10,000 In-ground freeform Fiberglass pool, 3.5ft to 6 ft
In-line chlorinator
Hayward gas heater
**Adding pictures that I just took**
Checked pool levels last week. I just have a basic tester that comes with the pool.
(NO signs of burning eyes, skin and water was perfectly clear)
Chlorine way above the highest level of 5.
pH showing up pale yellow.
Alkalinity tested pretty much non-existent.
After reading online, I decided to add baking soda gradually and re-test so I wouldn't end up to high. Added 1.5 lbs. multiple times over a few days and no change. So then I added 2 lbs., 3 more times in 2 days. Still no change in Ph, but finally alkalinity registered 20 ppm. Still very low. (Forgot to mention that I turned off the auto-chlorinator the first two days, and now have it set low and it is now in the optimal range)
I don't have a bottom drain in my pool; even though it looked perfectly clean, I decided to use the vacuum hose to help circulate more of the water --just in case. Soon after, the pool started looking a bit cloudy, then a slight green hue. I thought this might be normal from the baking soda. It looked clearer by the time I had the vacuum disconnected and out of the water, but there was still a greenish color and an oily look on the surface.
I went to the shallow end and saw what I thought was pieces of leaves. Then I realized that there was more under each return valve in the pool. After looking more closely, it almost looked like brown/copper "fuzz".
I found some information about low pH causing problems with breaking down copper in the heater coil and the baking soda causing a reaction. But I'm not sure if this is correct, or what I should do at this point. i have shut off the pool until I can figure out what to do. I don't want to cause further damage. We've been using the pool and the heater up until this last week. It works very well, so it doesn't seem noticeably damaged.
Should I add more baking soda to raise the alkalinity and get the pH under control? Does anyone have experience with this problem, or suggestions on what to do at this point?
***********
**Edit** Thought of another newbie mistake - Have large trees and leaves were clogging the skimmer in the Fall. Someone suggested putting a "barrier" to keep the leaves from entering the skimmer. I used something that had metal and it ended up rusting. But that was months ago. Could that be enough to cause a reaction if there was still a small amount trapped in the main filter?
************
View attachment 51164View attachment 51165
In-line chlorinator
Hayward gas heater
**Adding pictures that I just took**
Checked pool levels last week. I just have a basic tester that comes with the pool.
(NO signs of burning eyes, skin and water was perfectly clear)
Chlorine way above the highest level of 5.
pH showing up pale yellow.
Alkalinity tested pretty much non-existent.
After reading online, I decided to add baking soda gradually and re-test so I wouldn't end up to high. Added 1.5 lbs. multiple times over a few days and no change. So then I added 2 lbs., 3 more times in 2 days. Still no change in Ph, but finally alkalinity registered 20 ppm. Still very low. (Forgot to mention that I turned off the auto-chlorinator the first two days, and now have it set low and it is now in the optimal range)
I don't have a bottom drain in my pool; even though it looked perfectly clean, I decided to use the vacuum hose to help circulate more of the water --just in case. Soon after, the pool started looking a bit cloudy, then a slight green hue. I thought this might be normal from the baking soda. It looked clearer by the time I had the vacuum disconnected and out of the water, but there was still a greenish color and an oily look on the surface.
I went to the shallow end and saw what I thought was pieces of leaves. Then I realized that there was more under each return valve in the pool. After looking more closely, it almost looked like brown/copper "fuzz".
I found some information about low pH causing problems with breaking down copper in the heater coil and the baking soda causing a reaction. But I'm not sure if this is correct, or what I should do at this point. i have shut off the pool until I can figure out what to do. I don't want to cause further damage. We've been using the pool and the heater up until this last week. It works very well, so it doesn't seem noticeably damaged.
Should I add more baking soda to raise the alkalinity and get the pH under control? Does anyone have experience with this problem, or suggestions on what to do at this point?
***********
**Edit** Thought of another newbie mistake - Have large trees and leaves were clogging the skimmer in the Fall. Someone suggested putting a "barrier" to keep the leaves from entering the skimmer. I used something that had metal and it ended up rusting. But that was months ago. Could that be enough to cause a reaction if there was still a small amount trapped in the main filter?
************
View attachment 51164View attachment 51165