Pool is clean and clear, and numbers look pretty good, but water foams when agitated and eyes are burning! Please help!
FC 6
pH 7.2
TA 100
CH 10
CYA 60
FC 6
pH 7.2
TA 100
CH 10
CYA 60
Burning Eyes...Help!
- Thread starter Kghawkes
- Start date
- May 3, 2014
- 62,698
- Pool Size
- 6000
- Surface
- Fiberglass
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-40
Welcome to the forum! :handshake:
What test kit are you using to test your pool water chemistry?
Burning eyes is normally either elevated CC (you do not show a test result for that) or pH (your result for that should not be an issue).
Why is your Calcium Hardness (CH) so low? Not an issue just difficult to achieve.
I suggest you read Pool School - ABCs of Pool Water Chemistry and consider reviewing the entire Trouble Free Pool School book.
What test kit are you using to test your pool water chemistry?
Burning eyes is normally either elevated CC (you do not show a test result for that) or pH (your result for that should not be an issue).
Why is your Calcium Hardness (CH) so low? Not an issue just difficult to achieve.
I suggest you read Pool School - ABCs of Pool Water Chemistry and consider reviewing the entire Trouble Free Pool School book.
- May 3, 2014
- 62,698
- Pool Size
- 6000
- Surface
- Fiberglass
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-40
With a CC of 0.5 and pH of 7.2, not much. Try aeration of the water to raise the pH some to see if that helps.
- - - Updated - - -
If your CH is really 10, then that is why your pool is foaming.
Get some Cal Hypo and use that to chlorinate for awhile until you get your CH to 50+. Use PoolMath Effects of Adding Chemicals to see how much Cal Hypo overall you will need.
- - - Updated - - -
If your CH is really 10, then that is why your pool is foaming.
Get some Cal Hypo and use that to chlorinate for awhile until you get your CH to 50+. Use PoolMath Effects of Adding Chemicals to see how much Cal Hypo overall you will need.
We had a pool party last night and everyone was complaining and had red eyes. They also had a strong chemical smell on them after they came inside, but not like chlorine. I had to get them out and close the cover, it was so bad. It’s not enjoyable to swim.
- Feb 6, 2015
- 7,813
- Pool Size
- 12300
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- CircuPool RJ-45 Plus
Do as Marty suggested - bring pH up to 7.4-7.8 via aeration and use some Cal Hypo to raise the CH a little. Additionally, you mentioned closing the cover.... leave the cover open for a few days to let the pool breath.
Between Marty's suggestions and leaving the cover open more, I think the red eyes and "chemical smell" will subside.
Between Marty's suggestions and leaving the cover open more, I think the red eyes and "chemical smell" will subside.
- Nov 12, 2017
- 12,647
- Pool Size
- 12300
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-40
Did you test your CC right after the party? Just posing a question: if one or more of the OP's guests peed in the pool, and spiked the CC, would that cause burning eyes and chemical smells on skin?
borjis
LifeTime Supporter
If you want the foaming gone quicker, just go to the pool store and get a pale of Calcium chloride.
You'll be able to raise it quickly, rather than having to wait for cal hypo pucks to dissolve over a few weeks.
I don't need CH being vinyl but I maintain 75ppm to prevent any foaming issues.
You'll be able to raise it quickly, rather than having to wait for cal hypo pucks to dissolve over a few weeks.
I don't need CH being vinyl but I maintain 75ppm to prevent any foaming issues.
- Jul 21, 2013
- 65,253
- Pool Size
- 35000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-60
I’ve been using Great Value Cleaning Bleach 6% for chlorine.
I did use some muriatic acid to bring the TA down, but it was burning eyes before that.
I just started TFP about a week ago. Could it be residual algaecide?
- Jul 21, 2013
- 65,253
- Pool Size
- 35000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-60
It seems to have started burning eyes since I switched to liquid bleach. In fact, my husband thinks the burning is from the fact that I’m using bleach instead of the pucks.
I used Member’s Mark Algaecide
from Sam’s Club. But it’s been at least 2 weeks since I used it.
- May 3, 2014
- 62,698
- Pool Size
- 6000
- Surface
- Fiberglass
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-40
Thousands of pool owners use bleach / liquid chlorine without adverse effects.
The only reason for burning eyes is pH out of range or CC build up in the water.
Be sure you add the bleach AFTER you are done swimming for the day. See if that helps.
The only reason for burning eyes is pH out of range or CC build up in the water.
Be sure you add the bleach AFTER you are done swimming for the day. See if that helps.
- Jul 21, 2013
- 65,253
- Pool Size
- 35000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-60
Are you sure the bleach has no additives and is only chlorine? Can you post a pic of the bottle showing the labels?
I would switch brands of bleach just based on what you described.
I would switch brands of bleach just based on what you described.
Ok, more experienced TFPers, is there any chance that this could be a bonding issue?
- Jul 21, 2013
- 65,253
- Pool Size
- 35000
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Pentair Intellichlor IC-60
No, bonding tingling problems immediately stops when you stop touching the pool.
- Feb 6, 2015
- 7,813
- Pool Size
- 12300
- Surface
- Plaster
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- CircuPool RJ-45 Plus
The algaecide you used is a linear quat product. Active ingredients are: Alkyl (50%C/14, 40%C/12,10%C/16) dimethyl benzyl ammonium chloride...40%. Sometimes these types of products can cause unpleasant odors (exacerbated in a covered pool). Additionally, they can cause foaming.
No need to use algaecide in a properly chlorinated pool during swim season. Raise your FC to 10 for a few days. Leave the pool completely uncovered for at least several days to allow the UV of the sun to burn off any CC's and residual algaecide odors. After that, adhere to the [FC/CYA][/FC/CYA] for ongoing FC levels.
If you close your pool for the winter (actually winterize the pool), it may be beneficial to add a polyquat type algaecide (polyquat-60) as part of your closing ritual.
No need to use algaecide in a properly chlorinated pool during swim season. Raise your FC to 10 for a few days. Leave the pool completely uncovered for at least several days to allow the UV of the sun to burn off any CC's and residual algaecide odors. After that, adhere to the [FC/CYA][/FC/CYA] for ongoing FC levels.
If you close your pool for the winter (actually winterize the pool), it may be beneficial to add a polyquat type algaecide (polyquat-60) as part of your closing ritual.
Is it normal if I dumped 12 lbs of calcium chloride into the pool yesterday, that my CH is still 0?? I’m so confused!
