Brand New Pool Cloudy— Help I’m Desperate!

[PoolStored]

we were vacuuming w filter on high

What speed did he tell you to run the vacuum Turn it down to 50% and see how it vacuums...

 

[Royaloaker]

Do you know now?

Yes we just Googled.

What speed did he tell you to run the vacuum Turn it down to 50% and see how it vacuums...

To waste or just regular? I think he was vacuuming at 100%?

 

[Royaloaker]

Deep clean is easy. The builder did you a solid on this front.

Unscrew the unions (red arrows), and unscrew the MPV collar (green screws). When you reassemble, get some Magic Lube II (not Magic lube) silicone lubricant (NOT SEALANT) and lubricate the o-rings when you reassemble.

View attachment 594794

You can also check the sand level, should be this:

View attachment 594793

You say this like we are at all handy and just have this stuff lying around the house. Ok, will order.

 

[PoolStored]

Ok, will order.

Get "Magic Lube II" not the normal magic lube.

To waste or just regular? I think he was vacuuming at 100%?

Vacuum to filter at 50%, see if that works, or you still get lots of stuff out return. By vacuuming at 100%, you are likely overwhelming your filter. When you backwash to filter, you should do 20% of the pool, then backwash, it could be the vacuuming is overwhelming the filter. Backwash more often when vacuuming to filter. You should always backwash after vacuuming to filter.

If so, then allow 1 big settle for a couple hours, pump off. Then go very slowly vacuum to waste. May take several passes, because you will have to replace water.

Add your pump make/model to your signature.

 

[Royaloaker]

Get "Magic Lube II" not the normal magic lube.


Vacuum to filter at 50%, see if that works, or you still get lots of stuff out return. By vacuuming at 100%, you are likely overwhelming your filter. When you backwash to filter, you should do 20% of the pool, then backwash, it could be the vacuuming is overwhelming the filter. Backwash more often when vacuuming to filter. You should always backwash after vacuuming to filter.

If so, then allow 1 big settle for a couple hours, pump off. Then go very slowly vacuum to waste. May take several passes, because you will have to replace water.

Add your pump make/model to your signature.

Ok just added. Hayward Tristar VS 900 Pump. We just vacuumed to waste, and there was a good amount of junk!

 

[Royaloaker]

Get "Magic Lube II" not the normal magic lube.


Vacuum to filter at 50%, see if that works, or you still get lots of stuff out return. By vacuuming at 100%, you are likely overwhelming your filter. When you backwash to filter, you should do 20% of the pool, then backwash, it could be the vacuuming is overwhelming the filter. Backwash more often when vacuuming to filter. You should always backwash after vacuuming to filter.

If so, then allow 1 big settle for a couple hours, pump off. Then go very slowly vacuum to waste. May take several passes, because you will have to replace water.

Add your pump make/model to your signature.

What do you think about this? Amazon.com

 

[PoolStored]

I have a “pool blaster.” 99$ at Walmart. I like it for quick pickup of stuff. Might work to help. I had two of them and they both died. Swore I wouldn’t buy another…ended up with another. This is its second year. If you have low expectations, try it!

 

[Royaloaker]

I’m sure algae is dead. We are going to try to get a different company out to check our filter because there’s barely a difference from Monday morning. There’s no way this is normal with all we’ve been doing to fix.

 

[PoolStored]

It's worth having someone take a look, if you can't deep clean.

Looks like you passed oclt again. CC is still a concern. Tell me exactly how you test CC.

 

[Royaloaker]

Using 10 ml. I do the FC test first ofc. Two scoops of R-0870, swirl, add drops of R-0871 until clear, take # of drops & multiply by 0.5. Using this same water, I add 5 drops of R-0003. It always turns pink. I always WANT it to clear with just one drop of R-0871, but it consistently stays pink until I add that 2nd drop.

 

[proavia]

When using the 10ml water sample for the FAS-DPD test, use one slightly rounded scoop of R-0870.
Once the test goes clear when using the R-0871 reagent, just remember the number of drops and immediately add the 5 drops of R-0003 reagent. Then add the R-0871 again until clear. The less time you let the sample sit before you add the R-0003 and complete the CC test the better.

 

[Royaloaker]

When using the 10ml water sample for the FAS-DPD test, use one slightly rounded scoop of R-0870.
Once the test goes clear when using the R-0871 reagent, just remember the number of drops and immediately add the 5 drops of R-0003 reagent. Then add the R-0871 again until clear. The less time you let the sample sit before you add the R-0003 and complete the CC test the better.

That could be it! Not like I let it sit there for a long time, but I definitely was recording the FC test results before moving onto the CC.

 

[proavia]

That could be it! Not like I let it sit there for a long time, but I definitely was recording the FC test results before moving onto the CC.

The longer it sits the higher the likelyhood it will change back to pink, even before you add the R-0003.

 

[Royaloaker]

Hubby just talked to a friend of a friend pool contractor who is HOPEFULLY coming out tomorrow or early next week! He thinks it sounds like a broken lateral in the filter which would explain why the fine particles aren't being filtered, why we are still finding (not tons, but still) sand in our robot, and why Crud seems to be coming back into the pool when vacuuming. Still glad we are SLAMming to make sure all that stupid algae is dead. But OH THE WRATH THAT OUR POOL BUILDER IS GOING TO FACE if this is the case. Hubby wanted him to come back out to check, but I don't trust him at allllll.

 

[Spencer2024]

Just learned about laterals yesterday. I have a cartridge filter so doesn't apply to me, but this sounds like it very could be related, which would be huge! Of course, doesn't seem like you should have this issue on brand new pool equipment, so . Let us know!

 

[Royaloaker]

Just learned about laterals yesterday. I have a cartridge filter so doesn't apply to me, but this sounds like it very could be related, which would be huge! Of course, doesn't seem like you should have this issue on brand new pool equipment, so . Let us know!

Thank you! I literally said to my husband yesterday, “It has to be a broken lateral or spider gasket. There’s no reason not to see any change.” He’s like WHO ARE YOU.

 

[Spencer2024]

Thank you! I literally said to my husband yesterday, “It has to be a broken lateral or spider gasket. There’s no reason not to see any change.” He’s like WHO ARE YOU.

LMAO! Yes, I've been terrified of taking over my pool for 9 years. Now that I'm starting to learn, I'm geeking out. My 14 year old says "what are you watching?" (youtube) and I said "the water temperature sensor failing may be why I can't turn on the heater remotely". LOL. I know y'all have been through it, but man, once this mystery is solved, you'll be able to take care of it in your sleep!

 

[sande005]

Another former Birminghammer here, but left during elementary school. Made the trip to RO years ago to get the first puppy (Belgian Terv) my wife and I ever had.

Just a note of encouragement - PoolStored will get you through.

As one that did many years of similar battles with my pool (and a way too small sand filter - not your situation), getting the suspended dead algae out can be a chore. Many, many repeated vacuumings and back washings. If PoolStored agrees (and only if he agrees), consider turning off everything for the night, after the last Cl add of the day, to let it settle. See if you have a greater amount of "dirt" on the bottom the next morning. Then vac that to waste. If you can't get to it right away, turn on your equip, and run normally until you can get to it. Some may get kicked back into suspension, but a lot will stay on the floor in piles.
You will go through a lot of water with repeated vacuuming to waste. But go very slow - it is easy to kick up clouds if moving the vac too fast. There were times when my water got too low, and I had to take several hours breaks to let it refill, then carry on. If need be, you can try the "let it settle" bit for a couple of days before hitting it with the vacuum. Not as efficient, but saves a lot of water.

It won't get all the cloudiness, but you should see a big improvement in the visibility, especially for the first time or three. It is also a slow moving exchange of water - so a plus for that, although you may have to add more Cl daily to keep the levels up, and perhaps adjust other levels when this is all over.

 

[Royaloaker]

Another former Birminghammer here, but left during elementary school. Made the trip to RO years ago to get the first puppy (Belgian Terv) my wife and I ever had.

Just a note of encouragement - PoolStored will get you through.

As one that did many years of similar battles with my pool (and a way too small sand filter - not your situation), getting the suspended dead algae out can be a chore. Many, many repeated vacuumings and back washings. If PoolStored agrees (and only if he agrees), consider turning off everything for the night, after the last Cl add of the day, to let it settle. See if you have a greater amount of "dirt" on the bottom the next morning. Then vac that to waste. If you can't get to it right away, turn on your equip, and run normally until you can get to it. Some may get kicked back into suspension, but a lot will stay on the floor in piles.
You will go through a lot of water with repeated vacuuming to waste. But go very slow - it is easy to kick up clouds if moving the vac too fast. There were times when my water got too low, and I had to take several hours breaks to let it refill, then carry on. If need be, you can try the "let it settle" bit for a couple of days before hitting it with the vacuum. Not as efficient, but saves a lot of water.

It won't get all the cloudiness, but you should see a big improvement in the visibility, especially for the first time or three. It is also a slow moving exchange of water - so a plus for that, although you may have to add more Cl daily to keep the levels up, and perhaps adjust other levels when this is all over.

Hi Former Michigander! Yes PoolStored has been the best. We've tried it all. Before vacuuming, we've been turning the filter off altogether (to let my poor spa get 2 hours of filter time and let the Crud settle). And keep in mind we've also been running our poor little robot 24/7. Yesterday was the first time we did vacuum to waste (bc we were dumb and didn't know what that meant), but with all of this there is literally NO change whatsoever. Even just the slightest change would have given me hope, but it's almost been a full 5 days, and we can still barely see into the water at all.

 

[Spencer2024]

I'd still sit tight until you find out if you have a failed filter piece, imo. No point in building the frustration when a failed piece will prevent any form of progress. But we all of course defer to Poolstored and the other experts here!