you need to clean your filters every hour or two for a day. I passed on that option. Thats where I am today. I can see the shallow end and about half of the deep end. The water is blue not green but it has a milky white cloudiness.
I got a TF-100 test kit today and here are my results: I am reasonably confident in my results, although I am a newbie.
FC: 1.5
CC: 2
TC: 3.5
ph: Between 7.5 and 7.8
Alk: 120
CYA: 30
I am looking for advice on how to proceed please. Do I go buy a ton of bleach and start shocking? (Am I better with liquid chlorine?) Do you think its possible that I messed up my filters by pressure washing them, and that why they are not filtering everything ($300 for new cartridges)?
Also...I have $200-300 worth of shock, tabs and stabilizer pellets in my garage. Will this stuff go to waste? I dont really care so long as I can get my pool clear consistently. I am not that worried about total cost but I am tired of the people at the store being clueless and wasting my time and money. I want control of my pool.
Thank you in advance for all of your help!
I have been using SUSTAIN products for the last few years. I have had decent water but have spent a fortune, especially when a problem arises (now) .
This year: I opened the pool about four weeks ago. The water was still cloudy after a week, which is when it usually clears up. Every sample I took to the pool store they said my numbers were "excellent". The pool would not clear. In the process, I have added 2 bottles of blue clarifier, 1 bottle of pool first aid, and probably 11 bags of sustain shock. In addition to my pucks and pellets. I cleaned and soaked my filters which are newer. I pressure washed the cartridges ( I now know that I am not supposed to do that). It was still not clear. The pool store suprisingly mentioned dumping 5 gallons of muriatic acid in the pool (although ph was "good"). That cleared it up about 80%. They then had me add a little ph and alk increaser. Then it got cloudy again instantly. The last thing they suggested was a product that basically clogs the filters and makes it able to "grab much smaller particles" This was like $30 and they said you need to clean your filters every hour or two for a day. I passed on that option. Thats where I am today. I can see the shallow end and about half of the deep end. The water is blue not green but it has a milky white cloudiness.
I got a TF-100 test kit today and here are my results: I am reasonably confident in my results, although I am a newbie.
FC: 1.5
CC: 2
TC: 3.5
ph: Between 7.5 and 7.8
Alk: 120
CYA: 30
I am looking for advice on how to proceed please. Do I go buy a ton of bleach and start shocking? (Am I better with liquid chlorine?) Do you think its possible that I messed up my filters by pressure washing them, and that why they are not filtering everything ($300 for new cartridges)?
Also...I have $200-300 worth of shock, tabs and stabilizer pellets in my garage. Will this stuff go to waste? I dont really care so long as I can get my pool clear consistently. I am not that worried about total cost but I am tired of the people at the store being clueless and wasting my time and money. I want control of my pool.
Thank you in advance for all of your help!