Having trouble with high alkalinity and cloudy water

[reba627]

Preface: this is my first season using the TFP way and still learning the ins and outs of it all.

I can’t seem to get my alkalinity down!

Added 2C of muriatic acid yesterday, but since I started testing earlier this month it’s been over 100. Trying to follow the app recommendations but it just says to lower TA add acid then aerate. I also added 16oz of HTH shock (56% cal-hypo, no CYA) last night and the pump and filter have been running for 24 hours now.

Water had a slight hint of green to it yesterday, and I don’t know if it was dirt and sand or algae I vacuumed up yesterday but I just checked the pH and Chlorine just now, yesterday TC was 0.5 and after the shock it’s 5.5.

Should I add more Borax to raise the pH? Or should I go right to SLAM? I haven’t done that yet, wish I would have when I opened the pool last month, but where to go from here? I’d like to lower TA, get some consistent chlorine levels (but I also need to start testing more than once a week for that I think) and I have the HTH shock, liquid chlorine, liquid bleach, MA, Borax, baking soda and stabilizer (CYA) in my arsenal.

I do plan on using the pool tomorrow and through the weekend so open to any suggestions on how best to approach this. Or should I just keep the pump and filter running nonstop for another day or two? But I want crystal clear water because I’m jealous of all the photos on here of it

At least the green is gone (and it was barely noticeable but I noticed it)

 

[Texas Splash]

I would first say slow down. No need to chase the TA or add a bunch of product to the water. The TA has nothing to do with your cloudy water. More than likely that's related to algae. Your FC was last tested at about 5.5 ppm, so I would ensure it goes no lower than that all day today. In fact, I would increase a little more to about 8 ppm simply because your water is cloudy and probably under a bit of stress from organics. Keep the FC strong today and consider doing an Overnight Chlorine Loss Test this evening. This will confirm if you have algae and need to do a SLAM Process. My gut tells me you will need to do a SLAM, but the OCLT will help you confirm. Hope that helps.

 

[reba627]

I would first say slow down. No need to chase the TA or add a bunch of product to the water. The TA has nothing to do with your cloudy water. More than likely that's related to algae. Your FC was last tested at about 5.5 ppm, so I would ensure it goes no lower than that all day today. In fact, I would increase a little more to about 8 ppm simply because your water is cloudy and probably under a bit of stress from organics. Keep the FC strong today and consider doing an Overnight Chlorine Loss Test this evening. This will confirm if you have algae and need to do a SLAM Process. My gut tells me you will need to do a SLAM, but the OCLT will help you confirm. Hope that helps.

Thank you! And thanks for the reminder to do the OCLT! Going to do that tonight and will update tomorrow.

Also, can I just use the pool math app to figure out how much liquid chlorine I’ll need to increase? And should I perform the OCLT tonight after I add chlorine? Or just add chlorine tomorrow and test as is tonight and tomorrow morning?

 

[Texas Splash]

can I just use the pool math app to figure out how much liquid chlorine I’ll need to increase?

Absolutely! Look for "Effects of Adding"

should I perform the OCLT tonight after I add chlorine?

Depends. You don't want your FC falling too low tonight, so if your FC is currently about 4, I would increase it to about 6-7 for the OCLT to be safe just in case you do lose some FC overnight. I would also just leave the pump running on low speed. Be sure to wait at least 30 minutes before taking your first sample it you added chlorine. Both PM and AM test with no sun on water.

 

[reba627]

Absolutely! Look for "Effects of Adding"


Depends. You don't want your FC falling too low tonight, so if your FC is currently about 4, I would increase it to about 6-7 for the OCLT to be safe just in case you do lose some FC overnight. I would also just leave the pump running on low speed. Be sure to wait at least 30 minutes before taking your first sample it you added chlorine. Both PM and AM test with no sun on water.

I only have a high speed pump. I was planning on keeping it running. But thank you for all of this! I’ll report back!

Absolutely! Look for "Effects of Adding"


Depends. You don't want your FC falling too low tonight, so if your FC is currently about 4, I would increase it to about 6-7 for the OCLT to be safe just in case you do lose some FC overnight. I would also just leave the pump running on low speed. Be sure to wait at least 30 minutes before taking your first sample it you added chlorine. Both PM and AM test with no sun on water.

okay so I checked things. Last night I added 10% bleach and tested 45 minutes later and TC was 7 (FC 6.5 and CC .5). Tested this morning and FC was 4.5 and CC .5

Does this mean it’s time to SLAM?

 

[Texas Splash]

Does this mean it’s time to SLAM?

Afraid so. Losing more than 1 ppm means you have too much organic stuff in there eating chlorine. Reference the SLAM tab on the FC/CYA Levels and let us know if you have any questions.

 

[reba627]

Afraid so. Losing more than 1 ppm means you have too much organic stuff in there eating chlorine. Reference the SLAM tab on the FC/CYA Levels and let us know if you have any questions.

Thank you so much for all of the help! I’ll consult the chart

 

[reba627]

Okay an update:

I added 212 fl oz of 10% bleach last night to bring the FC up to 20 per the CYA/Chlorine chart.

Tested levels this morning and FC was at 11 and CC was 0.5, but would it really drop down that much overnight? And do I want to keep consulting the CYA/Chlorine chart and continue to SLAM based on the chlorine readings until it passes the OCLT and the water is clear and CC is below 0.5? (Which it hasn’t been above that)

 

[mknauss]

Follow the SLAM Process

 

[reba627]

Follow the SLAM Process

Been doing SLAM for the past 2 nights. Yesterday morning TC was 7, and using the CYA/Chlorine chart I treated again last night and this morning TC was 14.5, so getting there I think! Chart says for SLAM bring TC up to 20, so I’ve been using liquid chlorine with the pool math calculations.

I’m just ready to give my pump a break Hopefully tonight will be the last night I need to treat for a bit.

 

[mknauss]

Be sure to test FC and add LC back to SLAM Level FC several times per day.

 

[reba627]

Be sure to test FC and add LC back to SLAM Level FC several times per day.

So this is where I am confused. Isn’t LC only supposed to be added when the sun is down? Or during SLAM does it not matter when it’s added?

I performed another OCLT and it went from 7.5 last night to 6.5 this morning (10 hours apart), and CC is 0.5, water still isn’t crystal clear so does that mean I need to continue to SLAM and just keep the FC at 20 per the CYA/chlorine chart? And my sand filter is reaching the point where it needs to be backwashed, is that okay to do during SLAM?

 

[mknauss]

Isn’t LC only supposed to be added when the sun is down?

It does not matter when you add chlorine.
Continue to follow the SLAM process.

 

[jark87]

Isn’t LC only supposed to be added when the sun is down?

No, you need to try to maintain your SLAM level constantly until you pass the OCLT. That means testing throughout the day. I’ve only had to SLAM once or twice, so I’m no expert, but when I did, I was testing every 2-3 hours during the day. If I dipped below my SLAM level, I was catching it pretty quickly and adjusting back up. Keeping your FC at SLAM level constantly is what kills the algae. If you let it get too far below that level, some algae can survive, making it a constant battle because you’ll never pass the OCLT in that scenario.

 

[reba627]

No, you need to try to maintain your SLAM level constantly until you pass the OCLT. That means testing throughout the day. I’ve only had to SLAM once or twice, so I’m no expert, but when I did, I was testing every 2-3 hours during the day. If I dipped below my SLAM level, I was catching it pretty quickly and adjusting back up. Keeping your FC at SLAM level constantly is what kills the algae. If you let it get too far below that level, some algae can survive, making it a constant battle because you’ll never pass the OCLT in that scenario.

Thank you! So if my SLAM level of FC is 20, I need to keep adding enough LC to keep it at that until it stays at that level for the OCLT?

 

[mknauss]

Read SLAM Process
The M is for Maintain. When the FC drops below the SLAM level FC, you add more chlorine to get back to the SLAM level FC.
When the pool water is crystal clear, no debris, you do the Overnight Chlorine Loss Test. The FC will never 'stay at a level' as the UV from the sun consumes some every day.

 

[jeffchap]

Thank you! So if my SLAM level of FC is 20, I need to keep adding enough LC to keep it at that until it stays at that level for the OCLT?

Yes, as often as possible. You can perform the OCLT any night you wish. But you haven't passed until FC drops by 1 or less overnight.

 

[reba627]

Okay, I don’t know why I can’t get this sorted out. Been testing more frequently the last 2 days per recommendations on this thread (thank you everyone for the help and suggestions!).

The water is getting clearer and clearer, but I cannot get this TA down for the life of me. And pH keeps rising, even with adding MA. And I finally got to 20 TC earlier today only for it to drop back down to 16.5.

I vacuumed yesterday, brushed today, this pump has been running 24/7 for over a week, been primarily using 10% bleach, but several days ago I ran out so tossed a 16oz bag of 53% cal-hypo HTH shock (no CYA).

Do I keep going? I cannot figure out how to lower the TA, because why isn’t this muriatic acid Lowering it? And how else can I get my pH down? It won’t stay down.

I don’t know what to do but I’ve obviously messed up somehow.

 

[mknauss]

If FC is above 10 ppm, the pH test is invalid. Do not take any action regarding pH when FC is at or above 10 ppm.

 

[reba627]

If FC is above 10 ppm, the pH test is invalid. Do not take any action regarding pH when FC is at or above 10 ppm.

Thank you, apparently I missed that memo in my reading.

So I only lost 1ppm in the OCLT, and CC is 0.5, and water is clearer than it was, so would I be okay to stop the SLAM and just move on to maintenance and see how it goes for the next few days? I will continue to brush, vacuum and check levels.

And next year I am buying a variable speed pump!