Hello
I am very new to owning, and taking care of, a pool. And, I have a few issues - to say the least.
To start with, I'll tell you about my pool, the problems I'm having, then my test results and finally what I've done to attempt (with no success!) to correct those problems.
My Pool
1) 1485 gallons
2) 530 gpr cartridge pump with a type A filter
3) above ground
To start with, you should probably know that the pool was filled with stream water (that flows into a pond). This water is a muddy copper red color to start with, but I'm thinking it is also high in some form of algae or bacteria that is red. As I tell you about what is happening, you may come to comprehend! (I hope!)
With help from this site, I got the pool started on June 26. I had a bit of a problem getting the color to clear, (from muddy copper red) but it eventually became clear after about a week.
Since then I have been having an issue with red, very fine debris in the bottom of the pool. I have vacuumed the pool 3 days in a row, getting a fine layer of red stuff in the vacuum bag, and clouds of fine stuff coming out of the bag. If a person gets in the pool and stirs this stuff up, it will disappear from the bottom of the pool make the pool cloudy. I've tried to take a picture of it, but it doesn't show well at all. In addition, the filter needs cleaning every three days or so as it gets full of the reddish brown stuff.
There has also been an issue with TA and pH rising and chlorine just disappearing over night.
Test Results
(CC/TC, CH, and CYA not tested as kit does not do these tests)
I have test results from the past 6 days (I started keeping a chart when the problems started)
(unless indicated, tests were performed at approximately 2100hrs.)
07/02
FC - test: 1-2 target 5 16oz. bleach
pH - test: 6.8 target 7.5 10oz, borax
TA - (not tested - kit incapable) (no action taken)
07/03
FC – test: 0.6-1 target 5 SHOCK 3C 4oz. bleach
pH – test: 7.6 target 7.5 (no action taken)
TA – test: 140 target 70-90 (no action taken)
On the 4th I did two tests, one at 0930 with no sun on the pool, and one at 2100 at dusk.
07/04 @ 0930hrs
FC – test: 2-3 target 5 6oz. 1 tsp. bleach
pH – test: 7.6 target 7.5 (no action taken)
TA – test: 90-100 target 70-90 (no action taken)
07/04 @ 2100hrs
FC – test: 0 target 5 1 qt 1 C 6oz. bleach
pH – test: 7.6 target 7.5 (no action taken)
TA – test: 105 target 70-90 (no action taken)
07/05
Unable to test
Again, on the 6th I did two tests, raising the target FC by one as an experiment.
07/06 @ 0930hrs
FC – test: 3 target 6 1 C 1oz. 1 t
pH – test: 7.2 target 7.5 6oz 5 tsp borax
TA – test: 140 target 70-90 (no action taken)
07/04 @ 2100hrs
FC – test: 1 target 5 1 C 4oz. bleach
pH – test: 7.8 target 7.5 (no action taken)
TA – test: 140 target 70-90 (no action taken)
07/07
FC – test: 0 target 5 1 C 7oz. bleach
pH – test: 7.8 target 7.5 (no action taken)
TA – test: 135 target 70-90 (no action taken)
07/08 @ 0800hrs
FC – test: 2 target 5 (no action taken)
pH – test: 6.8 target 7.5 5oz. Muriatic acid*
TA – test: 120 target 70-90 (no action taken)
*31.45% - 20deg. Baume' I am attempting to get the TA back in to target range)
I also purchased some of Jack's Magic Sapphire and added 2 tsp. last night (07/07) and went out this morning to a very cloudy pool, more so than usual.
test results indicate chlorine being used up at night
the red stuff - could it be an algae? A bacteria?
Why does the pH and TA keep rising?
and finally
Why is my water so cloudy??
:?
Any assistance would be greatly appreciated!
Thanks in advance,
CW
p.s. (I know that my water testing kit isn't the greatest, but please give me a break, I was lucky to get the pool, there is no way that I can get an expensive testing kit)
I am very new to owning, and taking care of, a pool. And, I have a few issues - to say the least.
To start with, I'll tell you about my pool, the problems I'm having, then my test results and finally what I've done to attempt (with no success!) to correct those problems.
My Pool
1) 1485 gallons
2) 530 gpr cartridge pump with a type A filter
3) above ground
To start with, you should probably know that the pool was filled with stream water (that flows into a pond). This water is a muddy copper red color to start with, but I'm thinking it is also high in some form of algae or bacteria that is red. As I tell you about what is happening, you may come to comprehend! (I hope!)
With help from this site, I got the pool started on June 26. I had a bit of a problem getting the color to clear, (from muddy copper red) but it eventually became clear after about a week.
Since then I have been having an issue with red, very fine debris in the bottom of the pool. I have vacuumed the pool 3 days in a row, getting a fine layer of red stuff in the vacuum bag, and clouds of fine stuff coming out of the bag. If a person gets in the pool and stirs this stuff up, it will disappear from the bottom of the pool make the pool cloudy. I've tried to take a picture of it, but it doesn't show well at all. In addition, the filter needs cleaning every three days or so as it gets full of the reddish brown stuff.
There has also been an issue with TA and pH rising and chlorine just disappearing over night.
Test Results
(CC/TC, CH, and CYA not tested as kit does not do these tests)
I have test results from the past 6 days (I started keeping a chart when the problems started)
(unless indicated, tests were performed at approximately 2100hrs.)
07/02
FC - test: 1-2 target 5 16oz. bleach
pH - test: 6.8 target 7.5 10oz, borax
TA - (not tested - kit incapable) (no action taken)
07/03
FC – test: 0.6-1 target 5 SHOCK 3C 4oz. bleach
pH – test: 7.6 target 7.5 (no action taken)
TA – test: 140 target 70-90 (no action taken)
On the 4th I did two tests, one at 0930 with no sun on the pool, and one at 2100 at dusk.
07/04 @ 0930hrs
FC – test: 2-3 target 5 6oz. 1 tsp. bleach
pH – test: 7.6 target 7.5 (no action taken)
TA – test: 90-100 target 70-90 (no action taken)
07/04 @ 2100hrs
FC – test: 0 target 5 1 qt 1 C 6oz. bleach
pH – test: 7.6 target 7.5 (no action taken)
TA – test: 105 target 70-90 (no action taken)
07/05
Unable to test
Again, on the 6th I did two tests, raising the target FC by one as an experiment.
07/06 @ 0930hrs
FC – test: 3 target 6 1 C 1oz. 1 t
pH – test: 7.2 target 7.5 6oz 5 tsp borax
TA – test: 140 target 70-90 (no action taken)
07/04 @ 2100hrs
FC – test: 1 target 5 1 C 4oz. bleach
pH – test: 7.8 target 7.5 (no action taken)
TA – test: 140 target 70-90 (no action taken)
07/07
FC – test: 0 target 5 1 C 7oz. bleach
pH – test: 7.8 target 7.5 (no action taken)
TA – test: 135 target 70-90 (no action taken)
07/08 @ 0800hrs
FC – test: 2 target 5 (no action taken)
pH – test: 6.8 target 7.5 5oz. Muriatic acid*
TA – test: 120 target 70-90 (no action taken)
*31.45% - 20deg. Baume' I am attempting to get the TA back in to target range)
I also purchased some of Jack's Magic Sapphire and added 2 tsp. last night (07/07) and went out this morning to a very cloudy pool, more so than usual.
test results indicate chlorine being used up at night
the red stuff - could it be an algae? A bacteria?
Why does the pH and TA keep rising?
and finally
Why is my water so cloudy??
:?
Any assistance would be greatly appreciated!
Thanks in advance,
CW
p.s. (I know that my water testing kit isn't the greatest, but please give me a break, I was lucky to get the pool, there is no way that I can get an expensive testing kit)