I started this thread over at pool wizard and thought I would get some help as I had a response rather quickly and then nothingness... Guys, I am totally new to this and my hubby is in Iraq and he used to take care of the pool... I am going to copy paste what I wrote over in the other post as it was kinda long...
Hello everyone, I'm new here and have a few questions. (I have been reading but haven't found my answer yet)
We have an above ground 18' x 4' deep metal frame intex pool it's 5000 gallons-ish I think. (we are military and that is about the best thing we can have)
We had it up for most of the summer last year and I didn't have any issues with it. Left the water in for the "winter" (we are in florida) and then drained, scrubbed -with plain water- and refilled and shocked the pool.
I have been testing the water with the little kit I picked up at walmart with the clorine and ph test in it. I was having a hard time keeping the clorine levels up but the ph was fine. So I super clorinated the pool (doubled the dose of clorine) I normally add and the very next day, it was GONE.
I am now fighting this algae bloom/ cloudy water thing and I have a little one who wants to have a pool party for her birthday. I haven't checked the clorine lvls today as it is rainy and I don't want to take chances with the lightening...
Everyday it seems the clorine doesn't want to stay in the pool and the ph is in the optimal range. -and now this cloudy water thing with a slight green tinge to it. Any help would be grately appreciative, the birthday party isnt until the 31st so I have a bit of time.
P.S. I should say I tried algaecides and water clarifiers twice already and it hasn't changed anything in the pool.
Alli~
These are the results of the test the local pool store gave me;
Total Chlorine - 0
Free Chlorine - 0
Combined Chlorine - 0
Ph - 7.6
Total Alkalinity - 120 ppm
Calcium - 100 ppm
Stabilizer - 10 ppm
Total Dissolved Solids - 300 ppm
Salt - 0
They were guessing it was a 24,300 gallon pool which is totally wrong. It's closer to the 5000 gal range. (18' round, 4' deep -vinyl - I sent my teen instead of going myself -lesson learned )
I typed the information into the pool calculator and this is what came up;
I obviously need to increase the FC and the pool calculator is calling for 31 oz of 6% bleach (is chlorine the same measurement? I have some I would like to use up before switching to the bleach)
I need to bring up the CH by adding 118 oz/95 oz of Calcium Cloride. (which is what exactly? and found where?)
The CYA needs to come up with 20 oz/ 21 oz of stabilizer but is going to lower my Ph.. (so what would I use here?)
There was no "borate" measurement so I am assuming that I wont need to worry about this?
- the pool volume calculator is saying my pool is about 7600 gallons yet I am almost positive that the box read 5000 gallons. Which should I follow?
Being a military wife and money being tight right now, what are your suggestions to get this cloudy, grey/green water in tip top shape on a dime?
Your help is most appreciated~
Alli~
Hello everyone, I'm new here and have a few questions. (I have been reading but haven't found my answer yet)
We have an above ground 18' x 4' deep metal frame intex pool it's 5000 gallons-ish I think. (we are military and that is about the best thing we can have)
We had it up for most of the summer last year and I didn't have any issues with it. Left the water in for the "winter" (we are in florida) and then drained, scrubbed -with plain water- and refilled and shocked the pool.
I have been testing the water with the little kit I picked up at walmart with the clorine and ph test in it. I was having a hard time keeping the clorine levels up but the ph was fine. So I super clorinated the pool (doubled the dose of clorine) I normally add and the very next day, it was GONE.
I am now fighting this algae bloom/ cloudy water thing and I have a little one who wants to have a pool party for her birthday. I haven't checked the clorine lvls today as it is rainy and I don't want to take chances with the lightening...
Everyday it seems the clorine doesn't want to stay in the pool and the ph is in the optimal range. -and now this cloudy water thing with a slight green tinge to it. Any help would be grately appreciative, the birthday party isnt until the 31st so I have a bit of time.
P.S. I should say I tried algaecides and water clarifiers twice already and it hasn't changed anything in the pool.
Alli~
These are the results of the test the local pool store gave me;
Total Chlorine - 0
Free Chlorine - 0
Combined Chlorine - 0
Ph - 7.6
Total Alkalinity - 120 ppm
Calcium - 100 ppm
Stabilizer - 10 ppm
Total Dissolved Solids - 300 ppm
Salt - 0
They were guessing it was a 24,300 gallon pool which is totally wrong. It's closer to the 5000 gal range. (18' round, 4' deep -vinyl - I sent my teen instead of going myself -lesson learned )
I typed the information into the pool calculator and this is what came up;
I obviously need to increase the FC and the pool calculator is calling for 31 oz of 6% bleach (is chlorine the same measurement? I have some I would like to use up before switching to the bleach)
I need to bring up the CH by adding 118 oz/95 oz of Calcium Cloride. (which is what exactly? and found where?)
The CYA needs to come up with 20 oz/ 21 oz of stabilizer but is going to lower my Ph.. (so what would I use here?)
There was no "borate" measurement so I am assuming that I wont need to worry about this?
- the pool volume calculator is saying my pool is about 7600 gallons yet I am almost positive that the box read 5000 gallons. Which should I follow?
Being a military wife and money being tight right now, what are your suggestions to get this cloudy, grey/green water in tip top shape on a dime?
Your help is most appreciated~
Alli~