Algae, cloudy water and foam on the surface

[y51]

Hello everybody - I need your help.

I am not very new to the pool maintenance, but I see this the first time.
I have opened the pool 2 days ago and found a lot of algae.
I've added 2 gallons of 6% bleach.
Yesterday, I've tested the water:
Salt -2500 ppm - added 20 lbs of salt
FC - 2 ppm - did not add anything
CYA - 40 ppm - added 2 pods of HTH stabilizer,
TA - 70 ppm,
pH - 7.3 -added 13 oz of pH+
CH - 125 ppm - did not add anything
Tomorrow, I was going to start the SLAMing the pool, but just now I've found a lot of substance that looks like a foam, but is very thin.
Photos are attached.
Please advise,

Thank you very much,

 

[TO116]

What kind of bleach did you use?

If it had some sort of anti-splash or other additives perhaps that is the cause of the foam.

 

[Donldson]

What kind of bleach, specifically, did you add? That's a likely culprit.

BTW, why did you add something to raise the pH? If you intend to start a SLAM Process tomorrow then you will want your pH to be around 7.2.

 

[Richard320]

It could be additives in the bleach, or cheap algaecide left from last season, or just algae scum. Compare to the pictures in this thread. It's from way back before Chlorox decided to ruin their bleach with additives. Whatever it is, the answer is probably the usual.

morebleach

• Richard320
• May 20, 2014

​

 

[y51]

I used concentrated bleach 6% Sodium Hydroxide from Meijer.
About pH: I tried to bring it to 7.5 (the upper range in recommended by TFP). At some reason, it did not change, now it is 7.22. I checked it with two methods.
The foam is gone. I believe it was due to air in the filter.
Now, my test results:
Salt -2500 ppm
FC - 3 ppm
CYA - 50 ppm
TA - 70 ppm,
pH - 7..22
CH - 100 ppm

Should I SLAM the pool if I have just cloudy slightly greenish water? Or just use HTH Super Algae Guard 60?

Thanks for your help!

 

[Richard320]

Should I SLAM the pool if I have just cloudy slightly greenish water? Or just use HTH Super Algae Guard 60?

Thanks for your help!

slam

• Richard320
• Jul 9, 2014

Save the algaecide for closing.

 

[y51]

Thank you Richard320! Will do.

 

[y51]

Richard320!
Can I use for SLAM HTH 52023 Super Shock Treatment Swimming Pool Chlorine Cleaner

Amazon.com : HTH 52023 Super Shock Treatment Swimming Pool Chlorine Cleaner, 1 lb (Pack of 6) : Garden & Outdoor

Amazon.com : HTH 52023 Super Shock Treatment Swimming Pool Chlorine Cleaner, 1 lb (Pack of 6) : Garden & Outdoor

www.amazon.com

instead of the liquid bleach?
Now with COVID19, it is difficult to purchase 10 gal of bleach.
Thank you for the help!

 

[y51]

I have the same problem, but I have cal hypo 56.44%

How to properly SLAM the pool?

 

[y51]

Please help!
I have the same problem - no liquid bleach.
I can get cal-hypo 56.44%.
Can I use it for SLAM?
My current CH is 100ppm, pH+7.2, CYA=50, TA=70
Thank you very much.

 

[mknauss]

You can use cal hypo if absolutely necessary. Be sure you fully get it dissolved because if it sits on your liner, it will stain it. Also look for 73% cal hypo. More chlorine.
Be sure you look at Home Depot, Menards, Lowes, farm stores, Walmart, etc. for liquid chlorine.

 

[IceShadow]

I am finding tons of liquid chlorine for sale here in Wisconsin and I can’t imagine Illinois is that different. Have you looked for the liquid chlorine meant for pools?

 

[y51]

Richard 320, mknauss and IceShadow,
Thank you for your help. I was lucky to find 10 gal of liquid bleach 8.25% in the Blain's Farm and Fleet (I forgot about it and searched in Menards, Lowes and Walmart).
I am going to start SLAMing tomorrow.
Thanks again

 

[y51]

Strange behavior of FC.
I,m SLAMing my pool the third day.
I have strange readings of FC:
Day 1: 10 am - FC=4, CYA=50 - added bleach per PoolMath calculator up to FC=20
1 pm - FC=1, CYA=50 - added bleach
5 pm - FC=11, CYA=50 - added bleach
Day 2:
I've missed the opportunity to do the OCLT, because woke up too late
11 am - FC= 10.5 CYA=50 - added bleach
4 pm - FC= 22 CYA=50
8 pm - FC=19 CYA=50 - did not add the bleach - making the OCLT
Day 3: 6 am - FC = 10 CYA=50
11 am - FC=7.5 CYA=50 - added bleach
3 pm - FC=22,CYA=50
The strange thing is the increase of FC two days.
Water is not green anymore, slightly cloudy.
Robot is working all day cleaning the pool.
Pump and filter are 24m hrs on.
I'll appreciate any suggestion.

 

[mknauss]

Is your SWCG on?

I do not see the increases except when you added bleach. I must be missing it. Test data looks pretty normal to me.

 

[y51]

2nd day, at 11 am, I added bleach to make FC=20, but at 4 pm FC=22. Should drop due to sun, but has increased
3rd day, at 11 am, I added bleach to make FC=20, but at 3 pm FC=22. Should drop due to sun, but has increased

 

[y51]

SWCG is off

 

[mknauss]

Liquid chlorine can be stronger or weaker than the concentration shown on the bottle. So slight variations are not unusual. Testing error, etc. also play a part.

I would not be deterred by those couple tests. During a SLAM you can get into a stalemate and then when you brush or vac you disturb more algae and the chlorine attacks it.

 

[y51]

Thank you mknauss,
I'll continue.
How long this may take?
I have CC =0 and need to pass OCLT and get clear water. Looks like I should expect a long way to success

 

[mknauss]

If your posted data is all you are testing and adding, it will take awhile. Best if you can hit early am, noon, mid afternoon, early evening, before bed.

Watch your filter pressure. Once it rises by 25% over clean pressure be sure to clean the cartridges.

Brush daily, twice if you can.