Cloudy Water

[Texas Splash]

I picked up lot white gritty crystalline powder.

Hummm. Maybe grab some of it, put it in a pile somewhere that you can pour a little muriatic acid on it. Just a little bit. If it fizzles it's calcium. If not, then we'll go back to the drawing board.

 

[Diamond_Pool]

I collected some material. There is some gritty and fibrous material. There is no fizzing when muriatic acid is added but firborus material float. Some of it did dissolve with muriatic acid but not all

 

[Texas Splash]

Fizzle would seem to indicate calcium to some degree. @JamesW what do you think?

 

[Diamond_Pool]

Looks like our cloudy water is coming back. I have maintained FC above 10 all along and water is now slightly cloudy. No CC.

 

[Diamond_Pool]

As an FYI. I have been not confident in CYA test. All i know is have added 10lbs total in 16500 gallon pool which is mac at 73 and i have backwashed filter at least 3-4 times. So CYA is likely below 70. We had no issues when my CYA was around 50. Only these started occuring when CYA went to 70

 

[Diamond_Pool]

Any suggestions. I started the slam again but truly want to understand what us going on

 

[Diamond_Pool]

We recently got a new SWG pool and for first month it has been fine. No cloudiness no issues (CYA was around 50 and FC 4-6
As I started learning more that SWG CYA range of 70-80, I started raising it 75 range.

And immediately after that I am fighting cloudy water. First time I was told my FC at 5 was low for a CYA of 70. I did slam last week and passed all 3 criteria. I brought FC back in 10-12 range (decided to keep it high) but I am getting cloudy water again (5 days post SLAM).

I have restarted SLAM but want to know what I m doing wrong. I scrubbed and vacuumed. Ran robot multiple times.
I was getting some white stuff in the robot filter mot sure what it was

Please help

 

[PoolStored]

Hey!

Your logs note that you added 3 cups of cellulose fiber 6 days ago. Can you tell us where you added it to (skimmer, deep end, ?), and why?

Are you using it as a replacement for Diatomaceous earth?. Cellulose fiber degrades from chlorine exposure. It forms a sticky mass that is more difficult to remove than dirty DE and so the recommendation is to backwash more frequently. Also, unlike the pool industry, TFP recommends backwashing a filter once the pressure rises 25% above clean pressure. We also recommend you annually tear down your filter and deep clean it.

How often have you been backwashing? Why do you not use DE?

It may be that you have a tear in the filter or other break, the cellulose degraded and is being blown back into the pool.

 

[Diamond_Pool]

Cellulose fiber was added directly in skimmer

 

[PoolStored]

Cellulose fiber was added directly in skimmer

Read my reply above, I updated it.

 

[PoolStored]

Sorry this happened to you. I think it warrants a good backwash and an inspection of the DE filter. This will confirm there are no torn grids, worn out manifold, damaged O-rings and/or gaskets, a damaged standpipe, leaking valves, or a pump suction leak, some of which will allow the DE or Cellulose to be expelled into the pool. This will also tell you if the grids are gummed up.

I would also recommend that you revert to using DE.

 

[Diamond_Pool]

That might make sense. Is the fluffy material I after slam Cellulose fiber? I was using fiber was it is biodegradable and not carcinogenic. I can start using DE.

 

[PoolStored]

Is the fluffy material I after slam Cellulose fiber?

I would bet on it. Also a good practice to teardown and inspect your filter one/twice a year.

Nah, not cancer causing. Cellulose fibers are fibers made with ethers or esters of cellulose, which can be obtained from the bark, wood or leaves of plants, or from other plant-based material.

I get the interest in using biodegradable materials.

Here is a good thread with discussion on the tradeoffs. Largely a personal choice.

Cellulose fiber in DE filter

Hi All, I have a few questions regarding Cellulose fiber replacement in a DE filter. I have a Pentair FNS+ 60 DE filter in which I'm using a Cellulose fiber replacement. Every 3 or so weeks my filter pressure runs high and backwashing becomes futile. As time goes on, backwashing seems to...

www.troublefreepool.com

 

[Diamond_Pool]

Filter is new barey used for 2 months. I guess i need to get that cellulose out.
What is some crytalline material coming out of sight glass

 

[Diamond_Pool]

Water is clear this morning already. No increase in filter pressure. Ran robot all night.
Skimmer sock has this weird stuff on it

FC dropped from 29 to 26.5.
Technically if this is cellulose fiber it can consume FC?

 

[Texas Splash]

Since the pool was crystal clear a few days ago, and I looked back at everything so far, only two questionable items stick out to me:
1 - Your concern for an accurate CYA test
2 - The condition of your sand filter

I don't recall you ever saying if you recently opened the filter to perform a deep clean? If not, it may be time.

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

For the CYA, you are correct in that just from what you've added alone it should be close to 70. I don't recall if there was ever any CYA in there before, so hopefully it never went too high. If it did, the black dot would disappear very fast when viewing. But below are my own cheat-cheat notes about the CYA test for you to compare to your own testing.

While we normally related cloudiness to algae, you just completed a SLAM, and your FC level has been elevated, so let's just see how things go for a day or two once you confirm the two items above. If the water remains cloudy, you might do another Overnight Chlorine Loss Test over the weekend.

CYA Testing:
Proper lighting is critical for the CYA test, so you want to test for CYA outside on a bright sunny day. Taylor recommends standing outside with your back to the sun and the view tube in the shade of your body. Use the mixing bottle to combine/gently mix the required amounts of pool water and R-0013 reagent, let sit for 30 seconds, then gently mix again. Then, while holding the skinny tube with the black dot at waist level, begin squirting the mixed solution into the skinny tube. Watch the black dot until it completely disappears. If it helps, pour a little, look away, then look back and pour some more. Some people like to squirt enough solution to go line-by-line for a better feel. Once it disappears, record the CYA reading. After the first test, you can pour the mixed solution from the skinny view tube back to the mixing bottle, shake, and do the same test a second, third, or fourth time to instill consistency in your technique, become more comfortable with the testing, and validate the CYA reading. If you are still questioning your own results, have a friend or two do the same test 2-3 times. Share your results only after everyone is done to see if you came up with the same average results.

 

[PoolStored]

Technically if this is cellulose fiber it can consume FC?

Not likely.

 

[Diamond_Pool]

Not likely.

Is that stuff fiber or dead algae? I do not know what dead algae looks like.
Robot did not pick up much stuff.
I will continue SLAM

 

[Diamond_Pool]

CYA was zero before. I am pretty positive I am measuring right. Will do another one today.
Sand filter has never been deep cleaned

 

[Diamond_Pool]

Could this be cellulose fiber. I have been using as filter aid and someone on TFP commented.
Also I did not pass OCLT last night. I already started another SLAM last night

Water is crystal clear again. Should I continue SLAM? Until all 3 conditions are met