Pool extremely cloudy but everything checks out?

kdawg23 · Jun 1, 2017

Hi,

This is my 5th year with an above-ground pool. 12k gallons. I've never had any issues in the past but for whatever reason I cannot get my pool clear this year. There was a big whole in my pool cover over the winter from the dog decided to jump into it which caused the water to be deep brown but after adding chemicals, all I have is cloudy blue water.

These are my current levels:

FC: 20 ppm (I'm 16 hours into SLAMing)
CC: 0ppm
PH: 7.4
TA: 80
Calcium: 80
CYA: 25

I know my calcium and CYA are a little low but it shouldn't be impacting the quality of my water.

I've vacuumed three times in the past 2 days.

Attached is a picture of how the water looks (the whitish part is just due to shading) I am completely stumped. May just drain at this point.

Please help!

tim5055 · Jun 1, 2017

Welcome to TFP!! :handwave:

I guess I have to be the first to ask, where are you getting your test results from: The pool store or one of our recommended kits?

It would help if you would please edit your signature and add the following information so we can better frame our answers to you.

Test Kit you are uisng
The size of your pool in gallons
If your pool is an AG (above ground) or IG (in ground)
If it's IG, tell us if it's vinyl, plaster/pebble, or fiberglass
The type filter you have (sand, DE, cartridge)
If you know, tell us the make and model of your pump and filter.
List any other equipment you have: SWG, second pump, etc.
Please mention if you fill the pool from a well or are currently on water restrictions

Information in your signature will show up each time you post and it makes advice more accurate as we know what equipment we are dealing with.

atttech-2 · Jun 1, 2017

What kind of filter have you cleaned or back washed? Could be just dead algae that needs to be filtered out

Rollercoastr · Jun 1, 2017

That actually looks pretty good to me for only 16 hours!

When you say "chemicals", specifically which and how much?

Richard320 · Jun 1, 2017

I agree with Rollercoastr. That looks pretty good after only 16 hours.

It seems like you're doing everything right.

Go look at your CYA view tube. See how the graduations aren't equidistant? Your pool is a giant view tube. You may have already removed 50% of the floating debris, but that won't change the appearance much. Just keep up and be patient.

kdawg23 · Jun 1, 2017

Thanks everyone for the quick responses. To answer some of your questions....

Test kit = Taylor K-2006
Size of pool = 12,000 gallons
Type: Above ground
Filter: Sand - Hayward S166T. Sand was replaced last year
Water = Well. Probably used about 2,000 gallons of well to fill this year and the rest was existing water

I have backwashed a # of times. Short durations however.

I've used a soda ash for PH/TA, Algaecide (50 & 60% concentrated), 1 qt clarifier, 1/2 qt conditioner, 2 lbs of 70% calcium hypochlorite (last Friday) and now just added 4 gallons of 12.5% sodium hypochlorite to start the Slamming process

tim5055 · Jun 1, 2017

Great test kit!! Stop with the clarifier & conditioner. Liquid chlorine only.

Follow the directions in the SLAM Process article assuming your CYA is 30 (always round up when it is between marks).

spinPHD · Jun 1, 2017

kdawg23 said:
Thanks everyone for the quick responses. To answer some of your questions....

Test kit = Taylor K-2006
Size of pool = 12,000 gallons
Type: Above ground
Filter: Sand - Hayward S166T. Sand was replaced last year
Water = Well. Probably used about 2,000 gallons of well to fill this year and the rest was existing water

I have backwashed a # of times. Short durations however.

I've used a soda ash for PH/TA, Algaecide (50 & 60% concentrated), 1 qt clarifier, 1/2 qt conditioner, 2 lbs of 70% calcium hypochlorite (last Friday) and now just added 4 gallons of 12.5% sodium hypochlorite to start the Slamming process

You should put this information in your signature. You can see examples of how others have their signatures. It helps people answer questions with any future posts. To do that, click on "Quick Links" on the menu bar at top of page

kdawg23 · Jun 1, 2017

spinPHD said:
You should put this information in your signature. You can see examples of how others have their signatures. It helps people answer questions with any future posts. To do that, click on "Quick Links" on the menu bar at top of page

Roger that. I've added a signature. Relatively new to this site since I've never had issues before. Great work everyone. Thanks, will be patient (hard to do right?)

Flying Tivo · Jun 1, 2017

Now that you are starting fresh to TFP methods you might as well do a Deep clean of the Sand filter so you know that its really working how it should.

Felipe

tim5055 · Jun 1, 2017

kdawg23 said:
Roger that. I've added a signature. Relatively new to this site since I've never had issues before. Great work everyone. Thanks, will be patient (hard to do right?)

POP - Pool Owner Patience is the hardest thing to acquire.

Now, circling back to your original post-

Yes, you will worry about CYA later. You have it in the perfect place for a SLAM Process

Your pool is vinyl, no need to mess with CH at all. Pool stores tell you to add calcium to a vinyl pool so they can sell you calcium, ignore it unless it gets too high in your pool.

Don't bother testing pH now. Above FC 10 the test does not provide accurate results.

You say you have vacuumed, but have you brushed the pool? Some algae can develop a bio-film that protects it from chlorine. You want the brush to break up the biofilm. Brush once a day.

Your FC is a little too high. For CYA - 30, your shock level is 12. More is not better. It does not make the SLAM Process go any faster and can damage your liner. A little over is fine, but you are about 60% over. Too high.

You want to take a digital picture each day standing at the top of the steps looking down into the water. This will be the proof of progress.

Don't be too quick to backwash your sand filter. A dirty sand filter actually filters better than a clean one. Only backwash when your pressure rises 25% above your clean pressure.

Do an Overnight Chlorine Loss Test tonight. This will tell us if organics are still present or if we are in the clean up mode.

Once you get to clean up, adding DE to your sand filter can help speed things up. Read this to understand the process Pool School - Add DE to a Sand Filter If you don;t have any DE powder, you may want to pick some up. This is what I purchased: Pro-Guard Cellulose Fiber DE Replacment . I still have 3/4 of the bag after over 3 years....

kdawg23 · Jun 1, 2017

tim5055 said:
POP - Pool Owner Patience is the hardest thing to acquire.

Now, circling back to your original post-

Yes, you will worry about CYA later. You have it in the perfect place for a SLAM Process

Your pool is vinyl, no need to mess with CH at all. Pool stores tell you to add calcium to a vinyl pool so they can sell you calcium, ignore it unless it gets too high in your pool.

Don't bother testing pH now. Above FC 10 the test does not provide accurate results.

You say you have vacuumed, but have you brushed the pool? Some algae can develop a bio-film that protects it from chlorine. You want the brush to break up the biofilm. Brush once a day.

Your FC is a little too high. For CYA - 30, your shock level is 12. More is not better. It does not make the SLAM Process go any faster and can damage your liner. A little over is fine, but you are about 60% over. Too high.

You want to take a digital picture each day standing at the top of the steps looking down into the water. This will be the proof of progress.

Don't be too quick to backwash your sand filter. A dirty sand filter actually filters better than a clean one. Only backwash when your pressure rises 25% above your clean pressure.

Do an Overnight Chlorine Loss Test tonight. This will tell us if organics are still present or if we are in the clean up mode.

Once you get to clean up, adding DE to your sand filter can help speed things up. Read this to understand the process Pool School - Add DE to a Sand Filter If you don;t have any DE powder, you may want to pick some up. This is what I purchased: Pro-Guard Cellulose Fiber DE Replacment . I still have 3/4 of the bag after over 3 years....

Thanks for all the good information. I have brushed once a day on top of vacuuming. Granted I cannot see the brush at the bottom but no biggie. I brought my FC to 20 since my CYA levels were so low I didn't want to drop below 10 FC with all the sun we'd be having today. I'll make sure to only be a little over next time.

I do have DE, never used it in the sand filter. WIll try tonight. Thanks again!

Search

Pool extremely cloudy but everything checks out?

kdawg23

0

Attachments

tim5055

atttech-2

0

Rollercoastr

0

Richard320

kdawg23

0

tim5055

spinPHD

0

kdawg23

0

Flying Tivo

Enjoying this content?

tim5055

kdawg23

0

Similar threads