johnm

Are you sure that it's DE and not dirt? I was having a problem with my filter sending out dirt into the pool after it was 'bumped'. Turns out that I had a LOT of dirt in my filter. So much so that it was getting through the filter 'fingers'. When I took off the filter top to clean the 'fingers' I saw that it was very full of solid dirt/mud. My pool is new and there's nothing but dirt around around it so it gets dirty very fast.

Thanks for the info. I'll test again tonight or tomorrow and post all the numbers. The pool was filled with drinking water, and I began testing a day or so after it was filled. I've never seen any Chlorine numbers so I doubt it's from algea, but who know. I've been shocking it very often as is (maybe 6 times so far?). As was mentioned above, perhaps it's hooked up backwards (the pool company hooked it up.) But in any case, I'll retest, read your link, verify that it's hooked up properly, shock it tonight, and see what happens. I will likely shut off one return and direct the other out of the pool so that I can get a sample of the water coming directly from the return. Also, I'll be putting the o-ring in tonight. I'm guessing the problem/issue is simple, but just frustrating right now. Will post in a day or so with new numbers. Thanks again.

We recently had our pool installed and with it a Hayward CL220 offline chlorinator. It was shipped to us without the o-ring. I initially had it set to "3" (that's what my dad's pool has been using for years.) My testing indicates no chlorine. I then turned it up to "full" and after a week I still get no reading. I've been forced to shock it several times now to keep it clean. I bought the HTH 6-in-1 kit to test again and it also shows no chlorine. Being that there is a slight leak (it was HUGE until I used teflon/duct tape to seal the lid) could the fact that the lid isn't sealed 100% be causing the chlorine to not flow into the return lines from the chlorinator? I have 4 "pucks" in there and when I open the lid there is VERY strong chlorine odor, so I know water is getting in and dissolving the pucks. The place where I ordered the chlorinator was supposed to send out the or-ring, but it's been 1.5 weeks already. I'm going to pick up the o-ring at the local pool store but was just wondering if that's the problem. If not, what else can I look at? My pH is good, water tests slightly hard, but not bad. Alkalinity is at 60 so I need to bump that up a bit. Edit: some details...18x36 vinyl. Thanks.

I've read that ants do not like DE, and since you have a pool you probably have some DE. Sprinkle some around the pool and they won't cross over it. This will prevent them from entering the pool.

Thanks! Turns out the pool company left the stuff behind after all, including the items you mentioned. I added the shock and DE and everything is working fine. :-) Of course it started storming after I was done, so no chance of enjoying it tonight...

Our pool was just finished today. Part of the package includes the start up chemicals, but I won't be able to make it to the store we bought it from for a few weeks (to pick up the chemicals.) Is there a list of stuff I should by ASAP? It's currently filled with city drinking water. There are NO other chemicals currently added. I know I need some DE for the filter, and I'm going to pick up the chlorine tables for the Hayward CL220 (offline chlorinator). Is there anything else I should add between now and when I pick up the rest of the chemicals? I'm going to stop at a pool store on the way home but don't want to be talked into more than I need considering I've already prepaid the other company for material. If it matters, it's a 18x36 vinyl lined inground pool. Thanks! --John