Welcome!
You've been pool-stored.
Isn't this a great scam? They determine your problem, they sell you something to fix it - that doesn't. They make the problem worse. They determine it was another problem all along and the solution to their screwup is for you to drain and refill the pool. And I'll bet they'll sell you a "startup" kit that will start the same cycle all over again.
I don't know why people put up with it. In the automotive industry, if someone brings me a problem and it doesn't get fixed, customers howl to get it put right for free. They call BBB. They call the Bureau of Auto Repair. They call AAA Approved auto care. If a doctor misdiagnoses something, you call him a quack and find a new doctor and possibly report him. But when the pool store messes up, you reach for the wallet to give them more money. And they get to cover their mistakes by telling you to drain. Why didn't they tell you to drain before they sold you stabilizer (you probably didn't need) and shock powder (that undoubtedly added unwanted byproducts)? Why did you let them?
Why am I hammering away at this? You need to understand something very clearly: the pool store makes their money selling you overpriced pool chemicals! Their free testing isn't free at all. It's to get you on their merry-go-round where you go up and down and round and round and get nowhere.
Step one: order your own test kit and get your own test results. If you are unwilling to invest in the kit and take control, there is nothing we can do to help you. There's a lengthy article in pool school, but I suggest you skip it and
order a TF100. The XL option would be a good idea, but it'll take a week or so to get it all from North Carolina, what with the holiday. A closer source is
poolsupplyworld The only acceptable alternative is the Taylor K-2006, which is hardly stocked anywhere. The pool stores will try to sell you a K-2005 and tell you it's the same. It's not. DPD and FAS-DPD chlorine tests are not the same. Don't fall for their lies.
Step two: While you await your test kit, try to measure the pool to get an accurate volume. +/- 5000 gallons is too vague. We believe in accurate testing and accurate dosing. Can;t do that when it's +/- 14% Also leave the SWG running and supplement it with a couple of jugs of plain clorox 8.25% bleach every day. It won't clear the green, but it will stop it from getting worse.
Step three: do some reading here. Use the search box for Nitrates and learn why they are irrelevant except as a sales tool. And check out some of the links in this thread. This is what you need to do. Do what they did and you can have what they have.
Recovering my old inspirational links Start at the last page and woprk backwards to see the more recent ones first. Also familiarize yourself with
Pool School - ABCs of Pool Water Chemistry Pool School - Recommended Pool Chemicals Pool School - PoolMath Pool School - SLAM - Shock Level And Maintain
You may still end up needing to replace some pool water, if the pool store really drove the CYA level through the roof, but you won't know how much if any until you get some accurate test results yourself.
