Have a 14000 gallon above ground. My pool has been cloudy and opaque the whole time since we opened it a few days ago. Been trying to vacuum leaves out all along, too. Last numbers I had were FC 2.5, CC 1.5, TA 190, CH 220, and CYA 30. Seems like fairly good number. Calculator said add 44 oz of bleach. Did that a couple or three hours ago but still looks the same. Haven't done my numbers again. Don't want to waste my test chems. Can anyone help? I just hate to take water to the pool place. Seems like we can't get out of there without losing an arm, a leg, and two toes.
Cloudy, opaque pool even after chems
- Thread starter Dickie and Teresa
- Start date
You need to shock. Your CC indicates it and the cloudiness confirms it.
Add enough chlorine to got you to shock level and test an hour after and raise again. then repeat!
Add enough chlorine to got you to shock level and test an hour after and raise again. then repeat!
Shock level for a CYA of 30 is about 12ppm FC. See the CYA/Chlorine Chart and How to Shock your Pool in Pool School. Big button top of each page.Dickie and Teresa said:
To calculate chemical doses, go to the Pool Calculator. Link in my sig.
What sort of test kit do you use? You state that you do not want to waste reagents.
Also, I would suggest using a "whale tail" net to get the leaves out of your pool...this process uses less water and chemlcals.
You are well on your way to a TFP. Go man, Go!
Also, I would suggest using a "whale tail" net to get the leaves out of your pool...this process uses less water and chemlcals.
You are well on your way to a TFP. Go man, Go!
I just saw your posts, but this was after I put in 4 bags of shock and checked an hour later. I probably should have just poured in bleach vs the powdered shock. It shot my FC to 22.5 and TC to 24.5. Decided to leave it alone until tomorrow. That was a couple of hours ago. I just turned my pump off to see what it will look like in the morning. Hope that was the right thing to do.
I use a TF 100 kit to test. I saw the shock level for a CYA of 30, 12ppm FC, but I did not know what that meant. I have used the pool calculator.
We used the big net to get most of the leaves out of the pool. Hoping that leaving the pump off will reveal the bottom of the pool. Maybe some stuff will settle. What about a flocculant? I know my husband will probably want to take a sample to the pool place tomorrow. You know what that means - another arm, leg, or toe!
I use a TF 100 kit to test. I saw the shock level for a CYA of 30, 12ppm FC, but I did not know what that meant. I have used the pool calculator.
We used the big net to get most of the leaves out of the pool. Hoping that leaving the pump off will reveal the bottom of the pool. Maybe some stuff will settle. What about a flocculant? I know my husband will probably want to take a sample to the pool place tomorrow. You know what that means - another arm, leg, or toe!
With CYA at 30, raising FC above 20 is rather extreme.
You don't want to use floc before you are sure the algae is all dead. For that matter I don't really recommend floc, as it is money and work when you could just let the filter do it's job. Of course a sand filter does take significantly longer.
You don't want to use floc before you are sure the algae is all dead. For that matter I don't really recommend floc, as it is money and work when you could just let the filter do it's job. Of course a sand filter does take significantly longer.
So, Jason, am I doing the right thing by turning the pump off and waiting until morning? What steps should I be taking at this point? Thanks!
We recommend leaving the pump running while shocking. Leaving it off isn't a big deal as long as it was on for at least an hour after you added chemicals. But on is slightly better. Other than that, wait until tomorrow and see what happens.
Jason - I just checked my pool. Still cloudy. FC is 17 and CC 1.5. Should I go ahead and do all my other calculations, including CYA? It is about 7:30 am here. Our pool gets almost continuous sun all day. I turned the pump back on.
I checked my other numbers and plugged them into the Calculator. I used 12 as my goal for FC. My other numbers were FC 17, CC 1.5, TA 210, CH 230, and pH 7.8. I did not check CYA. Figured it was about 30, same as before. The Calculator says to add 69 oz of muriatic acid. Does this sound right and where do I get that? At the pool place? Thanks, anybody, for your help.
FC started last night at 22, and this morning it was 17, so you are still losing chlorine overnight. Also, CC is still 1.5, so you are not done shocking for that reason also. FC didn't fall to zero, so you are making good progress but aren't quite there yet.
Leave the PH alone. The PH test tends to be off when FC levels are that high. Test PH again sometime when the FC level is below 10, or just don't worry about pH until you are done shocking. Muriatic acid is nice to have. It is a little annoying to handle because of the fumes, but is the least expensive way to lower PH. You can find it at most hardware stores.
With CYA around 30, target a shock level of 12 to 15.
Leave the PH alone. The PH test tends to be off when FC levels are that high. Test PH again sometime when the FC level is below 10, or just don't worry about pH until you are done shocking. Muriatic acid is nice to have. It is a little annoying to handle because of the fumes, but is the least expensive way to lower PH. You can find it at most hardware stores.
With CYA around 30, target a shock level of 12 to 15.
The pool calculator doesn't tell me to add bleach. Isn't that how you shock? Should I be shocking in the daytime when the sun is full on? I am confused.
In the Pool Calc you put your now reading in the Now column and then put 15 in the Target column, and it'll tell you how much it takes to get there.
And yes, you should be shocking all the time until you pass the OCLT.
And yes, you should be shocking all the time until you pass the OCLT.
When I put 15 in the target, it still tells me not to add bleach. That's why I'm so confused. I know you are saying to still be adding bleach, but the calc says 0.
You don't need to add bleach/chlorine right now, but later in the day you will want to.
Spend some time reviewing this so that you understand the process:
pool-school/shocking_your_pool
It can take days, if not over a week, to clear your pool; at least in my experience!
pool-school/shocking_your_pool
It can take days, if not over a week, to clear your pool; at least in my experience!
When you put 15 in the Target what is the number in the Now column?
As long as the number in the Now column is more than the number in the Target colum you won't have to add any chlorine.
As long as the number in the Now column is more than the number in the Target colum you won't have to add any chlorine.
Olay. Thanks, everyone. I will check again midday. I really appreciate the advice!!
If your current FC is higher than 15, there is no need to add more bleach until it falls below 15 