What's going on with my pool?

[walbur]

I normally just let my pool guy do his work, but recently after winter rains the water got a green tint. So upon my questioning, he added some liquid from a bottle (what I believe was some form of chlorine). After a week the water is still green... so he probably added some more (I did not witness so don't know for sure). Out of curiosity and boredom I ordered test strips and here's the result (see picture).

I'm a total noob but from what I read from the forum posts, I have high Chlorine, low CYA, very low PH and TA. I should add that I used another PH tester and it's showing 5.4 (!)

What's going on in my pool? Did my pool guy try to shock the pool? I know I should talk to him directly over this but I can't reach him now. Also should I immediately add soda to balance the PH?

 

[Sws]

Ill be the first to say it.

Grab a Taylor kit from TFpools.net. Test strips throw wild numbers and nobody will give advice on them since it's a shot in the dark.

 

[PoolStored]

Welcome back!!!

I would not add anything until you can properly test your pool.

Start by getting a proper test kit. Without it we really can't give advice. Why? Pool store and test strips are notoriously wrong, if we gave advice based on wrong test results, we can do more damage than good.

Here are the recommended kits. Link-->Test Kits Compared

 

[walbur]

Thanks for the quick replies. I'll take a look at the test kits.

 

[YippeeSkippy]

The ONLY thing needed to clear up a green pool is LIQUID CHLORINE!! No algecides will work if you are already green (which it sounds like the pool guy used?) and no potions are good as they come with lots of unwanted side effects you don't want.

So until you get a good drop based test set (I prefer the TF Test kits ) you're use of Guess Strips will leave you in the dark.
Test Kits Compared
Maddie