I hate to immediately ask for help, but I couldn't find anyone with a similar problem.
I have a gunite/plaster ~22000 gallon dark bottom pool it has been neglected during winter for a month or two and now we have green algae growth and the water chemistry is all wacky.
Due to a combination of someone adding too much acid and a lot of recent rain the pH is slightly lower than 6.8. I measured the total Alkalinity and it was only at 30ppm. The chlorine was essentially zero.
Mistakenly, I thought that adding Sodium BiCarbonate (Marketed as Alkalinity Increaser) would raise both the Alkalinity and pH. I was wrong, it appears that Sodium Carbonate (Without the Bi) was what I needed. I added the proper amount and raised Alkalinity to 90ppm. I also brushed the pool down and added some 20% algaecide.
Current Condition:
0 chlorine
6.7 pH
90ppm Alkalinity
Questions:
Do I need to fix the pH before I bother doing anything with chlorine?
What can I use to raise pH that won't make the Alkalinity raise as well?
How much chlorine do I add? (I have both pool floater + 3" tabs and liquid chlorine on hand)
When should I be shocking the pool and adding algaecide to deal with the algae?
I have a gunite/plaster ~22000 gallon dark bottom pool it has been neglected during winter for a month or two and now we have green algae growth and the water chemistry is all wacky.
Due to a combination of someone adding too much acid and a lot of recent rain the pH is slightly lower than 6.8. I measured the total Alkalinity and it was only at 30ppm. The chlorine was essentially zero.
Mistakenly, I thought that adding Sodium BiCarbonate (Marketed as Alkalinity Increaser) would raise both the Alkalinity and pH. I was wrong, it appears that Sodium Carbonate (Without the Bi) was what I needed. I added the proper amount and raised Alkalinity to 90ppm. I also brushed the pool down and added some 20% algaecide.
Current Condition:
0 chlorine
6.7 pH
90ppm Alkalinity
Questions:
Do I need to fix the pH before I bother doing anything with chlorine?
What can I use to raise pH that won't make the Alkalinity raise as well?
How much chlorine do I add? (I have both pool floater + 3" tabs and liquid chlorine on hand)
When should I be shocking the pool and adding algaecide to deal with the algae?