Ok, I need help with our pool. Pool is a bestway 18' x 48" steel pro max with a 1500 gph sand pump. Water temp is staying between 85-90 degrees. It's been up for 3 weeks on Saturday, water was great until last Friday and then it was a lot of slit at bottom (we had blowing dust for multiple days between days 6-12). Last Thursday night I vacuumed (water hose type vacuum, I have ordered a better one) the pool out because we had a lot of dirt settled on the bottom from all the wind and blowing dust, well ever since our water has been cloudy, chemicals are ok though, except our alkalinity is high and stabilizer is borderline low.
I've been checking chemicals every day (except 1), we have chlorine tabs in the dispenser on the pool and I've shocked a couple of times as needed too.
We were using the filter balls that came with the pool in our filter, but today, I took them out and added the pool sand instead (I backwashed it and rinsed it after adding it). The filter balls were disgusting, so I don't know if the sand will help clear the water or not.
In the last 2.5 weeks, I have done the following:
Days 1-8 using liquid chlorine because it was suggested that it was cheaper and lasted better where we live. I kept chlorine levels at a 1-2. Running filter 8 hours a day.
Day 9 shocked the pool and then added an algecide as we thought we had mustard algae starting on the sides, it was a yellowish dirt but now looking back we think it was just the nasty dirt setting from the dust blowing. Running filter 8 hours a day.
Day 10 chlorine as normal and pH down as pH was high. Ran filter 8 hours.
Day 11 - added a floc as I read to add it after using an algecide. Ran filter on recirculate for 2 hours and shut off per directions
Day 12 - balanced chlorine and pH with pH down as it was very high and vacuumed pool and added a clarifier. Water got cloudy after vacuuming and has not cleared up since. Ran filter for 8+ hours.
Day 13 - did nothing, we were not home all day, even forgot to run the pump.
Day 14 water was super cloudy. Ran filter for 12 hours
Days 15-20 water has remained cloudy, shocked daily and it's just eating the chlorine. Ran filter for 10-12 hours daily.
Day 21 changed from filter balls to filter sand, heavily backwashed the sand and rinsed it. Filter has been on for over 12 hours now. The filter balls were disgusting.
No algae, no green tint to the water, water doesn't smell, no slimy feel when in the pool. I'm having to add chlorine daily in addition to the chlorine tabs on the dispenser, it's like the pool is literally eating chlorine.
We have used HTH brand and Clorox brand products as that's what is locally, easily available.
We paid for water delivery and then topped off with the well as needed. We live in West Texas and have EXTREMELY hard water and just bad water in general. Our house is on county water but we don't have a spigot for county water.
The pool is in the full shade by about 6:30 pm or so.
What else can I do to get our clear water back? Affordably too please, I've spent a ton on this stupid pool so far as water delivery was over $400 alone! So draining and refilling is NOT an option.
Pictures of the nasty pool filter balls, the water (I can see the edge of the floor but barely when I'm standing next to the pool) and a picture of my last test strip this evening. Yes, I've been using a regular test kit that tests chlorine and pH levels as that is all I could find locally.
I've been checking chemicals every day (except 1), we have chlorine tabs in the dispenser on the pool and I've shocked a couple of times as needed too.
We were using the filter balls that came with the pool in our filter, but today, I took them out and added the pool sand instead (I backwashed it and rinsed it after adding it). The filter balls were disgusting, so I don't know if the sand will help clear the water or not.
In the last 2.5 weeks, I have done the following:
Days 1-8 using liquid chlorine because it was suggested that it was cheaper and lasted better where we live. I kept chlorine levels at a 1-2. Running filter 8 hours a day.
Day 9 shocked the pool and then added an algecide as we thought we had mustard algae starting on the sides, it was a yellowish dirt but now looking back we think it was just the nasty dirt setting from the dust blowing. Running filter 8 hours a day.
Day 10 chlorine as normal and pH down as pH was high. Ran filter 8 hours.
Day 11 - added a floc as I read to add it after using an algecide. Ran filter on recirculate for 2 hours and shut off per directions
Day 12 - balanced chlorine and pH with pH down as it was very high and vacuumed pool and added a clarifier. Water got cloudy after vacuuming and has not cleared up since. Ran filter for 8+ hours.
Day 13 - did nothing, we were not home all day, even forgot to run the pump.
Day 14 water was super cloudy. Ran filter for 12 hours
Days 15-20 water has remained cloudy, shocked daily and it's just eating the chlorine. Ran filter for 10-12 hours daily.
Day 21 changed from filter balls to filter sand, heavily backwashed the sand and rinsed it. Filter has been on for over 12 hours now. The filter balls were disgusting.
No algae, no green tint to the water, water doesn't smell, no slimy feel when in the pool. I'm having to add chlorine daily in addition to the chlorine tabs on the dispenser, it's like the pool is literally eating chlorine.
We have used HTH brand and Clorox brand products as that's what is locally, easily available.
We paid for water delivery and then topped off with the well as needed. We live in West Texas and have EXTREMELY hard water and just bad water in general. Our house is on county water but we don't have a spigot for county water.
The pool is in the full shade by about 6:30 pm or so.
What else can I do to get our clear water back? Affordably too please, I've spent a ton on this stupid pool so far as water delivery was over $400 alone! So draining and refilling is NOT an option.
Pictures of the nasty pool filter balls, the water (I can see the edge of the floor but barely when I'm standing next to the pool) and a picture of my last test strip this evening. Yes, I've been using a regular test kit that tests chlorine and pH levels as that is all I could find locally.
