Hello Everyone!!
New indoor pool owner as of Thanksgiving weekend 2007. Gunite construction with integrated spa. Just short of 60,000 gal. No SWG...yet! Cartridge filter, N2 and 3" disc chlorinator. Auto cover on rails. Pool builder encouraged us to brush gunite weekly which I have nearly succeeded doing. Chemicals very difficult to regulate the first 6 weeks especially alkalinity (very high). Lately they have been very good, stable.
We have 2 ongoing problems that we have not figured out. I have read hundreds of posts on this site (a million thanks to all!) and nothing quite matches my problems. The first problem are white flakes. They are mostly small and fine. Not really noticable until the lights are on. However, there have been a couple times that I have noticed large flakes approaching the size of a dime. I attempted to scoop one up to bring in to the pool store, but they just disintegrate. I have cleaned my filter twice in 4 months and even put brand new cartridges in with the second cleaning. It isn't the worst thing, but my wife knows it is there and it is bothersome, especially since the pool is so new and was so costly. I saw lots of post regarding flakes with a SWG, but I am without one.
My second issue is a floating film. To me it looks like something between oil on the water and a light coating of floating flour. Again not earth shattering, but it is noticeable and more importantly we know its there. Usually most noticeable during the day, looking at just the right angle, in just the right window light. I asked about it at the pool store and they recommended trying the "Scub bug". I also asked my pool builder, to which he replied it is a chemical breakdown of the cover on the pool caused by the chemistry being so far off. Seemed ridiculous at the time but plausible. Now that the chemicals are good it seems more ridiculous. Things that have made this much worse include two episodes where chlorine got low. First was after initial fill and shock. Chlorine was off the scale high for more than a month. Then one day no chlorine. Second about a month ago, just plain stupidity on my part. Tested chemicals, all is well, but didn't check the chlorinator. Next time I opened cover water looked pretty scummy. The scum currently is very minimal, water crystal clear. During the low chlorine times, much more obvious (almost a green foamy film). The Scum bugs do seem to pick things up and the water line inside my skimmers also pick up a golden yellow greasy looking substance. But overall the scum/film persists.
I see everyone asks for a chem analysis (from the pool store computer) so I will include it:
FC 2.9
TC 3.2
CC 0.4
pH 7.4
hardness 290
alk 134
CYA 55
Copper 0.7
Iron 0.2
Any ideas, I am all ears and grateful for the help. Thanks. Jeff
New indoor pool owner as of Thanksgiving weekend 2007. Gunite construction with integrated spa. Just short of 60,000 gal. No SWG...yet! Cartridge filter, N2 and 3" disc chlorinator. Auto cover on rails. Pool builder encouraged us to brush gunite weekly which I have nearly succeeded doing. Chemicals very difficult to regulate the first 6 weeks especially alkalinity (very high). Lately they have been very good, stable.
We have 2 ongoing problems that we have not figured out. I have read hundreds of posts on this site (a million thanks to all!) and nothing quite matches my problems. The first problem are white flakes. They are mostly small and fine. Not really noticable until the lights are on. However, there have been a couple times that I have noticed large flakes approaching the size of a dime. I attempted to scoop one up to bring in to the pool store, but they just disintegrate. I have cleaned my filter twice in 4 months and even put brand new cartridges in with the second cleaning. It isn't the worst thing, but my wife knows it is there and it is bothersome, especially since the pool is so new and was so costly. I saw lots of post regarding flakes with a SWG, but I am without one.
My second issue is a floating film. To me it looks like something between oil on the water and a light coating of floating flour. Again not earth shattering, but it is noticeable and more importantly we know its there. Usually most noticeable during the day, looking at just the right angle, in just the right window light. I asked about it at the pool store and they recommended trying the "Scub bug". I also asked my pool builder, to which he replied it is a chemical breakdown of the cover on the pool caused by the chemistry being so far off. Seemed ridiculous at the time but plausible. Now that the chemicals are good it seems more ridiculous. Things that have made this much worse include two episodes where chlorine got low. First was after initial fill and shock. Chlorine was off the scale high for more than a month. Then one day no chlorine. Second about a month ago, just plain stupidity on my part. Tested chemicals, all is well, but didn't check the chlorinator. Next time I opened cover water looked pretty scummy. The scum currently is very minimal, water crystal clear. During the low chlorine times, much more obvious (almost a green foamy film). The Scum bugs do seem to pick things up and the water line inside my skimmers also pick up a golden yellow greasy looking substance. But overall the scum/film persists.
I see everyone asks for a chem analysis (from the pool store computer) so I will include it:
FC 2.9
TC 3.2
CC 0.4
pH 7.4
hardness 290
alk 134
CYA 55
Copper 0.7
Iron 0.2
Any ideas, I am all ears and grateful for the help. Thanks. Jeff