Still cloudy after months of effort

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Actually, your pool should be MUCH clearer than any commercial pool. If it isn't you have some work to do. Remember, you should be able to tell heads or tails on a quarter in the deepest part. While you are standing on the ladder.

Now that you know the issue. All you need is some more bleach time and you'll be golden.
 
Hi,
Sorry to be so ignorant, but how will the chlorine get rid of the particulate? I think my CC number was over .5 ppm because of the patch of back slime still on the bottom (nasty, anaroebic septic-smelling when it finally was brought out).
Before I disturbed the Black Death (today), the water was clear enough to see an object in the deep end. There was still too much particulate to tell what the object was. I attributed the improved visibility to using clarifier last Friday and no swimming since ...
If it is the clarifier, how much should I use?

Thanks,
David
 
Clarifier is not usually recommended under normal circumstances. The goop at the bottom seems to be what was hindering your SLAM. ( there is usually a reason a pool doesn't clear within a week or two.) if you continue to SLAM according to the guidelines, and you remove all of the organics that don't belong, your pool will be sparkling and awesome before you know it!
 
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I ordered a 1 micron bag from Duda and attached to the return. I cut off the metal ring and zip tied it to the end of the hose. I have an over the wall skimmer so I used the hose and adapter. It does help. Be sure you check the bag every two hours and rinse off or it will pop off from being full of trapped dead algae.


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Hi All,
I have an old inground pool with one return. The return seems to have an "eyeball" type fitting that is attached to the pool wall with screws. The return is located on the shallow(er) end of the pool, about 2/3 the distance from the skimmer end. It directs water towards the step area.

Should I unscrew the fitting and replace with another that holds the SlimeBag? I noticed that the adapter I bought is identified as something that works with an Intex pool, which clearly this is not.

My main puzzle now is what I will find when I remove that return fitting, and if it will easily match up (or not) with the items I just purchased....
 
Hi All,
While I wait I am gradually adding clarifier. So far I have added about 6 or 7 ounces, and the results are nothing short of amazing...
I can see all three steps and the bottom at the shallow end. I have only pulled the cover off of the deep end by about 6 feet, and the water clarity was impressive. I could clearly see at least three or four feet into the water.
What is left is also clear -- thousands of globs of whitish slime. This must be the particulate I saw earlier... it is just clumped together more, so each clump is bigger and there is clear water in between clumps.
I know that clarifier is frowned upon at TFP, but it is certainly making a big difference in my experience...

I will be receiving the Slim Bag soon, and hope to finish the job with the bag. If anyone can shed some light on all of this (and also the correct amount of clarifier for an 18,000 gallon in ground pool), I'd be grateful.

Thanks,
David
 

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The second time in a couple of weeks I've heard the knock that TFP frowns upon clarifier and floc. That's not true at all. What TFP encourages is using the right tool for the job. All too often pool stored members have treated algae with clarifier and floc when SLAM is the appropriate action. That's what's frowned upon. When there's obvious particulate in a pool that's been proven not to be organic in nature or too small in microns for standard filtration then there is nothing wrong with using those techniques.
 
Hi Robert,
I didn't mean anything negative by it at all... I am just trying to get this pool clear, and it seems like this "tool" is helping.
This forum has been invaluable, ESPECIALLY the emphasis on the SLAM process. Without it, I would truly be chasing my tail.
I am sorry to be such a noob about this, but given all the warnings about too much clarifier (when used), how much is the right amount? My pool is 18,000 gallons and I added 6 ounces so far, to good effect. The pool us much more clear, and filter pressure has risen by 5 pounds. It is starting to look as if something is actually changing, and for the better :)

Thanks,
David
 
Clarifier is used as a last resort, mostly because normal filtration can clear most pools once algae is killed by chlorine. When the particulate matter is too small to be filtered, then one HAS to use a clarifier or flocculant or add finer filtration (DE in sand filter, slime bag, etc.) or else the particles will simply keep passing through the filter. Personally, if one doesn't see any improvement after a proper SLAM and a week of 24/7 filtering (using DE in a sand filter if needed), then I'd consider last resort methods -- perhaps waiting 2 weeks for those who have the time and patience. More than that and it's unlikely for things to improve if no improvement is seen over that period of time.

The normal dosage for clarifiers is one fluid ounce per 5000 gallons for maintenance or light cloudiness to double that for heavy cloudiness. So for your 18,000 gallons that would be between 3.6 and 7.2 fluid ounces depending on the degree of cloudiness. So you've probably added enough and you don't want to overdose because that just results in more cloudiness from the clarifier itself. At this point, give filtration a chance to remove what you've now coagulated and brush your pool to stir up sediment that you can catch in the filter, because I presume you don't have the ability to vacuum-to-waste.
 
Hi All,
Thank you very much! My hunch was that the clarifier was doing its job and making stuff clump together. Now it is time to get it out once and for all.
Richard, thanks very much for the dosage instructions. I did not over-do it, and now I will not be tempted to do so.

And Dave, I think you are right -- time to clean the filter. I am very pleased with the job that this newer cartridge from Alladin has done -- at least equal to the Pleatco filter I bought a few months ago, if not slightly better. This one of the times I wish I could vacuum to waste, but with the drought out here... not gonna happen.
I will report back in a few days when (hopefully) this pool is finally clear!!!!

Thanks Again,
David
 

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