Hi PoolRookie,
Hopefully my post wont be too long. I will also try to be of help if I can. If you have questions, please feel free to ask. We know its a lot to learn and sometimes, perhaps we have forgotten that we also were once Rookies too.
I plead the 5th!
From the test results, the PH and the TA do not look believeable. The TF 100 is an excellent test kit if your husbands friend tested it, then perhaps he tested it wrong. I would recommend he repeat the test and this time, observe that he follows the directions correctly. The TF 100 has a laminated set of instructions that you can follow along with. The tests really are simple.
Before dealing with the cloudy and murky water, you need to get your PH up to about 7.2. It can be raised by aearting the water, or by adding Borax. I recommend highly though, to test it again before doing anything as the 6.3 previously posted is in doubt.
Next - Dont worry about your TA right now. We can deal wtih that later and it wont effect clearing the water.
That isnt why the water is the color it is.
The murky water is due to algae. To kill the algae, you need to bring your FC level up to 16ppm. (this is SLAM level based upon your 40 CYA). Now
the hard part is keeping the FC at 16 or a little above. To know what your FC is you need the FAS-DPD Chlorine Test. This is the main reason everyone recommends getting your own kit, at least for now.
In order to keep the FC up or slightly above SLAM level, you will have to test MANY times every day until the SLAM is complete.
The SLAM isnt a failure if FC gets below 16, but it will slow down the process a LOT. But you have GOT to add enough Chlorine to get it back to 16 multiple times a day. You are going to also need a LOT of patience. At times it will seem like nothing is happening, but it is. So dont give up! Ok?
During the FC testing, you will also need to test for Combined CHloramines. A.k.a. CC's. If the CC test is higher than .5, there is still algae in the water.
During the SLAM process, you will need to monitor your Filter Pressure and backwash when the pressure gets above about 25 percent of clean pressure.
When the water is clear, and your CC test is .5 or less, then you will need to do an overnight chlorine loss test. *OCLT* as we call it.
Measure FC when the sun is down. Then measure again before the sun comes up. IF the difference is 1 FC or less. Then the OCLT is passed. If more than 1 FC is lost overnight. You will need to keep the FC at 16 or slightly above until you do pass the test. This is very critical.
So to Summarize the main points.
1. Retest with your friends test kit. And watch whats going on so you can verify. Repost the results here.
2. HIGHLY recommend to get your own kit, you will definitely need it in order to monitor your water balance and for measuring FC many times a day.
3. Get the PH to around 7.2
4. Raise FC to 16 and MAINTAIN that level as diligently as you possibly can until the water clears. It may take a few days for this to happen. USE ONLY LIQUID CHLORINE DURING THE SLAM. Typically the most economical source is bleach. Preferably 8.25 %.
5. Monitor your Filter Pressure and backwash when needed.
Hopefully I didnt complicate this too much. I tried to keep it as simple as I can and yet provide you with directions that will rid your pool of algae. so please have faith in us too as well as the SLAM process, and like I said, we are here to help and also to help you help yourself in maintianing a troubelfree pool.
Dave