I put up an Intex 16'x48" pool three weeks ago and everything started out okay, but I couldn't hold a chlorine level, so i added some stabilizer, then some shock, and now I have a big mess!
I started with 1" tabs (All-Clear, trichloro-s-triazinetrione) in two feeders from a pool store and could only get the chlorine level to .5. I then got a "start-up" kit from Wal-Mart and put the stabilizer in the skimmer basket (the company said to do this). Within a couple of hours I added the included shock product, which was calcium hypochlorite and the water clouded and hasn't cleared since (1 week ago). I have been running the filter almost 24/7, stopping to clean the filter. When we swim in the pool, I can see white particles floating around. When the filter is off, the "dust" settles to the bottom of the pool. The garden hose vaccuum cannot pick up the dust and the filter doesn't seem to be able to trap it either (HTH suggested using pantyhose for the bag, but this still doesn't work).
I think the particles may be calcium, but can't say for sure. Here are my numbers
Chlorine 1
CYA doesn't register on my test kit, but the chlorine is stable if low
Total hardness is 420
Ph is 7.5
How can I clear the water? I would also like to use bleach as my chlorine source, can it be used in conjunction with the feeder tabs? Is there a link for how much bleach to add?
Hoping someone can help me get to clear water....
Tracy