I need pool help. The water is very cloudy. This is what the test reads: total hardness is 200 free chlorine is 0 ph is 8.4 total alkalinity is 240 cyanuric acid is 100 What do this results mean? What do I need to do to keep them at an ideal level?

Question:

I need pool help. The water is very cloudy.

This is what the test reads:
total hardness is 200
free chlorine is 0
ph is 8.4
total alkalinity is 240
cyanuric acid is 100

What do this results mean? What do I need to do to keep them at an ideal level?

Answer:

First, you alkalinity and pH are high. The pH should be between 7.2 and 7.8 and alkalinity should be between 80 and 160 or so (the recommendation varies a little based on pool type). Bring them down together using a dry acid. After the pH and alkalinity in the right range, add chlorine to raise the free chlorine level to at least 1 ppm (ideal between 1 and 3 ppm). By adjusting these parameters, you should be able to clear the water up fairly quickly. Hardness and cyanuric acid are ok.