Black Dust (Frustrating)

Jun 10, 2018
157
Carroll, OH
Took my pool cover off on Sunday, and had clear blue water. We had a couple of rains, and off/on fill up from my well and I was finally able to turn on my pump/filter. Nothing at the bottom of the pool floor. Within 5 minutes of running it, I’ve got these spots showing up. I had them all last year and whisp up into the water when disturbed.

I slammed last year, and it didn’t help. Water is still too cold to have algae. And I have great water chemistry (and passed OCLT).

Why would this all of a sudden show up after I start my pump/filter?

Ignore the deck, in the process of repairing & painting!
 

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To me, and i could totally be wrong but it looks like debris or dust from the filter and water return. It seems to be centered in the middle of the pool which can be a common drop off point for schmuitz in circulation.
Have you cleaned your filter ever? You are using real pool sand, right?

Maddie ☮️
 
Yup, pool sand purchased from local pool store (and only item from them 😂). In fact, I had this same issue after we moved in 3 yeas ago, so I changed 1 year old pool sand last year. So this year would be the 2nd year. I guess it could be dirt & pollen since we live across from corn/bean fields 🤷🏻‍♂️ That’s what I chalked it up to until this year. Just frustrating that about 5 min after I turned on the pump, it looks like this and I’m at a loss

And you’re right, because of the return direction, everything gathers more towards the middle. On the outskirts, it gathers where there’s tiny humps in the liner.
 
so I changed 1 year old pool sand last year.
Any chance there was damage to the guts of the filter ? They do break and are easy to break when changing the sand.
I guess it could be dirt & pollen since we live across from corn/bean fields
It's that time, for SURE.
And I have great water chemistry (and passed OCLT).
That's what you do. If you think you see algae, or unexpected FC loss makes you wonder, just OCLT and find out. They are free and SO worth it. When you pass it means we have time to figure out what else it may be. Like farm dust or pollen or a broken lateral.
 
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