Green pool.... Please Help!!

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J

jeffsheryl

0
Aug 31, 2017
13
murfreesboro, tn
We have an above ground pool that was purchased and installed by the pool company in April 2017. We had a deck built around it in June 2017. After the deck was built we were swimming in nice clear water, but that only lasted for about a month. Our pool has been a total nightmare ever since!!!! It CONSTANTLY stayed green. We have tried flocking, vacuuming to waste, muriatic acid, and have even drained the pool 70% and refilled. We have called the company for help, and they have brought chemicals, and added sand to the filter. We have had so many different opinions on what our problem is and what the solution is that we are ready to bulldoze the pool and be done with it!!! We finally used the hth Green to Blue system, and hey it worked..... for a couple of days and then I noticed algae appearing on the bottom again, and it quickly turned green again. We have a test kit and I test it often. The pool store has tested our water so many times they know us on a first name basis. They said our levels are one of the best they've seen all season and have no clue what the problem could be. We need someone with a final true solution. We are new here and really do need advice on how to get this fixed. We have lost so much fun family time with our 6 year old and 4 year old this Summer and really do not want to repeat it for when Spring gets here. We are desperate!! Please help!!

Here is the test results of our pool water.
Chlorine/ 5-10 high
PH/ 7.8 Ideal
Alkalinity/ 110 Ideal
Calcium/ 250 to 260 Ideal
CYA/ 55 to 60


Here is the Pump and Filter Specs.
Eco Kleer Type B 1.5 HP, Model # s48aa11a79
Here is the Sand Filter Specs.
Eco Kleer 19" Diameter, SFEW-11231
 
Welcome to the forum!

I can assure you that the majority of the forum members arrived at this forum having been pool stored, just like you. If you are willing to follow the guidance we can assure you that you can have sanitary, clear, pool water using very few chemicals, all from Walmart and /or Home Depot/Lowes, or your grocery store.

You will need a test kit. I suggest and use the TF100 from TFTestkits.net. Pool store tests are not reliable and we generally do not like to provide guidance based on them.

Luckily it sounds like the only potion you used is the green to blue stuff. It is essentially calhypo with floc. Once you embrace TFPC, you will not need floc, or calhypo.

Are you interested in cleaning up your pool now or just leaving it until spring? Let us know.

I suggest you start reading through Pool School. Lots of info.

Take care.
 
Thanks so much for your reply. We did read through Pool School, yet we are still stumped on what to do. We have adjusted alkalinity and PH with baking soda when it was low, and with Muratic Acid when they were high (added in 2 different ways for each). Our Chlorine has consistently been either high or ideal. We DO want to clean it up now before we winterize. Also the pool company is willing to let us exchange our filter to a cartiridge filter in the Spring when they get more in, what are your thoughts on this. Also, we use chlorine tablets....I believe we left that information out. Any and all help is greatly appreciated!
 
If you wish to attack this now, You must get a proper test kit. Order one now. The one I suggested above is the best and get the XL option for more FAS=DPD tests. You will need it for you will have to SLAM Process. If you have been using solid chlorine there is a chance your CYA is very high and you will need to replace some water.

If you will give us your pool volume we can suggest an amount of bleach to add now, daily, until you get your test kit.

Please fill out your signature -- see Pool School - Getting Started

Take care.
 
-27 ft round, 17,500 gallons
- Above Ground
-Sand Filter - Eco Kleer brand
-Pump - Eco Kleer brand / model # S48AA11A79
- Pool was built/installed by pool company we purchased from. April 2017
- We use Well Water to fil

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Not sure why the signature we created isn't automatically showing up.... sorry about that.
 
jeffsheryl said:
-27 ft round, 17,500 gallons
- Above Ground
-Sand Filter - Eco Kleer brand
-Pump - Eco Kleer brand / model # S48AA11A79
- Pool was built/installed by pool company we purchased from. April 2017
- We use Well Water to fil
Click to expand...

Put that info in your signature. Go to Settings (upper right, by your screen name), the Edit Signature (left side column).

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Do you have a test of your fill water from the well? Any iron/metals issues?
 
We took our well water along with the pool water to the pool store and they tested them both. The guy there said our well water was just fine, but we are willing to re-test. I tested our pool water today and included the results. At this point..... how does our water look as far as balance, in your opinion.
 
Without knowing CYA, and not having a FAS-DPD FC test, hard to tell. See this [FC/CYA][/FC/CYA].

The pH is fine, in the 7's. The TA is OK, might be high but we do not dwell on it. Normally once your pH quits rising your TA is were it should be.
The CH does not matter unless too high. We monitor CSI. It is calculated in PoolMath. Typically not an issue with vinyl pools unless you use lots of CalHypo.
Not sure what your 'Acid' numbers are.

You really need a proper test kit. Without it, no chance of success.

With your size pool you should add 1 jug (121 oz) of 8.25% bleach each day until you get your test kit. Be sure the bleach is plain, non splashless, non scented.

Take care.
 

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Our CYA is 55 to 60 (see above level readings). This is the test kit we have.
k-2006.jpg


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Ours just didn't come with a wheel.
 
Welcome to the forum:wave:

Help is right here and it is all you will EVER need.

1. Stay out of the pool store.....forever, if possible

2. Dedicate yourself to learning what we teach .....it's simple and it works....always.

3. Read "The ABC's of Pool Water chemistry" up in Pool School.

4. Ask lot's of questions. If you are willing to learn, you will never buy those worthless products again!

You have lot's of time over the winter to learn. Your eyes will be opened wide.
 
Welcome to the Forum. I believe your first step is to understand that testing your own water with one of the recommended test kits is the first important step. Most of us use the TF-100 with the speed stir. What we need to know is what you were adding, and when, that you went from a new crystal clear pool to a green pool. Anything outside straight liquid bleach, and of course a SWG system will cause many side effects. In addition, you have an AGP, which requires regular brushing, especially in hot weather. I see more than often that limited circulation is one of the problems with above ground pools. Brushing regularly will help with circulation issues, but the CYA/FC relationship is extremely important.

In order to clean up your pool, we must know your CYA level from a reliable test kit. Then you will need to perform a SLAM with straight liquid bleach until you pass all criteria. Your test results are missing the CYA, which again may not be accurate from pool store testing.
 
Your kit will test cya what is that number? Back to the sun bright light add to a line glance add more, repeat you can get 5-6 tets off before reagents congeal.
Order up an fas-dpd refill from TFTestkits.net
Then back to pool school :)
Dedicate yourself to learning what we teach .....it's simple and it works....always.
Click to expand...
edit*
What method are you currently using to maintain your pool? Bleach/Chlorine/pucks?
 
Looking at Taylor's site and comparing the K-2005 with the K-2006 (a recommended test kit), you are missing the necessary FAS-DPD chlorine test. The pH, Total Alkalinity, Cyanuric acid, and Calcium Hardness tests appear to be the same. Looks like you need to buy an FAS-DPD test and then you'd have the equivalent of a K-2006. The TFT test kits use Taylor reagents. A purchase from TFT supports this site and prices/services are good. The methods taught on here really do work.
 
OK. You do not have the FAS-DPD chlorine test. You must have that to SLAM Process. The other items are in very small bottles. It is up to you but I believe just buying a complete test kit would be better but you could call TFTestkits tomorrow and talk to them and see what the best value is.

With a CYA of 60 your shock level is FC 24. You will need to test to that level and add bleach to reach it every few hours at the start.

Again. I suggest adding 1 large jug of 8.25% bleach to the pool each day until you get your test kit. Remove any pucks you have in the pool.

Take care.
 
I SO feel your pain! I moved into a house that already had a pool. I did NOT want a pool but since it was there I tried to learn how to care for it. Well I used and trusted the Pool $tore and ruined the pool :( My levels were so out of wack from doing what the Pool $tore told me to do AND I spent SOOOO much $$ every week. The liner cracked all along the bottom and let go :shock: I was in the pool at the time and almost got washed out with the water. NOT fun! I said NO MORE and gave the rest of the pool away.

Look forward to the next summer and hubby said he wanted another pool. I told him if he found a way I could care for it myself we could get one. He found TFP! After much reading I thought I could do it. I went so far as to buying a good test kit to make sure I could do the tests. I could AND it was even fun! We got the new pool and look at me now.............................a MOD on TFP :roll:

So saying all of that........................lets run down what you are dealing with:

-new pool=fun times until it turned green :(

-pool clears up for a little while :swim:

-pool goes green again :brickwall:

-Find TFP and buy test kit-:party:

-find out test kit is missing a major part (FAS/DPD chlorine test) ;)

What to do now :confused:

-Buy several jugs of chlorine/bleach (same stuff, just different % of active ingredient) and add a jug a day for now.

TFP shopping cart.jpg

-Order the TF100 (XL) from here: TFTestkits.net You do need the XL so you will have enough test regents to get through the SLAM

-Print out and read the SLAM directions as seen here: Pool School - SLAM - Shock Level And Maintain

Once the test kit gets there run a full set of tests and we will go from there.

:hug: We know where you are coming from and understand. We want to help you get that pool looking like a jewel :sun: It can be done. It will be a bit of chlorine and time but it can happen. Once you get it clear then it will be clear sailing from there!

Kim:kim:
 
Thanks ALL of you guys SO much. We will get the kit recommended, then we will have a better reading for yal to then help us again. I will add one more piece of information I had totally forgot to include. When our pool first started getting cloudy we were then using test strips to get our levels. It looked like the alkalinity was extremely low (based on the color it looked to be off the chart, the color strip only went to 20 and the color was much lighter than the bottom color), so we added 2 1/2 bags of baking soda. Which is what the baking soda bag recommended for alkalinity less than 20. In hind sight I feel as maybe it was actually too HIGH and off the charts, and then adding all that baking soda we created a BIG MONSTER! However even after that situation, we drained our pool a good 70% and then refilled. Yet it hasn't changed a thing..... Just wanted to bring that to your attention as it could also have a big influence on our situation. Our liner also became as rough as sandpaper, but that has now smoothed out. I hope that added info helps shine more light on our situation. One last MAIN question. Where we live it will be getting down to the 20s this weekend and then again soon after. Is this even something we should do now, or just wait until the first sign of warm weather comes in the Spring?

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2 1/2 bags, which was 12 lbs. of baking soda.
 

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