Brand New Pool Cloudy— Help I’m Desperate!

[Royaloaker]

Why 80 or why the 10?

The test is a turbidity test and is dependent on light. Very roughly speaking, direct overhead sunlight is around 100,000 lux, strong indirect light (i.e. shaded from the sun) is around 10,000 lux, an overcast sky is around 1000-5000 lux but varies on how overcast (which is why a bright white cloud overcast is still OK), indoors is usually < 1000 even in a bright kitchen (more typically 500 lux).

It will always show low in indoor light, because there isn't enough light bouncing off the turbid material in the test.

The reason for the 10 is the following. You see the dot at 60. You don't see the dot at 50. That means it transitioned to being obscured between 50 and 60, so your CYA is somewhere between 50 and 60. We don't know where, so we round up.

I just meant why the increase from yesterday. I did it the way you said— I just didn’t understand why the increase but maybe there was no increase— maybe it was just user error. So adjust SLAM amounts based on 90?

 

[Royaloaker]

Ugh saying on the website to drain some water bc it’s over 70?? But calculator is showing SLAM level is 35 with a CYA of 90. What should I do?

 

[PoolStored]

So adjust SLAM amounts based on 90?

Now you understand why I harped on the testing...Lol, not lol.

Soooooo, here is the thing. It becomes reaaaaaly difficult to slam with CYA over 70. Even 70 is a bit difficult, but with diligence can be done. I've never seen a pool SLAM be successful at 80 or 90.

To lower your CYA to 60 you need to replace 2500 gallons. We can continue progress WHILE we replace water. Do you have a sump pump? See no drain water exchange here:

Draining - Further Reading

www.troublefreepool.com

I would retest a couple times. You can use the same sample and pour back and forth into the view tube. The sample is good for at least 5 minutes. Do another test and pour back and forth. You do and hubby do compare until you are sure.

Confirm 90, raise to FC to 36, and we should start the water exchange.

 

[Royaloaker]

I ran out of reactor bc I’ve been doing the test so many times. So can’t do test angain until later. Yes, we have a sump. This is so bad.

 

[PoolStored]

BTW, the OCLT tonight should confirm or deny the presence of algae. If you fail, then we exchange water.

If you pass, we just keep FC up to 36 until the pool clears and you have 0 CC.

 

[PoolStored]

If we get to the exchange, put the sump in a bucket when you put it in the pool to protect the pool surface.

 

[Royaloaker]

BTW, the OCLT tonight should confirm or deny the presence of algae. If you fail, then we exchange water.

If you pass, we just keep FC up to 36 until the pool clears and you have 0 CC.

Ok, thanks. So to summarize, do the 35 now, put the DE into the filter, do the OCLT tonight and tomorrow, and if loss of > 1 FC, start exchanging water? And in the meantime, raise pump to 80% every 2 hours for abt 1/2 hour (?) to see if increases to 25% over norm (12.5 psi)?

 

[PoolStored]

Ok, thanks. So to summarize, do the 35 now,

Thinking about this more, I would not add to 36 yet. Doing an OCLT is *really* hard at high FC...36 will require 72 drops. Taylor error is +/-1 drop for each 10. To get a good OCLT, I'd let FC ride for the rest of the day. Don't add more. We have killed some stuff and making progress, so I'm not worried.

put the DE into the filter,

Yep

do the OCLT tonight and tomorrow, and if loss of > 1 FC, start exchanging water?

Yep. Be careful with both tests. Go slow. Drop the drops slowly, let them fall under their own weight, count carefully, have hubby help. Testing error will be higher because of the number of drops as I indicated above.

And in the meantime, raise pump to 80% every 2 hours for abt 1/2 hour (?) to see if increases to 25% over norm (12.5 psi)?

You only need to let the pump run about 10 seconds at the higher speed, note pressure, then turn it back down. Don't need to wait 1/2 hour. The 1/2 hour was if you put the pump to the spa and add chlorine, it needs about 20-30 minutes to mix the chlorine.

To be crystal clear, the SLAM can work at 90 CYA, but the quantities of bleach will be large. Do you know your water rates? You want to exchange/make it easy/mess with it...or spend it on chlorine?

 

[PoolStored]

Oh, and clean your vials with rubbing alcohol and dry before each OCLT test. We want to get a really good set of tests...eliminate as many testing errors as possible...

 

[Royaloaker]

Thinking about this more, I would not add to 36 yet. Doing an OCLT is *really* hard at high FC...36 will require 72 drops. Taylor error is +/-1 drop for each 10. To get a good OCLT, I'd let FC ride for the rest of the day. Don't add more. We have killed some stuff and making progress, so I'm not worried.

Yep

Yep. Be careful with both tests. Go slow. Drop the drops slowly, let them fall under their own weight, count carefully, have hubby help. Testing error will be higher because of the number of drops as I indicated above.

You only need to let the pump run about 10 seconds at the higher speed, note pressure, then turn it back down. Don't need to wait 1/2 hour. The 1/2 hour was if you put the pump to the spa and add chlorine, it needs about 20-30 minutes to mix the chlorine.

To be crystal clear, the SLAM can work at 90 CYA, but the quantities of bleach will be large. Do you know your water rates? You want to exchange/make it easy/mess with it...or spend it on chlorine?

We will do the exchange. We will backwash and rinse filter first which will get rid of some water. Will do tonight bc I haven’t done it myself yet, only watched hubby (not comfortable yet).

 

[PoolStored]

Do you have an autofill?

 

[Royaloaker]

Do you have an autofill?

No

 

[Royaloaker]

@PoolStored should I use these directions to add DE? Add DE to a Sand Filter

And should we do this today?

 

[PoolStored]

Yes and Yes.

When you add DE, you want to be careful. It is a carcinogen if breathed. Get an N95 mask when you go to ACE.

You also want to watch your pressure carefully. When you add it, run your pump at 80% to note the 1psi increase.

I would check your pressures every hour when you first add it, it may climb quickly as the DE is working.

 

[Royaloaker]

Yes and Yes.

Great. Yes, had an N95 mask alr.

 

[PoolStored]

To get a good OCLT, I'd let FC ride for the rest of the day. Don't add more. We have killed some stuff and making progress, so I'm not worried.

^^^Don't add more FC today. I want it to come down to improve the chances we get a good set of OCLT tests. The more drops we need to use, the more error in the test.

 

[Royaloaker]

Yes and Yes.

We are at 2 cups DE w no movement at 80%. Keep going?? Adding 1/4 increments dissolved in bucket of water.

 

[PoolStored]

I would not go over 2 cups. Does your pressure gauge go to 0 when the pump is off? I know it is new, but you never know.

 

[Royaloaker]

I would not go over 2 cups. Does your pressure gauge go to 0 when the pump is off? I know it is new, but you never know.

Ok it did increase maybe like 1/4 psi after the last 1/4 cup. Yes, it goes to zero when off.

 

[PoolStored]

What is the clean filter pressure? What is it now after 2 cups.