Opened the pool by myself and got it to crystal clear water except the debris/leaves at the floor. Tried cleaning the floor(used leaf vacuum to pickup leaves and then brushed it) which caused the dirt on floor mix with water and now it's cloudy/hazy. Have been running filter for past two days with no change. I am opening the pool for first time so don't know what to do. I have attached the pics of pool few days before vs today and also the chemicals few days before when water was clear vs now. Any help would be appreciated.
Clear water to cloudy/hazy
- Thread starter rjeuxbsb
- Start date
- Jun 24, 2021
- 15,931
- Pool Size
- 29000
- Surface
- Vinyl
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- CircuPool RJ-60 Plus
Welcome to TFP!!!
First thing to do is get your own test kit...link-->Test Kits Compared
Add 3ppm of liquid chlorine per day until it arrives. Add nothing else. Keep the filter running. Bump or backwash your filter when filter pressure rises 25% over clean filter pressure.
When your kit arrives, post your results, we'll help.
We will likely need to SLAM the pool. Follow this process...Link-->SLAM Process
First thing to do is get your own test kit...link-->Test Kits Compared
Add 3ppm of liquid chlorine per day until it arrives. Add nothing else. Keep the filter running. Bump or backwash your filter when filter pressure rises 25% over clean filter pressure.
When your kit arrives, post your results, we'll help.
We will likely need to SLAM the pool. Follow this process...Link-->SLAM Process
From the pool tests you post, I believe you need to add chlorine as your CC seems to suggest a nascent algae bloom is imminent. Your pool is also not balanced. So, I suggest that you do a bit of reading, here, on recommended chlorine levels for your CYA level (which is a bit too low, too) and about balancing your water. Liquid chlorine (bleach) is highly recommended.
Having said all of that, pool store water tests are notoriously inaccurate. I highly recommend the Taylor K-2006C test kit, which provides factory hardware, chemicals, and instructions (both written and online). Once you get reliable test numbers, post them and you will get reliable and thorough answers to your questions.
Having said all of that, pool store water tests are notoriously inaccurate. I highly recommend the Taylor K-2006C test kit, which provides factory hardware, chemicals, and instructions (both written and online). Once you get reliable test numbers, post them and you will get reliable and thorough answers to your questions.
Thanks! I have the Taylor K-2006 test kit and below are the results from it as I tested just now. Not except the chlorine reagent all others expired as of march, 2024.
Based on the below, should I try to balance the water before doing a SLAM or SLAM first and then balance? Should I be using Flocculant so it helps filter out tiny particles? I have a DE filter which is supposed filter unto 5 micros so not sure that will help. Also Leslie's was suggesting Fresh n clear and no phosphate, should I be using those?
For chlorine, I usually use liquid chlorine or Calcium Hypochlorite(HTH from Costco). At present I have the HTH Calcium Hypochlorite at home but I can get liquid chlorine if that's better for SLAM.
Chlorine - 5.0 (I added some chlorine yesterday)
Ph - 7.0
Alkalinity- 60
Calcium - 210
CYA - ran out of reagent so couldn't test
Based on the below, should I try to balance the water before doing a SLAM or SLAM first and then balance? Should I be using Flocculant so it helps filter out tiny particles? I have a DE filter which is supposed filter unto 5 micros so not sure that will help. Also Leslie's was suggesting Fresh n clear and no phosphate, should I be using those?
For chlorine, I usually use liquid chlorine or Calcium Hypochlorite(HTH from Costco). At present I have the HTH Calcium Hypochlorite at home but I can get liquid chlorine if that's better for SLAM.
Chlorine - 5.0 (I added some chlorine yesterday)
Ph - 7.0
Alkalinity- 60
Calcium - 210
CYA - ran out of reagent so couldn't test
- Jun 24, 2021
- 15,931
- Pool Size
- 29000
- Surface
- Vinyl
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- CircuPool RJ-60 Plus
Order up reagents. We need to know CYA to continue.
Add the 3ppm of liquid chlorine per day until it arrives. Nothing else.
Keep the pump running to clean up what it can til the reagents arrive.
Add the 3ppm of liquid chlorine per day until it arrives. Nothing else.
Keep the pump running to clean up what it can til the reagents arrive.
I got the CYA reagent on June 15th(Saturday) and tested it on same day. My CYA is less than 30.
Chemical levels on Tuesday, June 18th -
Chlorine - 19
Total Chlorine - 0
CYA - less than 30
This is the order of things I did from June 11th -
1. While I was waiting for CYA to arrive I SLAMed my pool from June 11th onwards by maintaining a chlorine level of 16 or greater. I am maintaining this level even as of today.
2. By Saturday, June 15th I was able to see the floor of the pool but it was still not fully clear. I decided to vacuum out all the debris from the floor using a manual vacuum. I was to able to remove all the debris so the floor is now clean as proven by robot vacuum not picking up anything except a little of DE powder.
3. But the act of cleaning the floor displaced the dirt/de powder/polymeric sand on the pool floor into water causing the water to become cloudy again. Regarding polymeric sand, before we open the pool I put some polymeric sand on the pavers around pool so some it ended up in pool. One of DE filters is leaking DE powder so there was some of that on the pool floor. I am currently running only one filter and have stopped the leaky one until I replace the grids.
4. It's been cloudy since Saturday. Attaching pics below.
What is causing the water to be cloudy? Is it algae or non-organic material like polymeric sand/DE powder? What should I do next?
Chemical levels on Tuesday, June 18th -
Chlorine - 19
Total Chlorine - 0
CYA - less than 30
This is the order of things I did from June 11th -
1. While I was waiting for CYA to arrive I SLAMed my pool from June 11th onwards by maintaining a chlorine level of 16 or greater. I am maintaining this level even as of today.
2. By Saturday, June 15th I was able to see the floor of the pool but it was still not fully clear. I decided to vacuum out all the debris from the floor using a manual vacuum. I was to able to remove all the debris so the floor is now clean as proven by robot vacuum not picking up anything except a little of DE powder.
3. But the act of cleaning the floor displaced the dirt/de powder/polymeric sand on the pool floor into water causing the water to become cloudy again. Regarding polymeric sand, before we open the pool I put some polymeric sand on the pavers around pool so some it ended up in pool. One of DE filters is leaking DE powder so there was some of that on the pool floor. I am currently running only one filter and have stopped the leaky one until I replace the grids.
4. It's been cloudy since Saturday. Attaching pics below.
What is causing the water to be cloudy? Is it algae or non-organic material like polymeric sand/DE powder? What should I do next?
Attachments
Last edited:
- Jun 24, 2021
- 15,931
- Pool Size
- 29000
- Surface
- Vinyl
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- CircuPool RJ-60 Plus
You mention two filters, but only have one in your signature.
Can you post a picture of the equipment pad and a wider picture of the pool. Also describe the two filter setup.
Can you post a picture of the equipment pad and a wider picture of the pool. Also describe the two filter setup.
Not sure why my signature is showing one since I added two.
My setup
1. Pump - Two Hayward SP2670010X15
2. Filter - Two Hayward DE6020 DE filters
3. Heater - Two Gas Heaters(not shown in the pics. They are placed outside of the cabana)
Skimmer 1, Skimmer 2, Main Drain 1(valve closed due to getting air) go to pump 1 which sends to Filter 1 and then Heater 1. This is the one I am running right now.
Skimmer 3, Skimmer 4, Main Drain 2 go to pump 2 which sends to Filter 2 and then Heater 2. Skimmer 3 stopped working couple of weeks back which I need to figure out why. This is the filter which is opened up in the pic and currently not running due to leaky filter grids.
On the shallow end, the floor seems to be visible.
My setup
1. Pump - Two Hayward SP2670010X15
2. Filter - Two Hayward DE6020 DE filters
3. Heater - Two Gas Heaters(not shown in the pics. They are placed outside of the cabana)
Skimmer 1, Skimmer 2, Main Drain 1(valve closed due to getting air) go to pump 1 which sends to Filter 1 and then Heater 1. This is the one I am running right now.
Skimmer 3, Skimmer 4, Main Drain 2 go to pump 2 which sends to Filter 2 and then Heater 2. Skimmer 3 stopped working couple of weeks back which I need to figure out why. This is the filter which is opened up in the pic and currently not running due to leaky filter grids.
On the shallow end, the floor seems to be visible.
Attachments
- Jun 24, 2021
- 15,931
- Pool Size
- 29000
- Surface
- Vinyl
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- CircuPool RJ-60 Plus
Get your CYA up to at least 30 and continue SLAM...your target at 30 CYA is 12. SLAM will clear it.
Thanks. Do you think it's still algae? I am surprised that it's still algae. As I had mentioned above, my chlorine level was above 16 from June 11th and I was able to see bottom on the deep end of the pool on June 15th. The only reason it became cloudy is due to me cleaning the floor. The only way it can be algae is if algae was on the floor.
- Jun 24, 2021
- 15,931
- Pool Size
- 29000
- Surface
- Vinyl
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- CircuPool RJ-60 Plus
May be dead algae, may be DE. Have you passed an OCLT? There are no logs of your testing or additions.
I haven't done the OCLT in few days so will do that tonight.
One correction - On June 17th, Monday the chlorine level was around 11 for 10 hours due to replacing lost water from cleaning.
Log of Chlorine level
Jan 11
6pm - 18.5
Jan 12
11am - 18
6:30pm - 16.5
Jan 13
8:30 - 15
7:30 - 20
Jan 14
8:00am - 18.5
Jan 15
8:10am - 15
7:55pm - 19.5
Jan16
7am - 17
Jan 17
7am - 11
5pm - 11
Jan 18
7:45am - 19
One correction - On June 17th, Monday the chlorine level was around 11 for 10 hours due to replacing lost water from cleaning.
Log of Chlorine level
Jan 11
6pm - 18.5
Jan 12
11am - 18
6:30pm - 16.5
Jan 13
8:30 - 15
7:30 - 20
Jan 14
8:00am - 18.5
Jan 15
8:10am - 15
7:55pm - 19.5
Jan16
7am - 17
Jan 17
7am - 11
5pm - 11
Jan 18
7:45am - 19
- Jun 24, 2021
- 15,931
- Pool Size
- 29000
- Surface
- Vinyl
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- CircuPool RJ-60 Plus
If you are only testing and replacing twice a day, it will take a while to clear. I'd try to do it more often, but no more often than every 2 hours.
Add the CYA and use a target of 12. Higher is just a waste of chlorine.
Add the CYA and use a target of 12. Higher is just a waste of chlorine.
What poolstored means is that he camped out in his backyard and brushed then paced back and forth waiting for his 2 hour dose time to be up. I know because I am the same way and did it too. We're both extra.
You don't have to camp out like we did, but do the best you can. Dose before/after work and go right until bedtime. At any point you can dose early and buy yourself the next time slot away, say for a kids soccer game in the evening. Then get right back on the horse when you get home. The process still works with 2 doses a day, but it takes alot longer.
Did the OCLT test and failed. The diff between night and morning is 2.5ppm but surprisingly combined chlorine is zero. How can this be? If there is algae consuming chlorine, shouldn't I see combined chlorine?
Created the table with my logs including yesterday and today's results -
| Date | Time | Free Chlorine | Combined Chlorine | CYA | Chemicals Added | Notes |
| June 11 | 18:00 | 18.5 | <30 | Cloudy/Hazy water. Can't see the floor. | ||
| June 12 | 11:00 | 18 | <30 | Cloudy/Hazy water. Can't see the floor. | ||
| June 12 | 18:30 | 16.5 | <30 | Cloudy/Hazy water. Can't see the floor. | ||
| June 13 | 08:30 | 15 | <30 | Cloudy/Hazy water. Can't see the floor. | ||
| June 13 | 19:30 | 20 | <30 | Cloudy/Hazy water. Can't see the floor. | ||
| June 14 | 08:00 | 18.5 | <30 | Cloudy/Hazy water. Can't see the floor. | ||
| June 15 | 08:10 | 15 | <30 | Pool floor visible but still a bit murky. Cleaned the debris from floor using manual vacuum which made the water cloudy/hazy again with no floor being visible. | ||
| June 15 | 19:55 | 19.5 | <30 | Cloudy/Hazy water. Can't see the floor. | ||
| June 16 | 07:00 | 17 | <30 | Cloudy/Hazy water. Can't see the floor. | ||
| June 17 | 07:00 | 11 | <30 | Cloudy/Hazy water. Can't see the floor. | ||
| June 17 | 17:00 | 11 | <30 | Cloudy/Hazy water. Can't see the floor. | ||
| June 18 | 07:45 | 19 | 0 | <30 | Cloudy/Hazy water. Can't see the floor. | |
| June 18 | 14:20 | 15 | 0 | <30 | Cloudy/Hazy water. Can't see the floor. | |
| June 18 | 17:00 | 13 | 0 | <30 | - Added 2 gallons of liquid chlorine - Added 4lbs of cya increaser | Cloudy/Hazy water. Can't see the floor. |
| June 18 | 21:45 | 19 | 0 | Did not measure | Cloudy/Hazy water. Can't see the floor. | |
| June 19 | 06:20 | 16.5 | 0 | 35 | - Added 2 gallons of liquid chlorine - Added 4lbs of cya increaser | Cloudy/Hazy water. Can't see the floor. |
Chemicals used -
Liquid Chlorine - Pool Essential Chlorinating Liquid (10% sodium hypochlorite)
CYA Increaser - Clorox Pool & Spa Chlorine Stabilizer
Last edited:
- Jun 24, 2021
- 15,931
- Pool Size
- 29000
- Surface
- Vinyl
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- CircuPool RJ-60 Plus
Sunrise was 5:07 in Boston this morning. OCLT should be done before sunrise...yes OCLTs stink this time of year. Who knows how much it consumed in 1:13?
CC is not necessarily the only indicator of Algae.
Your CYA is 40, always round up to the next 10. Your SLAM target is now 16. Adding more will just waste chlorine.
You are doing fine. Increasing the frequency is going to help!
CC is not necessarily the only indicator of Algae.
Your CYA is 40, always round up to the next 10. Your SLAM target is now 16. Adding more will just waste chlorine.
You are doing fine. Increasing the frequency is going to help!
Thanks for quick responses and encouragement! My pool is surrounded by trees so don't get direct sunlight until 1pm/2pm ish. I will try to do the test before sunrise tomorrow.