Cloudy Water

[FiguringItOut]

I purchased a home and it came with an above ground pool. During the home closing process, the pool owners moved out and left the pool without maintenance. There was a significant algae problem. We believe we have resolved the algae issue and have balanced the pool for the most part. Now we are left with cloudy water, mostly a white color, that will not go away with constant filter usage or with clarifier. Not sure what else to try.

pH has been the only issue as we are struggling to get it past 7.2, it is usually hovering in the 6.8 range regardless of what we do. We are looking into aeration devices to assist.

Current readings:
Free Chlorine 3
Total Chlorine 3
pH 6.8
Alkalinity 120
CYA 50
Hardness 250

The Chlorine levels have not dropped and stayed steady for a week now. We have vacuumed the pool, put in brand new cartridges in the filter, clarified twice about 3-4 days apart, and run the pump and filter nonstop for about 3 days (we had to fix a leak and paused it for a day or so to resolve that).

 

[PoolStored]

Welcome to TFP!!!

How are you testing your water?
If you don't have one of the kits we recommend, get one. Link-->Test Kits Compared
Why? You need one to SLAM. Test strips and pool store test is usually wrong, and if we give advice on wrong testing, we can do harm.

To clear your pool, follow the SLAM process here...Link-->SLAM Process
Proof? Link-->>How Clear is TFP Clear?

 

[HermanTX]

Welcome to TFP.
Please read
Pool Care Basics

Something is not right. It doesn’t make since to have a high TA and your pH is not rising.
How are you testing your pool water?
It is best to to test your self - please consider purchasing one of the test kits.
Test Kits Compared

 

[FiguringItOut]

Welcome to TFP!!!

How are you testing your water?
If you don't have one of the kits we recommend, get one. Link-->Test Kits Compared
Why? You need one to SLAM. Test strips and pool store test is usually wrong, and if we give advice on wrong testing, we can do harm.

To clear your pool, follow the SLAM process here...Link-->SLAM Process
Proof? Link-->>How Clear is TFP Clear?

I am using test strips. I have used 3 brands and they all read the same levels.

What indication is there to follow SLAM? My FC is not dropping and I no longer have visible algea. Is it simply because the water is still cloudy? The water did not become cloudy until after we had shocked the pool to kill the algea and vacuumed. Became cloudy probably 2 days later. Only thing I had added in those days was pH increaser trying to bring the dropping pH back up.

 

[Mdragger88]

I am using test strips. I have used 3 brands and they all read the same levels.

What indication is there to follow SLAM? My FC is not dropping and I no longer have visible algea. Is it simply because the water is still cloudy? The water did not become cloudy until after we had shocked the pool to kill the algea and vacuumed. Became cloudy probably 2 days later. Only thing I had added in those days was pH increaser trying to bring the dropping pH back up.

Yes - cloudy water is the indicator of algae.
If there weren’t more still alive there wouldn’t be continued replenishment of dead algae if that makes sense.
The strips are no good. They are simply to broad with their ranges to do what needs to be done. They also get bleached out easily and will lead you astray.
Get a tf100/pro or Taylor k2006c on order and simply add 5ppm worth of liquid chlorine each day - nothing else- until it comes to keep things from getting worse.
Please read through the
SLAM Process article so you’re prepared to do battle once you have your kit in hand.

 

[FiguringItOut]

Yes - cloudy water is the indicator of algae.
If there weren’t more still alive there wouldn’t be continued replenishment of dead algae if that makes sense.
The strips are no good. They are simply to broad with their ranges to do what needs to be done. They also get bleached out easily and will lead you astray.
Get a tf100/pro or Taylor k2006c on order and simply add 5ppm worth of liquid chlorine each day - nothing else- until it comes to keep things from getting worse.
Please read through the
SLAM Process article so you’re prepared to do battle once you have your kit in hand.

White cloudy water with chlorine levels that are constant without intervention is an indicator of live algae? Or dead algae?

 

[PoolStored]

White cloudy water with chlorine levels that are constant without intervention is an indicator of live algae? Or dead algae?

Yup. Can be. Do this test…link—>Overnight Chlorine Loss Test

 

[FiguringItOut]

There has been no overnight chlorine loss for over a week. I have been looking for this.

 

[PoolStored]

Post pictures of the pool.
How quickly does your filter pressure rise?

 

[HermanTX]

White cloudy water with chlorine levels that are constant without intervention is an indicator of live algae? Or dead algae?

What type of cartridge filter do you have? Can you provide make and model? You mentioned that you put in new cartridges. Do you remember the pressure that was on the filter immediately after putting in the new cartridges? What is pressure now?

The concern is that you had an algae issue and not sure it has been completely removed. Or why the filter is not clearing it probably.

 

[FiguringItOut]

What type of cartridge filter do you have? Can you provide make and model? You mentioned that you put in new cartridges. Do you remember the pressure that was on the filter immediately after putting in the new cartridges? What is pressure now?

The concern is that you had an algae issue and not sure it has been completely removed. Or why the filter is not clearing it probably.

We have a Hayward XStream Full-Flo Element Filter System. The pressure putting the new cartridge in as about 15. As of tonight, 3 days later, it was probably 16.

 

[HermanTX]

We have a Hayward XStream Full-Flo Element Filter System. The pressure putting the new cartridge in as about 15. As of tonight, 3 days later, it was probably 16.

Thanks for the info on the filter and filter pressure. That appears fine. Continue to monitor it. I will require cleaning when it hits 19/20psi.

Post a new set of test results tomorrow.