Try some clarifier. Take a water sample to a pool supply store. They will test it for free and let you know what you need.

I have never heard of filling a pool with water from a brook. I will be interested to see what others say about how to clear up your problem.

Good luck.

eld6161 - I live in a very rural area. The only business that fills pools around these parts is very expensive. Besides, I don't believe the brook water is the problem, the algaecide is.

Yeah, especially since you used water from the brook, you need to have the water tested or you'll just keep throwing money in it. A small pool is much more difficult to keep stable than a large pool.

Buy a kit and you can test your water on a daily basis.

I bought a kit, all chemicals are wonky :(

If it were me i would start with getting the ph balanced.

Is it possible to do a water replacement?

ETA: And if youhave to go buy more chemicals pick up some flocculant (sp?)

It took 3 days to fill that pool because we have just a small water pump that we could only run in the evenings after we got home from work. I hate the thought of starting over but if the clarifier doesn't work, I am going to take a sample to the pool store & see what they suggest.

I would not use a clarifier! But that's just me... it always caused me problems.

I can't help with your problem but I wanted to say that filling a pool from a creek is quite common in the country. We had one for over 20 yrs and that's how we filled it.

Thats a good idea to take a sample to the pool store.

moonie - what problems could arise from using clarifier?

Lisa, i dont really have an exact answer but clarifies change water particles and can actually cause cloudiness and even make it worse. But, if the pool place suggests it, i would maybe use it but only if i first had my water balanced.

I looked to Google for a better explanation and found this little snippet... polymer clarifiers can change the charge of the suspended particles from negative (-) to positive (+), resulting in increased water turbidity.

My DD lives in Michigan and the fire department fills pools for a donation. That's how they raise money.

bengardening - our FD used to as well but no longer. None of them around here do. Not sure why... But in any case, they pump the water from a lake or brook so I would have the same quality of water.

moonie - I read that too, I have been googling all morning :(

Also I hope you have a way to vacuum your pool because that's a must for anything that settles out and with creek water you will have settlements.

Do you know the drainage area that feeds your creek? If it contains pasture land, be wary of e coli. Another threat is anthrax from water draining from areas with wild life. You can improve the fill if the water is filtered before entering the pool. A rough first filter can remove large particles and will reduce the amount of material for treatment. Filtered fill should help the clarity problem.

Drain it and start over. Why are you using brook water????? use the garden hose. when filled add some chlorine nothing else is needed right away. Take your water to the pool store if its bad again.

A question.....where does one drain water that has such a chemical load? I wouldn't think, but don't know, that it would be bad for soil, surrounding plants, your creek, etc.

Chlorine will burn off quickly, in a few days at the most if your pool is in the sun... at least in the south. I doubt it would be much different up north.

JoAnn - we used the brook because I didn't want to 1. Drain my well and 2. over work my water pump. it's not a slow moving stream, it's a gushing brook, almost a river. Many people I know fill their pools this way since the FD won't do it anymore.

The PH , alkaline & hardness are all withing range now. The chlorine & free chlorine are still high but not as high as a few days ago. I picked up some clarifier & I am going to apply that when I get out of work this afternoon.

ravencajun - I do have a pool vacuum but haven't used it yet because there doesn't appear to be any need....yet.

jemdandy - there is no pasture land in the area but our brook does run through a bog fairly close by.

Took a sample to the pool company yesterday, all is good with chemical levels except chlorine & free chlorine, both very high. She suggested just be patient & the sun will bring it down. I am going in that darned thing tonight, lol! It's nearly 90 degree's!

I would not advise that!

I have to highly recommend that you go to troublefreepool.com and post your issues. I have used their advice for several years now. You may get some people saying they are only trying to sell a product (their preferred test kit) but that is UNTRUE. My pool is a breeze to keep up and so much more cost effective then using a pool store for chemicals. Seriously look into it.

We have always had to drain water out when free chlorine stayed too high.