Low pH with high alkalinity is driving me nuts.

[itsrickimrickthisisrick]

Hi, first time here. Hope I'm not breaking any rules.

I'll try to be succinct. Above ground pool, approximately 14k gallons, chlorine, sand filter.

My pool appeared fine when I first opened it in May, but for the past 3 weeks, everything has been out of whack and my pool is green. I can't get rid of it no matter what I do. My pump has been running non-stop the entire time for aeration, backwashing and rinsing almost daily. First I shocked it and the green went away but it was milky/cloudy. I tried clarifier (pool store recommendation) with zero results. My pH was high and my alkalinity was low. The app I use told me to alternate between muriatic acid and soda ash, and that I should do that before shocking again because the chlorine basically wasn't effective with low pH. My pH fluctuates between off the charts low and 6.8, and my alkalinity fluctuates between off the charts high and 180. Soda ash raises both, muriatic acid lowers both. I've been doing that non-stop to no avail and now my pool has turned green again. I've gone through like 8 gallons of muriatic acid and 32 lbs of soda ash. I bought the Taylor kit like everybody online says to do because the test strips sucks, but it just confirmed what the test strips already told me. I hate pools. Please help. What do I do?

 

[PoolStored]

Welcome to TFP!!!

First step. Which taylor kit did you order? Do you have it on hand? If so, post a full set of results.

Our first order of business is the green pool. pH and TA can come next.

To clear your green pool, follow the SLAM process. Link-->SLAM Process

If you do not have a recommended test kit yet, add 5ppm of liquid chlorine per day until the kit arrives.

When it arrives, post a full set of results and start the SLAM process.

 

[Bperry]

The app I use told me to alternate between muriatic acid and soda ash, and that I should do that before shocking again because the chlorine basically wasn't effective with low pH. My pH fluctuates between off the charts low and 6.8, and my alkalinity fluctuates between off the charts high and 180. Soda ash raises both, muriatic acid lowers both. I've been doing that non-stop to no avail and now my pool has turned green again. I've gone through like 8 gallons of muriatic acid and 32 lbs of soda ash.

Im sorry you were mislead so badly. Hopefully that app is deleted now cause that was really bad advice. Once you confirm which taylor kit you have, we can help.

 

[JJ_Tex]

Deep breath and tackle one thing at a time. You seem to be frustrated with the green pool, as most people would, but then you are focusing on pH and TA. Your chlorine is what kills algae, that's it.

Answer the questions above on the test kit and you can post up a set of reliable and accurate numbers and we can go from there.

 

[itsrickimrickthisisrick]

Hi! Thanks for responding. I bought the Taylor k-2006c.
It's starting to rain where I'm at, so I'll wait to retest until it stops tomorrow night, and then post the results (I'm assuming a large rainstorm will affect my results).