Strange substance in vacuum basket

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tonygret

tonygret

Well-known member
Sep 18, 2022
48
Vero Beach, FL
Pool Size
8200
Surface
Plaster
Chlorine
Salt Water Generator
SWG Type
Hayward Aqua Rite (T-15)
Hello all. I have an electric pool vacuum for my inground pool and for the last couple of weeks it has been picking the fine white silt shown in the photo. According to my test kit and the more elaborate test at Leslie’s, the pool water is optimal on all counts. It’s also clear to the eye. The silt is extremely fine and breaks up like flower or baking soda between my fingers.

The pool is 5 years old as is the equipment. The Hayward Chlorinator is 3 years olds and is clean and working perfectly.

Does anyone have any idea what this substance could be? Oh and I also found this slithering guy in my pool yesterday. He escaped into the skimmer basket and into the high water drain hole.



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What test kit do you have and what are the numbers from it?

Do you still have some of the powder? If so, can you put a little vinegar on some and let us know what the reaction is?
 
I have a canister filter with a standard filter element. See the link below. I don’t have any powder left but I will do that in the next couple of days.


I use the test kit from Home Depot. It does about 7 different test. I just did a test at Leslie’s Pool and the only thing it noted was slightly high PH 7.8 and I needed to add a pound of stabilizer. Alkalinity, hardness, chlorine, bromine, all perfect. I’ll upload the Leslie’s report in a bit. I have to scan it.

The water is crystal clear.


image.jpg
 
Here are the water test results. I had already corrected the slightly skewed PH and Cyanic Acid levels and lowered the chlorinator before vacuuming this white residue.

Thanks!

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I have to beat the horse again, which was brought up in your other threads:
Get a GOOD test kit! You may have had some agreement between the various budget options at times, but they can all go way wrong, too.

Just get this one: TF-Pro Salt
Yes it is more. But it will be correct, day in and day out. There's being economical, but....

Very hard to guess what the issue is, when we have no definitive baseline to judge against.

Did you do the vinegar test asked above?
 
Post results from your own test kit.
FC
CC
pH
TA
CH
CYA
Salt
Water Temperature

Pool store test results are inaccurate and not repeatable.
Test Kits Compared
With a SWG, you need the salt test reagents as well. The TF-Pro Salt would suit you well.
 
OK, I finally have some more information. I have had company for a week now with more on the way, plus my pump sprung a leak, so I've been busy, to say the least.

I cleaned the pool again and collected more white stuff. The image shows the powder with and without vinegar after they both dried. The sample on the right got soaked with vinegar. When they dried out, they looked exactly the same as the photo shows. However, the video shows the vinegar mixture bubbling for a short time. I also added a photo of my modest water test kit, which is within the margin of error of the readings I got from Leslie's, which I posted above. However, I don't have a CYA home test kit. Here is a link to the video of the vinegar test. Remember that the sample also had detritus from the bottom of the pool mixed in, and the vinegar may have been reacting to some biological material.

Thank you agaon for your responses.

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My test kit pieced together from various sources.
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This was also found in the vacuum. I have no idea what this could be.
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