Green pool?
Question:Ok, I was out of town for 2 weeks, shocked the pool before I left but came home to green in it. I shocked again went to have my water checked, and they told me to add ph, alkilenity, and algaeside. I have done all of that and it isn't budging!! I checked the levels this morning found the ph was still low added ph rise, and checked them again this afternoon. Everything is where it should be. Now what should I do, anyone have any clues?
Answers:
I'm sorry pooh, but the pH has everything to do with having green water. I'm not sure what pool service company you own but I would never recommend it based on the answer you gave here. If the pH is below 6.8 the chlorine is hindered, if the pH is above 7.6 the chlorine is hindered... maintaining it at 7.2 is ideal when treating algae blooms.
As to the actual question at hand,
Please take a sample of water to the pool store and have them test for the following:
Total chlorine
Free chlorine
Combined chlorine
pH
Alkalinity
Hardness
Cyanuric acid
Total dissolved solids
Metals (iron, copper especially, manganese)
Phosphates
Don't purchase anything else from the pool store at this time unless you have phosphates in the water and then you will need to get a phosphate remover. The chemicals they sold you are overpriced for what they are... baking soda (alkalinity increaser), soda ash (pH increaser that doesn't work properly anyway as Borax works much better and acts as an algaecide as well as softening the water for a better feel), algaecide (which you don't need unless it's a polyquat type).
Bring the results back and post them here or feel free to email them to me at robandliz1992@yahoo.com along with the gallon size of the pool, material it's made of (vinyl, fiberglass, concrete/plaster), filtration system type (DE, sand, cartridge), chlorination system (salt water, floating chlorinator, automatic feeder, or pucks in the skimmer), as well as any other chemicals you still have on hand.
With the above information I can help you get your water back to a pristine and healthy condition in the shortest amount of time possible.
*EDIT*
Bert recommended going back to the expensive chemicals, the problem here is that most of the chemicals in pool care are manufactured by only a few companies in the states, then sold to pool companies to be repacked and sold off. So this makes little sense in this regard.
ADB had a heck of a problem it sounds like, unfortunately they got some bad advice if it took that much time and chemicals to clear the pool. It can be done in less than 5 days if done properly without the use of copper algaecides that can stain the pool materials and without all the work.
Charotte S gave some great advice and is using some of the best methods in the pool industry. However, the baking soda is used to increase alkalinity and not pH. I would venture a guess the alkalinity and pH are both pretty high in this pool. Liquid bleach, while very effective and inexpensive, raises the pH of the pool with each addition so should only be used under circumstances that allow it. Additions of baking soda raise the alkalinity and at levels of 200+ can contribute to cloudy water if the chemistry suddenly changes with calcium containing products.
Anyone else wanting answers or more information can email me, I'm more than happy to help out any way I can.
Have you brushed the walls and bottom well and back-washed the filter? If I just couldn't get it clean, I might consider hiring a pool guy to come get it straightened out and ask him for some tips. We were using the chemicals from Walmart and were having a hard time with algae. When we switched back to the more expensive pool store brand it seemed to work better. God bless!!
the ph in your pool has nothing to do with it being green you need to 1) clean your filter. 2) make sure your clorine level is at least a 5.0 until it clears up. 3) brush your walls. 4) and most important make sure your pool is running at least 8-10 hours a day. especially if you have a salt generated pool. if you do all the above and are still having problems you can e-mail me.
it won't go away over night... had the same thing happen recently and it took almost a week and that with algaecide,10ppm+ chlorine and me brushing the pool at least once daily and cleaning a pair of cartridge filter 2 times a day 5 days straight, filtering out the algae was clogging things up that fast 18,000gallon pool, pump running 16 hrs a day. absolute misery. Hate to tell ya, but it looks like you're in for the same "treat."
Sounds like you did everything you possibly could. Run your pool for about 8 hours a day until it clears up. It will take time. Make sure you backwash your filter.
This may sound strange to some but since I quit buying all of the expensive pool store chemicals, we have had a crystal clean pool.
We switched from the harsh chemicals to using bleach and for the ph, we use baking soda. About 4 gallons of bleach a week keeps it clean and clear.
First, adjust the Total Alkalinity. You will need a large 5 bottle test kit to check the T/A reading. If it is low. Add Alkalinity Plus, if it is high (the usual case), with the circulation system running, add liquid muriatic acid to the pools deep end in one place. That is, bomb the pool! Pour the acid without moving it around so it goes straight down into one area. Use about 1/3 or 1/2 of a gallon at a time and test again and again between applications. Also, wait at least an hour before retesting. When the T/A is right, get the pH between 7.2 & 7.4, no higher... Ever !... and then add about 4 to six gallons of liquid chlorine and run your DE filter for 24 hours a day while backwashing as needed until the pool clears.
Visit me at
www.poolborg.com/contractorser...
I do pool rescue and can help if you need it, Morgan
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