cloudy pool, trying everything. Any advice??

[mackraney23]

Hey everyone, first time pool owner, and started with a pool service to open my pool. Quickly realized how worthless pool companies are, and started doing my own research and pretty much got to where we are now.
Pool is a 26k gal vinyl pool, I'm using the 2006k test kit, been scrubbing and vacuuming multiple times a day. I replaced the sand in the sand filter yesterday and have been adding DE dissolved with water into the skimmer. backwashing and repeating.
The past 2 weeks I have been slamming. past the overnight chlorine loss test, but can't figure out why the water is still cloudy. last night was the first time added the DE and think it is clearing up a little but it could be my imagination.
Anyway, here are my levels now:
FC: 3.0 ppm (been keeping this steady once i passed the overnight test)
CC: 0
pH: 7.2
TA: 120 ppm
CH: 140 ppm
CYA: 20 (trying to get this up)

any thoughts?

Thanks for the help.

 

[HermanTX]

Welcome to TFP.
Thanks for having a proper test kit and following the SLAM process. However, you have only passed 2 of the 3 criteria so you should continue with the SLAM process until the water is clear. Also, it is best to have your CYA at 30 (to max 50) for SLAM to ensure your FC is protected from UV.
What level FC were you maintaining?

 

[reggiehammond]

SLAM Process has three exit criteria, but you appear to have ended up early.
Sand filters are the slowest to clear dead algae cells, but you need to start over to be sure.

FC 3 is quite low; you never, ever want to be close to the minimum for your CYA. There's no point, only risk and punishment.

You must have 30 CYA; Overnight Chlorine Loss Test to confirm algae, SLAM Process to eliminate it.

 

[mackraney23]

Thanks for the replies. I was maintaining a FC level of 10 ppm during the slam.
Going to start slamming again ASAP.
Yeah im trying to get the cya up, it was 0 when I started, went through two one gallon jugs of liquid stabilizer but that was before I had to replace the sand. I have granular CYA arriving tomorrow, so ill start the sock method then to raise it up a bit.

Okay so for now, restart slam until the CYA is up, and once it's up I'll restart the overnight test.
How are the other numbers ?

 

[reggiehammond]

Liquid stabilizer may seem convenient, but plenty of people have found that the CYA sticks to the bottle and they don't end up where they think they'll end up. Use that dry CYA, with the sock method, as you can be more certain it ends up in the pool water easily.

For SLAM - testing and dosing FC is the only thing to worry about once you know CYA level. The other chemical levels (since your pH is already 7.2) are fine and not a concern for now.

 

[HermanTX]

Okay so for now, restart slam until the CYA is up, and once it's up I'll restart the overnight test.

Put your SLAM FC at the predicted CYA level you are increasing to. So if that is 30 CYA then target 12ppm FC for SLAM.

 

[mackraney23]

Put your SLAM FC at the predicted CYA level you are increasing to. So if that is 30 CYA then target 12ppm FC for SLAM.

Okay good call. Will keep yall updated.
Thanks for the advice.

 

[mackraney23]

Alright gents, got my cya up to 35-40, I'll call it 30.
Passed overnight chlorine loss test.
But pool is still not clear, I feel like it's progressing, but anyway, I adjusted my slam ppm level to 12 ppm. Also started adding 1/4 cups of DE to my sand filter until psi rises by one psi. At this point is it just, add de till I need to backwash then rinse and repeat till clear? Is there any point to keep burning through chlorine to maintain 12ppm?
Thanks

 

[ajw22]

Alright gents, got my cya up to 35-40, I'll call it 30.

Always round up. Your CYA is 40 and your SLAM FC is 16.

Passed overnight chlorine loss test.
But pool is still not clear, I feel like it's progressing, but anyway, I adjusted my slam ppm level to 12 ppm.

Your SLAM FC is 16. Add more chlorine.

Also started adding 1/4 cups of DE to my sand filter until psi rises by one psi. At this point is it just, add de till I need to backwash then rinse and repeat till clear? Is there any point to keep burning through chlorine to maintain 12ppm?

yes, SLAM Process has three exit criteria that must be satisfied to end the SLAM. Your SLAM is not completed.

 

[HermanTX]

But pool is still not clear, I feel like it's progressing, but anyway, I adjusted my slam ppm level to 12 ppm. Also started adding 1/4 cups of DE to my sand filter until psi rises by one psi. At this point is it just, add de till I need to backwash then rinse and repeat till clear? Is there any point to keep burning through chlorine to maintain 12ppm?

Sand filters take longer to clear the pool. Slight amount of DE will help. Continue to add chlorine to maintain SLAM level of 16ppm.
You are not burning through chlorine unnecessarily. The pool is not clear so a drop in FC levels could allow bacteria to grow and extend the SLAM even further.

 

[mackraney23]

Sand filters take longer to clear the pool. Slight amount of DE will help. Continue to add chlorine to maintain SLAM level of 16ppm.
You are not burning through chlorine unnecessarily. The pool is not clear so a drop in FC levels could allow bacteria to grow and extend the SLAM even further.

Thanks for clearing that up, makes sense.
Okay slamming at 16ppm till further update.
Thanks all