Still cloudy after 11 days

[CurtB]

Hi,

I'm new as far as registering but I've been following TFP protocols for a few years now and it's been working great. This year however I can't seem to clear up the water after slamming. Opened the pool this year a little later than normal and was a definitely a swampy looking mess! I kept it in shock until I passed two consecutive overnight chlorine tests and showed 0 CC's. At that point I quit putting in chlorine and figured the filter would clear up the water just like last year. Last year I could see it improving but this year it doesn't seem to change at all even though I'm running the pump 24/7 for 10 days now. Just cloudy blue, can't see the bottom at all even in the shallow end.

The sand was changed in the filter in 2015. I tried adding some DE (1/2 cup) which would raise my pressure from 24 to 26 but it doesn't seem to help. I'm going to check my sand filter to make sure it's not channeling but I doubt it.

Any thoughts? The protocol states to keep slamming the pool until you 1. Pass the overnight chlorine test 2. Less than .5 CC's and 3. Water is clear. The question I have is once you pass the first two steps you don't really need to keep the chlorine PPM in shock mode do you because now the algae is dead and isn't it a matter of just filtering?

 

[duraleigh]

Welcome to the forum

The question I have is once you pass the first two steps you don't really need to keep the chlorine PPM in shock mode do you because now the algae is dead and isn't it a matter of just filtering?

As you have seen, that doesn't always work. There is likely some algae still living and you no longer are carrying enough chlorine to kill it. Your SLAM value FC should stay at SLAM value until your pool is clear.

 

[CurtB]

Welcome to the forum As you have seen, that doesn't always work. There is likely some algae still living and you no longer are carrying enough chlorine to kill it. Your SLAM value FC should stay at SLAM value until your pool is clear.

OK, thanks. I will bring it back to SLAM value then until it clears hopefully.

 

[CurtB]

OK, so I raised it back to over 20ppm (cya is 40) for the last 3 days now and still hardly any change. Did a OCLT last night at 25ppm and was 25ppm in morning. PH is 7.5. Checked filter, sand looks good, no channeling. Sand filter at 22psi, went up to 24psi over two days. I'm stumped. Like to use the pool over this coming holiday weekend but if I can't start dropping the FC it's not going to happen. Any thoughts?

 

[txnole]

The only way to do a SLAM is to do it until completed. Clearly dropping FC isn't working for you, so don't do that.

 

[CurtB]

The only way to do a SLAM is to do it until completed. Clearly dropping FC isn't working for you, so don't do that.

I know. I'm just baffled as to why I'm not seeing at least some change in the clarity. I keep thinking I'm missing something.

 

[TedC]

Could there be something off with the hardness or alkalinity? Maybe your CYA test is bad? You mentioned the chlorine and ph, so I'm betting you checked the rest, but it couldn't hurt to ask...

 

[CurtB]

Could there be something off with the hardness or alkalinity? Maybe your CYA test is bad? You mentioned the chlorine and ph, so I'm betting you checked the rest, but it couldn't hurt to ask...

I have done the CYA about 3 times so I'm pretty sure that's good. Hardness is not an issue as I have a salt water pool and those levels are good. I haven't test for alkalinity but I guess I could to make sure it's not way off. Thanks.

 

[TedC]

I have done the CYA about 3 times so I'm pretty sure that's good. Hardness is not an issue as I have a salt water pool and those levels are good. I haven't test for alkalinity but I guess I could to make sure it's not way off. Thanks.

Another recent thread here reminded me that chlorine is more effective at a lower ph. 7.2 was the recommendation.

Another post mentioned that it took something like two weeks of SLAM to get their pool clear.

I think you just have to be patient. Many people here, including me, have come back from the swamp.

 

[aftrshok99]

Patience is the key but hard to do. I went from a leaf filled swamp to crystal clear in just under a month, granted I don't have a pool as big as yours, not even close. LOL

 

[CurtB]

Another recent thread here reminded me that chlorine is more effective at a lower ph. 7.2 was the recommendation.

Another post mentioned that it took something like two weeks of SLAM to get their pool clear.

I think you just have to be patient. Many people here, including me, have come back from the swamp.

It was at 7.2 for awhile and just recently seem to go up some. I was surprised today when my FC went from 25ppm yesterday to 15ppm this AM as it hasn't been dropping like that. I'm hoping that means it's still clearing stuff and although it may be wishful thinking I do think it may be a little clearer. Put in a few more gallons and we'll keep hoping!

- - - Updated - - -

Patience is the key but hard to do. I went from a leaf filled swamp to crystal clear in just under a month, granted I don't have a pool as big as yours, not even close. LOL

Yea I think I messed up by not staying in shock mode after I passed the OCLT and cc test. I did that last year and it was clear by now but this year even though I passed those tests there must have still been some algae left. I won't make that mistake again!

 

[CurtB]

Just wanted to give a final update in case someone searches on "cloudy" they can learn from my mistake! Water is finally clear after 3 weeks of shocking. My mistake was after passing the overnight chlorine test and showing no cc's, (twice) I started to let the chlorine fall thinking the water would clear up as my filter ran. This is what I did last year and it worked however this year it didn't. After about 4 days of it not getting any clearer I raised it back up to shock level and it took another 10 days to finally clear up. So the lesson learned is make sure you keep up the shock even though you may pass the other tests and be patient as it can take a long time sometimes to clear up a very green pool.

 

[Catanzaro]

Regularly brush your pool as this help. Twice a week should be sufficient.