Two weeks of cloudy water please help.

[Rayala]

Newbie here, please help.
My above ground pool started to develop algae two weeks ago and I have been adding different chemicals as recommended by pool stores. The cloudiness continues. Most mornings I see some algae at the bottom when I brush the pool and the water continues to be cloudy. Also, I’m testing the water daily and the numbers are all over the place, except for normal. When I backwash, one or two times a day, and the water comes out cloudy and sometimes a little greenish. Now I’m starting to see ashes from the California fire. Should I use the solar cover even the numbers are crazy? I’m at lost and I don’t know what to do next. Today the Chlorox 6-Way test stripsresults are as follow:
Total hardness 600
Total chlorine: 10
Free Chlorine: 5
Ph: 8.0
Total alkalinity 160
Stabilizer: 100
I would really appreciate your advise.
TIA, Rosa

 

[aussieta]

welcome to tfp
unfortunately test strips are inaccurate and inconsistent, as you can see from your pool math log to todays readings
so the first thing is a quality test kit
taylor k2006c or tf100xl
liquid chlorine is your friend in the meantime
if your cya is indeed 100 or probably higher, then you will be draining a lot of water
i am assuming you have been using tri-chlor to chlorinate your pool
we all came here with pools in the same condition
tfp solved all of our problems and saved a lot of $$$ too

 

[Rayala]

welcome to tfp
unfortunately test strips are inaccurate and inconsistent, as you can see from your pool math log to todays readings
so the first thing is a quality test kit
taylor k2006c or tf100xl
liquid chlorine is your friend in the meantime
if your cya is indeed 100 or probably higher, then you will be draining a lot of water
i am assuming you have been using tri-chlor to chlorinate your pool
we all came here with pools in the same condition
tfp solved all of our problems and saved a lot of $$$ too

Thanks fir your response. When can I get the tests kit ASAP?

 

[aussieta]

they all generally posts next day
the tf100xl is the goto in usa, consider the speedstir too it makes testing much easier
i am a cheapskate so dont have one yet

TF-100 Test Kit

tftestkits.net

 

[Rayala]

To be safe I’m going to order those tests since I’d like to keep my pool open all year long. Meanwhile, assuming my CYA is normal, should I start by lowering the ph then add liquid chlorine?

 

[Rayala]

they all generally posts next day
the tf100xl is the goto in usa, consider the speedstir too it makes testing much easier
i am a cheapskate so dont have one yet

TF-100 Test Kit

tftestkits.net

• #5

To be safe I’m going to order those tests since I’d like to keep my pool open all year long. Meanwhile, assuming my CYA is normal, should I start by lowering the ph then add liquid chlorine?

 

[aussieta]

what have you been using for chlorine for the past

 

[aussieta]

generally a holding pattern for a problem pool is add 1/4 gallon liquid chlorine each day until reliable test results
i would be reluctant to offer advice based on a test strip

 

[Rayala]

what have you been using for chlorine for the past

I was using the Clorox tablets and shock XtraBlue, but the last couple of days I used the liquid sodium hypochlorite 10%.

 

[aussieta]

I was using the Clorox tablets and shock XtraBlue

yikes,
clorox adds equal cya to chlorine
the chlorine gets used to sanitize the pool, the cya builds up
the xtra blue is worse, same as above but also adds copper
i am sorry to say but i think you will be draining a lot of water and refilling

 

[Rayala]

generally a holding pattern for a problem pool is add 1/4 gallon liquid chlorine each day until reliable test results
i would be reluctant to offer advice based on a test strip

I understand, to late for me to learn that strips results are not accurate. Will the 1/4 gallon would be ok for my size pool?

 

[aussieta]

Will the 1/4 gallon would be ok for my size pool?

1/4 to 1/2 gallon per day will stop it getting worse
if that cya is 100 you could add a whole gallon
i need to attend to some jobs at home so wont be online for a while now
good luck

 

[Rayala]

1/4 to 1/2 gallon per day will stop it getting worse
if that cya is 100 you could add a whole gallon
i need to attend to some jobs at home so wont be online for a while now
good luck

Thank you so much for your help. Good nigh.

 

[Rayala]

generally a holding pattern for a problem pool is add 1/4 gallon liquid chlorine each day until reliable test results
i would be reluctant to offer advice based on a test strip

My pool is clear now, yeah!!! Thanks for your advise. I added liquid chlorine as you told me. I also received today the TF 100. I just tested my water and according to the app I just needed to lower the oh and the extra chlorine will go away with the sun. The algae was a learning experience . This group is awesome. Thanks again.

 

[aussieta]

that fc got a little overboard
dont add any for a few days
and test again in a few days