Cloudy, foamy mess

[StonkyMcStonksky]

I’ve had the pool three weeks since I bought the house, and it went from crystal clear to this cloudy, foamy, smelly mess. When I got the house, these were the numbers:

6/4/24
TDS: 2800
pH: 6.8
TA: 110
CH: 186
Optimizer: 5
FC: 15
TC: 15
CYA: 150

Pool company had me add some stuff to get rid of metals, which caused a filter clean. The drain plug on the filter housing had been stripped prior to my intervention, and blew out when presurizing. I was without the filter for a little over a week, but after a few days of no pump operation was able to get a band-aid solution in place until I bought a brand new filter and housing.

Then the cover stopped working, and we got 3-4 days of heavy rain, and it all went downhill. Water got cloudy, smelly, and foamy, with these numbers:

6/19/24
TDS: 1300
pH: 6.7
TA: 132
CH: 176
Optimizer: 3
FC: 0.3
TC: 0.4
CYA: 159

I proceeded to dump 20 gallons of 15% liquid chlorine from Fleet Farm in over the course of a few days and it my FC levels stayed the same, with my TC slowly creeping up to 0.7.

So I swapped 3600-ish gallons of water, and added 2 gallons of chlorine every hour for 3 hours. Then I waited a few hours and got these number from the pool store test:

BEFORE water swap, 6/25/24
TDS: 2100
pH: 7
TA: 186
CH: 176
Optimizer 2
FC: 0.3
TC: 0.7
CYA: 101

AFTER swapping 3600-ish gallons
6/26/24
TDS: 1200
pH: 7.3 (I’ve been airrating to increase pH so I can lower and reduce my TA
TA: 200
CA: 183
Optimizer 2
FC: 13.2
TC: 14.8 (does this make CC 1.6?)
CYA: 97
Phosphate: 300

My TF-Pro kit comes today, the test results above are from the pool store. My cheapo test strips have been showing my CYA around 30-50, but the other numbers are consistent with theirs. I’m considering swapping another 12,00 gallons to get my CYA and TA down and hopefully get rid of the cloudiness and foam.

Hope someone out there can help. I’m ready to tear the pool out and plant a garden.

 

[mknauss]

Once you get your test kit, run a full set of tests and post them here.
Add 5 ppm FC worth of liquid chlorine to the pool each day while waiting on the kit.

The foam typically comes from the use of algaecides. Other source is when you add chlorine to a pool full of ammonia from the consumption of the CYA due to a bacteria entering the pool water when FC drops to 0 for an extended period of time.

 

[PoolStored]

My TF-Pro kit comes today. I’m considering swapping another 12,00 gallons to get my CYA and TA down and hopefully get rid of the cloudiness and foam.

GREAT!!! We'll clean that pool up.

When your kit arrives, do a full set of test and report.

Let's make sure we do the CYA test right...to know how much to drain. Also note #8 if your CYA is above 80 on the normal test. Directions:

CYA - Cyanuric Acid Test

Cyanuric acid (CYA) is the chemical name for the product commonly called “pool water stabilizer” … Read more…

www.troublefreepool.com

 

[Mdragger88]

Your ta is the least of your problems.
The cya is the main issue. Its at an unsustainable level.
When your kit comes do the diluted cya test to determine your actual cya so you can see just how much water you need to exchange to get down to reasonable cya levels.
Step 8

CYA - Cyanuric Acid Test

Cyanuric acid (CYA) is the chemical name for the product commonly called “pool water stabilizer” … Read more…

www.troublefreepool.com

Also read

Draining - Further Reading

www.google.com

Specifically the no drain water exchange portion.
It takes less water to do it all at once vs small drains because there’s less mixing.

I suspect you may have algae due to low fc for your cya as well as whatever potion they added causing cloudiness.
Not sure what you mean by filter clean- (a product or you just physically cleaned the filter) but a algaecides & cleaning products are known to cause foaming.

After your cya is reasonable & the water is well mixed you can do an
Overnight Chlorine Loss Test
To determine if you have an algae problem.

 

[StonkyMcStonksky]

Once you get your test kit, run a full set of tests and post them here.
Add 5 ppm FC worth of liquid chlorine to the pool each day while waiting on the kit.

The foam typically comes from the use of algaecides. Other source is when you add chlorine to a pool full of ammonia from the consumption of the CYA due to a bacteria entering the pool water when FC drops to 0 for an extended period of time.

I suspected algae when I was adding a ton of chlorine with no change in FC and lowering CYA values.

 

[mknauss]

I was adding a ton of chlorine with no change in FC and lowering CYA values

That implies ammonia in the water. Especially if the pH is dropping.
But you do not have any reliable test results to date. So get your test kit.

 

[StonkyMcStonksky]

Your ta is the least of your problems.
The cya is the main issue. Its at an unsustainable level.
When your kit comes do the diluted cya test to determine your actual cya so you can see just how much water you need to exchange to get down to reasonable cya levels.
Step 8

CYA - Cyanuric Acid Test

Cyanuric acid (CYA) is the chemical name for the product commonly called “pool water stabilizer” … Read more…

www.troublefreepool.com

Also read

Draining - Further Reading

www.google.com

Specifically the no drain water exchange portion.
It takes less water to do it all at once vs small drains because there’s less mixing.

I suspect you may have algae due to low fc for your cya as well as whatever potion they added causing cloudiness.
Not sure what you mean by filter clean- (a product or you just physically cleaned the filter) but a algaecides & cleaning products are known to cause foaming.

After your cya is reasonable & the water is well mixed you can do an
Overnight Chlorine Loss Test
To determine if you have an algae problem.

I’m on well water, so the no drain won’t work else I drain the well.

When I said “filter clean,” I meant just that: I sprayed down the filter with water. No chemicals were added to clean it.

 

[Mdragger88]

Do you know the limitations of your well?
Also, may want to consider a water delivery.
You’ll have a better idea where you stand once you can do the diluted cya test
& the other tests.

 

[StonkyMcStonksky]

Do you know the limitations of your well?
Also, may want to consider a water delivery.
You’ll have a better idea where you stand once you can do the diluted cya test
& the other tests.

I have a guy for bulk water delivery, and I’ve swapped 3600 gallons.

 

[StonkyMcStonksky]

Once you get your test kit, run a full set of tests and post them here.
Add 5 ppm FC worth of liquid chlorine to the pool each day while waiting on the kit.

The foam typically comes from the use of algaecides. Other source is when you add chlorine to a pool full of ammonia from the consumption of the CYA due to a bacteria entering the pool water when FC drops to 0 for an extended period of time.

GREAT!!! We'll clean that pool up.

When your kit arrives, do a full set of test and report.

Let's make sure we do the CYA test right...to know how much to drain. Also note #8 if your CYA is above 80 on the normal test. Directions:

CYA - Cyanuric Acid Test

Cyanuric acid (CYA) is the chemical name for the product commonly called “pool water stabilizer” … Read more…

www.troublefreepool.com

Your ta is the least of your problems.
The cya is the main issue. Its at an unsustainable level.
When your kit comes do the diluted cya test to determine your actual cya so you can see just how much water you need to exchange to get down to reasonable cya levels.
Step 8

CYA - Cyanuric Acid Test

Cyanuric acid (CYA) is the chemical name for the product commonly called “pool water stabilizer” … Read more…

www.troublefreepool.com

Also read

Draining - Further Reading

www.google.com

Specifically the no drain water exchange portion.
It takes less water to do it all at once vs small drains because there’s less mixing.

I suspect you may have algae due to low fc for your cya as well as whatever potion they added causing cloudiness.
Not sure what you mean by filter clean- (a product or you just physically cleaned the filter) but a algaecides & cleaning products are known to cause foaming.

After your cya is reasonable & the water is well mixed you can do an
Overnight Chlorine Loss Test
To determine if you have an algae problem.

Do you know the limitations of your well?
Also, may want to consider a water delivery.
You’ll have a better idea where you stand once you can do the diluted cya test
& the other tests.

I got the TF-Pro kit and practiced with the standard sampler before using my own water. Here are the results:

pH: 7.5
Cl Br (what is this?): 3 6
FC: 3
CC: 1.5
TC: 4.5
CH: 225
TA: 220
CYA: 70

It started raining this afternoon, so I put the cover on. When I retracted it a few hours later the water had standing foam in spots (about 25% coverage) of about 2-3” in height, but the water was clearer than it’s been in over a week. The FC is coming down, and the CYA is also coming down, at least from the pool store test of 97. As @mknauss suggested, I believe I have an ammonia problem. I’m over 30 gallons of liquid chlorine in at this point, as well as swapping 3600 gallons of water.

To top it off, my MasterTemp 200 is shutting off and throwing a SFS error. I monitored the stack temp and shut it off as it was climbing over 370 F. I have a stack flue sensor on the way, and will probably order the HLS, thermal regulator, and Manifold bypass just to have on hand if nothing else. The cartridge filter assembly I had (replaced two weeks ago) was a 2008 build, and I’m guessing my heater is nearly as old.

I decided to drain about 5700 gallons tonight and refill tomorrow morning. I’m expecting my CYA to be around 50 after the fill, and hopefully my TA drops significantly too. I’ll post back with test results after the fill. I appreciate your input so far.

 

[mknauss]

If any amount of FC is present, the ammonia if there was any, is gone.

 

[StonkyMcStonksky]

If any amount of FC is present, the ammonia if there was any, is gone.

If this is the case, how long can I expect the foam to last?

 

[StonkyMcStonksky]

Todays numbers, after draining and filling about 5600 gallons.

pH: 7.5
Cl Br: .5 1
FC: .5
CC: 1
TC: 1.5
CH: 250
TA: 220
CYA: 40

The foam is mostly gone, just some bubbles that you have to be at the water to see. Going to start my SLAM today.

 

[PoolStored]

With that TA, I'd lower your pH to 7.2...then SLAM ON!

 

[StonkyMcStonksky]

After the first night of a SLAM: stated with FC 18 and CC 2 at 9pm, this morning at 9 was FC 9 and CC 1. The pool was covered all night with a cover pump, and we got a lot of rain. Water is cloudy, but I can see the bottom. The foam is gone.

 

[PoolStored]

Keep going!!!

 

[StonkyMcStonksky]

I should add that I put in 1.5 gallons of the 10-30% Muriatic acid (the green stuff from Lowe’s) yesterday before my SLAM to bring my pH down to 7.2. Surprisingly, it didn’t lower my TA much at all - it’s around 190.

 

[StonkyMcStonksky]

Not much progress after 2 nights of SLAM. FC was 16 with CC at 1.5 last night at 11. This morning at 8 FC was 8 and CC holding steady at 1.5. My SLAM FC is 16 per the pool math app. When I opened the cover this morning there was some bubbly foam in the water at the base of the cover out about a foot into the water.

 

[StonkyMcStonksky]

FC 7 last night at 9:30, CC 1.5. Added 1.5 gallons of liquid chlorine. This morning at 8, FC 9 and CC 1. Water isn’t foamy, but has small clusters of bubbles across the surface. The skimmer is half covered in bubbly foam

 

[PoolStored]

Keep slamming, let's get rid of the foaming and CCs.