Pool water disaster

[FallenSunshine]

I have been testing with strips and taking water to a pool store furore accuracy. Problem is, they say mostly all levels are good and thought maybe I have a filter issue. Levels on strips have fluctuated since I started but pool is always the same green. On my strips, currently reading
Hardness 500
TCL 5
FCL 5
Ph 7.8
TAlk 180
Stabilizer 100
Now I did test with a 5 way drop test from home depot
And it showed ph 7.6
And total alkalinity took 25 drops to clear meaning I guess way off the charts!
I added 128 oz of muriatic acid yesterday and today the ph is high and alkalinity did not budge, still 25 drops to clear.
What can I do to get this clear asap? We have spent so much time and money on chemicals and the season is half over. Please help!
BTW, filter does run 24/7
27x52 round above ground with sand filter.

 

[FallenSunshine]

 

[jeffchap]

If you look around here at all you'll see that we place no credibility upon pool store testing and the only thing test strips are good for is measuring the depth of your trash can.

So step number one is to get one of our two recommended test kits, Swimming Pool Test Kits Compared Without test results we can trust, there's not really much we can do to help you.

Your problem, as it is with most people who come here, is that your CYA (aka stabilizer) has gotten so high due to the use of chlorine tablets and powdered shock that you can no longer get enough free chlorine in your pool to kill the algae. But we won't know this until we get a good test.

So for now, add a gallon of liquid chlorine to your pool everyday and continue to do so until your test kit arrives. Once it's here, run the following tests and post the results and then we can help you from there.

CYA
FC
CC
pH

Forget all the other tests for now, these are the only ones we'll be concerned with until we get your water cleared up. Then we can deal with the others.

 

[FallenSunshine]

If you look around here at all you'll see that we place no credibility upon pool store testing and the only thing test strips are good for is measuring the depth of your trash can.

So step number one is to get one of our two recommended test kits, Swimming Pool Test Kits Compared Without test results we can trust, there's not really much we can do to help you.

Your problem, as it is with most people who come here, is that your CYA (aka stabilizer) has gotten so high due to the use of chlorine tablets and powdered shock that you can no longer get enough free chlorine in your pool to kill the algae. But we won't know this until we get a good test.

So for now, add a gallon of liquid chlorine to your pool everyday and continue to do so until your test kit arrives. Once it's here, run the following tests and post the results and then we can help you from there.

CYA
FC
CC
pH

Forget all the other tests for now, these are the only ones we'll be concerned with until we get your water cleared up. Then we can deal with the others.

I bought a 5 way drop test kit 2 days ago. Members in a pool group suggest to lower alk and said the chlorine is useless until I do.

 

[Katodude]

Members in this group will all tell you the same thing. You need more than a 5 way test kit. You need FAS-DPD to measure FC. Nobody here will tell you to deal with your Alk first. Do what @jeffchap said. That is good advice.

 

[jeffchap]

That's total bunk. Alkalinity is one of the last things you need to be concerned about, and you need to have chlorine in your water from day one.

A five-way drop test is better than nothing. But it doesn't give you everything you need to follow the TFP method. First of all, it doesn't measure CYA which you must know in order to know what the proper level of FC is for your pool.

Secondly, it doesn't measure free chlorine (FC). It only measures total chlorine, which is the sum of free chlorine plus combined chloramines (CC). FC is good, CC is bad. Without knowing how much of each you have, it's impossible to say whether your water is sanitary or not. And it can only measure total chlorine up to 5 ppm. This is not high enough to perform our SLAM process to eliminate algae.

 

[FallenSunshine]

I have the dipstick and a 5 way hdx drop test, unfortunately it doesn't test CYA so I run it to a pool store to test and they are closed this weekend.....
My pool has had mustard algae, high CYA, high Alkalinity and not clearing. I tried multiple things to clear it and due to the high CYA I drained it until roughly 10 inches(about 4300 gallons) for left. I scrubbed the sides and floor which made that last 10 inches really gross. I used an old pump to create a siphon to vacuum out some funk and started to fill.. I have a well, so I used a filtered end which made it take longer. Skimmed and siphon vac again.
Now after all of that, the alkalinity is still reading really high and ph is reading 7.2(drop test)
Question is, can I slam it based off of the dipstick results or should I wait u til they open?
What do I do in the meantime? I know some say not to worry about alkalinity but I'm worried to waste more money.
If I can shock it, how much should I use based on the dip stick numbers?
***I also did use over 130 ounces of muriatic acid before draining and it only dropped one number!
I just want the kids to be able to swim before its could out, thanks!!!

 

[PoolGate]

Test strips are highly inaccurate. This site's advice is based on accurate testing using typically the TF-100 Taylor test kit. Pool store testing is worse. I suggest you take a look at pool school it's very informative!

 

[markayash]

Really need your own test kit, test strips really don’t help. Years ago I ended up with CYA through the roof because it kept showing 30 and I kept adding but it never changed.
But for now is that showing your FC at zero and CYA at 50?

 

[FallenSunshine]

Test strips are highly inaccurate. This site's advice is based on accurate testing using typically the TF-100 Taylor test kit. Pool store testing is worse. I suggest you take a look at pool school it's very informative!

Thanks! I ordered a kit off of this site, just waiting for it now and not wanting the water to be worse in the meantime!

 

[Texas Splash]

Thanks! I ordered a kit off of this site, just waiting for it now and not wanting the water to be worse in the meantime!

Perfect! You can add that test kit to your signature as well. We'll do wat we can to coach you through the algae nightmare.

 

[FallenSunshine]

Really need your own test kit, test strips really don’t help. Years ago I ended up with CYA through the roof because it kept showing 30 and I kept adding but it never changed.
But for now is that showing your FC at zero and CYA at 50?

Hello, yes! According to strips, but that was why I asked if I wait and only go by those results, would it be ok? I ordered a kit from this site but waiting on it yet.

 

[FallenSunshine]

Perfect! You can add that test kit to your signature as well. We'll do wat we can to coach you through the algae nightmare.

Thanks! I'm just stuck at the moment waiting for it to come

 

[Texas Splash]

I'm just stuck at the moment waiting for it to come

For now, just add about 1/2 to one gallon of chlorine to the water each day. You can brush as well. Don't try to do anything else until you can confirm your own results. But read-up on the SLAM Process page. That will be your go-to reference.

 

[FallenSunshine]

Ok, I have read the SLAM info a lot, that's why I definitely wanted the CYA level of so I didn't waste more money. Is it accurate that as long as the PH is ok, the Alkalinity can be high and the process will still work? I'm finding mixed results and my head is spinning

 

[Texas Splash]

Is it accurate that as long as the PH is ok, the Alkalinity can be high and the process will still work?

No worries. The only item you will adjust before starting the SLAM is your pH to about 7.2. After that, you will confirm the CYA with your kit and focus on the FC testing. That's it. You won't worry about any other levels during the SLAM except the FC and occasionally the CC and perhaps CYA if you do a lot of backwashing.

 

[Decoy205]

Make sure to check your filter pressure too and backwash to get all the gunk out.

 

[FallenSunshine]

No worries. The only item you will adjust before starting the SLAM is your pH to about 7.2. After that, you will confirm the CYA with your kit and focus on the FC testing. That's it. You won't worry about any other levels during the SLAM except the FC and occasionally the CC and perhaps CYA if you do a lot of backwashing.

Oh good! That makes me feel ALOT better!!!! Thanks again!

 

[FallenSunshine]

No worries. The only item you will adjust before starting the SLAM is your pH to about 7.2. After that, you will confirm the CYA with your kit and focus on the FC testing. That's it. You won't worry about any other levels during the SLAM except the FC and occasionally the CC and perhaps CYA if you do a lot of backwashing.

I can not find your reply that you wanted me to post results in however my son found a pool store open
Results are depressing
The ones you requested are
Ph 7.6
CyA 70
FC 0
TC 0.8
What can I do???
*reminder, I just emptied all but roughly 4300 gallons of my pool and filled it again with a filtered end on my hose

 

[markayash]

Serious don’t worry about pool store test the FC and PH might be close but I wouldn’t bet 2 to 1 on your CYA results

Just keep adding liquid chlorine like Pat suggested and wait on your kit.