Cloudy water, running pump 24/7 for over 3 weeks

[Jordan19852]

So here’s my story, from the start. For 20 years I have never covered my pool for the winter, I have very few trees around my house and never have a problem with leaves. So same thing this year. The beginning of April I noticed my pool was greener than it has ever been so I started to clean it up. I adjusted the PH accordingly, followed by a slam of shock, I noticed the alkalinity was real low so I added that. The green went away, but was left cloudy. I added a algacide and clarifier the next day. Ran the pump continuously 24/7. I waited a few days, noticed the now the alkalinity was off the chart, so I began to attempt to lower it slowly by adding acid and keeping the return at the surface to keep the ph up. The alkalinity is still a little high but much better. At this point I noticed the vari flo valve was letting water back in my pool while backwashing. So I replaced the top portion of the valve, not the entire valve, which solved that problem, I also changed the sand for the first time in 5 years. Still continually running the pump. My pool store recommended metal out and pool tonic as an attempt to clear the pool. After another week no improvement. They tested the water again, everything was good except for phosphates were now over 4000 when they were only 1300 the prior test. Not sure what happened there. So they had me use an entire quart of phos free max, still keeping up with chlorine and weekly chemicals the pool is still cloudy. I am now 4 weeks into this pool and 500$ In the toilet and I am seeing no improvement. I have not turned the filter off in four weeks.The pool is blue but very cloudy, when I backwash the water is very white.

This is a picture with my



This is a picture of the backwash water.

 

[an1vrsy]

Welcome to TFP.

@Texas Splash in your other thread, gave you a link to a great write-up on what cloudy water means and how to resolve it. I will just add, how are you testing your water? We, the TFP mods and experienced pool enthusiast, need to know what the levels are in your pool. There are only 2 test kits that are recommended to give you the required pool chemistry info that you need to solve your problem. Either the Taylor K2006C or TF-test kits TF100. Let us know. You can do this.

 

[YippeeSkippy]

Wow.... look at all that chemical soup in the backwash water!
First thing is first- how are you testing your water? Do you have one of the kits we endorse? I need to know from your own reliable test kit:
FC
CC
pH
TA
CH
CYA
Salt if applicable

STOP throwing unneeded chemicals into that soup- I can't imagine how much money that set you back when all you needed was liquid chlorine and time.

Sand filters sand don't require routine changing, but cleaning the sand is always a good idea.

Deep Cleaning a Sand Filter

This post will walk you through the anatomy of a sand filter, and then provide a video at the end for how to deep clean your sand filter. The filter used in the photos and videos is a Hayward S180T top mount sand filter. The images are of a similar filter. Obviously not all filters are...

www.troublefreepool.com

When you say you "Slam of shock" - what does that mean you did? What product did you use and how often did you use it?
SLAM Process



Please update us on test results. I prefer the TF-100 kit from www.tftestkits.net or a Taylor K-2006C, from a source online but its more costly.

Maddie

 

[Jordan19852]

I do not have one of the test kits, since I’ve had my pool for the last 5 years, I have only used the test strips and my local pool store test it periodically. They used a bioguard Alex test system. I have had perfect water every year till now. I have no problem getting one of those test kits, but I’ll have to order it now

 

[YippeeSkippy]

Have you *really* had perfect water?? Take a look at TFP water-

How Clear is TFP Clear? Let's See (Pics Only Please).

How clear should my water be? A very common question. Here is mine on a calm morning where I could finally vacuum. Yes I know, I'm still manually vacuuming. It took me 7 years to finally get an SWG, I'm working on a robot. :) So now let's see your water clarity.

www.troublefreepool.com

Maddie

 

[Jordan19852]

Have you *really* had perfect water?? Take a look at TFP water-

How Clear is TFP Clear? Let's See (Pics Only Please).

How clear should my water be? A very common question. Here is mine on a calm morning where I could finally vacuum. Yes I know, I'm still manually vacuuming. It took me 7 years to finally get an SWG, I'm working on a robot. :) So now let's see your water clarity.

www.troublefreepool.com

Maddie

I agree you do have perfectly clear water, all I meant was, it’s been clear, it’s been balanced and no issues.

 

[an1vrsy]

Good job ordering one of the recommended test kits. Do you have a local source for liquid shock (chlorine)? A local hardware store, Walmart, big box store, etc. Once your test kit arrives, post up your test kit results and TFP members will gladly assist you.

 

[Oly]

Your experience is not unique among pool owners who find TFP, me included. The first step toward understanding how to balance your pool water is the ability to properly self test your pool water at home, as often as needed. An understanding of the effects of adding any chemicals to your pool is also critical. TFP is a goldmine for pool owners willing to learn the basics and invest in the time and the tools to monitor your pool. This site is unique in so many ways and will save you many $ going forward.

 

[Jordan19852]

While I’m waiting for my test kit to come I figured I’d share my test results to see if anything is standing out to you guys

 

[an1vrsy]

The reason test results from pool stores are not reliable is contained in the conflicting analysis. Your pH level of 7.4 has a green check mark next to it. Which if believed is an appropriate level. Then in the problem area of the report at the bottom, they want you to add a product they will sell you to lower your pH because it’s too high OR will be high after they sell you a different product to resolve a different perceived problem.

Pool stores main focus is to make money by selling you something. I wouldn’t trust test results that has info that conflicts. Get your own kit, then post your results from your testing.

 

[Jordan19852]

It ordered the TF-100, hopefully it comes soon

 

[JJ_Tex]

Sorry, but you have been "pool stored". Their #1 thing on their sheet is that you have copper in your water. Guess how that got in there... from the algaecide and other junk they sold you.

If I were you I would do a couple of things:
1. Stop going to the pool store.
2. Buy a quality test kit. Yes, they can be a bit pricey but that is likely the most expensive thing you will have to buy for your pool for quite a while. Note - You posted as I was typing, good job on ordering the test kit.
3. Familiarize yourself with pool school, especially the FC/CYA chart (also in my signature). For a CYA of 60 (55 rounded up, if we believe your pool store results) your chlorine should be between 7-9. The bare minimum is 5 for your FC, which you are under and why your water is cloudy.
4. Figure out where to find liquid chlorine. My walmart sells it called pool essentials and it is about $4/gallon, but Lowes, Home Depot, other hardware stores, and even pool stores carry it.
5. Keep reading and posting up any questions on here. There are hundreds if not thousands of eager pool owners willing to help pay it forward from them being in the same position as you previously.

 

[Jordan19852]

Any recommendations for what I should do in the meantime while waiting for my rest kit?

 

[Newdude]

Add 5ppm per day of bleach and it won’t get any worse. Download poolmath if you haven’t already.

Once you have the test kit not only will you have reliable results, but you can get them several times a day in order to SLAM Process

 

[Jordan19852]

My test kit came today, here are my results

 

[IceShadow]

What is the TA? 242 isn’t something the kit can give a result for.

That said - you have a good CYA level for the SLAM Process. Read through that and let us know if you have questions. Keep the filter going (perhaps a deep clean as posted upthread is a good idea first seeing what’s coming out in your backwash) and then test, add chlorine, test, add chlorine, repeat over and over until the water clears. With a sand filter it can take some time.

 

[Jordan19852]

Sorry that was supposed to say TA-240.
what would cause TA to be so high? I have used 3 gallons of Acid trying to lower it this year already.

I turned my filter off for a day just to give it a break, the next day the water was clearer with sediment on the bottom, I plan to vacuum to waste tomorrow and then start the SLAM

 

[IceShadow]

What is the TA of your fill water? Do you get a lot of evaporation and have to fill? High TA fill water combined with replacing evaporation is usually what causes high TA.

The good news is that high TA will make your pH rise, but it means you add acid to bring your pH down, and that will lower your TA too. So long as you aren’t adding more TA from something like high TA fill water then it’ll come down over time. You can force it down by aerating your pool to drive up pH, then adding acid to lower both pH and TA, then repeat, but unless your CSI is high, it’s not really needed.

 

[Jordan19852]

CSI?

 

[IceShadow]

Calcium Saturation Index (CSI)

How is CSI calculated? Very simple – use our PoolMath tool. To ensure long plaster life and save money, click here to learn more.

www.troublefreepool.com

Depending on your liner it’s not always something you need to worry about.