Stubborn Green pool need advice

[StanDaMan]

I believe due to some heavy rain we received last week and low chlorine levels( even. though got tablet in floater & put some in skimmer & using stabilizer) my pool started turning green. I didn't have shock on hand so I put a small 1.5 liter of bleach in to boost the low CL level in hopes that would do the trick. Also this is with me brushing the bottom & the walls. It did not work, so the next day I put half bag of shock in (.5lb) in my pool. Brushed it ran filter and 6hrs. later it did nothing. I added the rest of the bag of shock and tested the pool this was my readings:
CL: 13
PH: 6.6
Alkalinity: 20 ppm
I got some baking soda and borax and added the right amounts. Of course brushing and continues pump/filter running. Couple hours later checked levels again:
CL:12
PH: 8.6
Alkalinity: 170 ppm
I added a couple cups of Muatic Acid and went to bed. Today pool is still green and here are my levels
CL: 12
PH:7.3
Alkalinity: 130ppm
Any tips, advice on what to do from this point and how to prevent in future. My pool is 4,400 gallons. Thanks in advance.

l
Alkalinity:130ppm

 

[ajw22]

What test kit are you using?

To get an algae-free pool, you have to follow our SLAM Process step by step without shortcuts. This process can take days or weeks.

Then, adopt TFP pool care methods...

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Your one-stop shop for all things TFP to include: ABCs of Water Chemistry, Recommended Chemicals/Levels, Test Kits, Troubleshooting, and much more!

www.troublefreepool.com

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[Griswald]

What is your CYA level?

 

[StanDaMan]

What is your CYA level?

I think that hopefully is it. My CYA is 90 ppm. I have been having low CL levels for the past 3 weeks and added stabilizer several different times. I am draining now. Going to drain 75% and refill. Thanks

 

[Griswald]

So you added stabilizer...with a CYA of 90.

That's a mistake, as now you need nearly 8 chlorine every day to stay balanced.

Draining is good, but don't add anything except some chlorine until you get filled and tested.

 

[StanDaMan]

So you added stabilizer...with a CYA of 90.

That's a mistake, as now you need nearly 8 chlorine every day to stay balanced.

Draining is good, but don't add anything except some chlorine until you get filled and tested.

My original post tells exactly what I added and when I added it. No, I did not add stabilizer after getting the level of CYA 90. In previous weeks I kept having low chlorine levels and added stabilizer. Late Saturday I drained 3/4 of water and filled it back up on Sunday,adding nothing. It wasn't crystal clear but I feel it should clear up.my levels were:
CL: 3
PH: 7.8
Alkalinity 70 ppm
And now it is Monday morning and my pool is greenish again still going to include a picture do not know what to do unless it's just a drain the whole thing.

So you added stabilizer...with a CYA of 90.

That's a mistake, as now you need nearly 8 chlorine every day to stay balanced.

Draining is good, but don't add anything except some chlorine until you get filled and tested.

 

[SJPoe]

The reason you are going green is an imbalance between your Free Chlorine, and your stabilizer.
Stabilizer is a bad label - CYA essentially 'binds' with the Chlorine to slow down the degradation due to UV from the sun, but in doing so, it makes it less 'available' to kill off the algae and such in the water. It does nothing to stop the chlorine being used up by killing off nasties...think of it as Chlorine-Sunscreen. Hence, if you add stabilizer, you have to add free chlorine to keep them in balance, so there is enough Free Chlorine available to kill off the nasties in a reasonable time, and the rest is sort of in reserve... That, at the heart of it, is the TFP method.

In order to correctly balance your Free Chlorine and CYA (Stabilizer), you need a good test kit. We recommend one of these : Test Kits Compared.

With those in hand, you should then be able to keep your CYA and FC balanced, and you'll never go green again.

Bear in mind, the UV from the sun only stops at night - so if you don't keep adding Chlorine, it will get used up and you'll head back toward Green pretty quickly. Typically you can expect to see 2-4ppm loss per day, which in 4400 gallons is about 2 cups of 12.5% Liquid Chlorine each day.

If you're adding Dichlor (powdered shock) or Trichlor (the little pucks) then you're also adding CYA/Stabilizer back in again...and you'll be back in the same cycle.

You really need to read this - Pool Care Basics

.

 

[StanDaMan]

Thank you for your response. I read the articles and learned a lot. Interesting the chemical to use in the chemicals not to use. So I guess I'm draining my pool again and I guess I'll just drain all of it this time because it's draining 75% didn't seem to do anything or didn't do enough thanks for the response very informative.