My spa water is all of a sudden cloudy. I tested my alkalinity and ph seems fine but water is a bit cloudy I’ve cleaned the blue filters any suggestions ? I read that it can mean high ph and to put some ph down in ? Also I have a product called banish would that help ?
Cloudy spa water
- Thread starter robaldo
- Start date
- Jun 22, 2014
- 52,018
- Pool Size
- 17888
- Surface
- Fiberglass
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- CircuPool RJ-45 Plus
We're not seeing any free chlorine (FC) test levels posted on your attachments or in Poolmath. What are your FC and CYA levels? If the FC crashed, that could certainly explain cloudy water. A phosphate remove won't kill algae if that is what is what's happening.
I have just done tests on my pool with the clear choice labs tests but unsure if I’m reading the results correctly on pool math on what I should put in the pool
I’m also concerned about so much calcium to put in as a while ago i put a load in just for the sake of it and my pool turned all white and foamy and toxic and had to empty and start again. I’ve been told by the pool shop topping up with water can help with calcium
My chlorine is also 0 every time the pool shop tests for it and it’s the same now
TIA
I’m also concerned about so much calcium to put in as a while ago i put a load in just for the sake of it and my pool turned all white and foamy and toxic and had to empty and start again. I’ve been told by the pool shop topping up with water can help with calcium
My chlorine is also 0 every time the pool shop tests for it and it’s the same now
TIA
Attachments
I’m having a lot of trouble working out the cya levels with the clear choice labs kit i fill up the mixing tube and then transport it all to the viewing tube and I can still see the logo at the bottom of the tube
Clear choice kit i put drops in until changes colour then x by 25 as per tge instructions
You have another series of questions just like above answered in another thread. Go see the responses there.
You aren't adding enough chlorine frequently enough.
We already established there that with the fiberglass construction, the CH level can be left alone. There is little need to have to get it to the recommended range.
Posting the same questions in different areas is called "cross posting" and is usually frowned upon in most on-line forums, such as this one.
You aren't adding enough chlorine frequently enough.
We already established there that with the fiberglass construction, the CH level can be left alone. There is little need to have to get it to the recommended range.
Posting the same questions in different areas is called "cross posting" and is usually frowned upon in most on-line forums, such as this one.
- Jun 24, 2021
- 15,941
- Pool Size
- 29000
- Surface
- Vinyl
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- CircuPool RJ-60 Plus
Well it has seemed to work for the last two years and I’m struggling with the test kits
- Jun 22, 2014
- 52,018
- Pool Size
- 17888
- Surface
- Fiberglass
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- CircuPool RJ-45 Plus
No worries - either about the testing or being new to forums. We'll walk you through it all.
With cloudy water though, let's keep it simple and focus on FC & CYA as those two generally drive cloudy water issues. The pH, TA, and CH are important for other reasons, but the cloudy water usually means excessive organics brewing.FYI - We'll look at your other thread and if they are similar, we can merge them later.
For the testing, take a look at the links below. These should help.
Extended Test Kit Directions Archives
www.troublefreepool.com
Here are some videos that might help. While they show as the TF-100 kit, the process should be similar to the Clear Choice Lab products:
Here is a link to our spa/tub sticky thread. Lots of good info here as well.
How do I use Chlorine in my Spa or Hot Tub?
If you have a question about any information within this Sticky, please start a new thread for yourself where you will receive very quick responses to your specific questions. Thank you! Introduction There are two main things to consider when maintaining your hot tub water, Water Balance and...
www.troublefreepool.com
I am going to tag a couple locals though to help you feel a bit more at home. @AUSpool and @mgtfp.
And apologies if I came off a bit harsh - meant to inform, not to be critical. Asking almost the same in different places can result in a string of answers diverging in different directions, which can be hard to follow both for you and subsequent readers who want to help. It is perfectly acceptable to make different posts about questions that may be closely related. Like "Cloudy water" vs "Can't get the hang of testing", or "Why did adding CH make the water cloudy", etc. Yes, it can be sometimes hard to differentiate when to start a new thread vs continuing with an existing. So when in doubt, do whichever way feels best to you. And ignore curmudgeons like me.....
Thank you my chlorine is always 0 no matter what I do I have been told to put 5grams in every day for the spa most days I don’t as time poor I usually just put 5grams in a few hours before im going to use it. I’m having real problems with the cya with this kit I’ve contacted clear labs for some suggestions and advice.No worries - either about the testing or being new to forums. We'll walk you through it all.
FYI - We'll look at your other thread and if they are similar, we can merge them later.
For the testing, take a look at the links below. These should help.
Extended Test Kit Directions Archives
Here are some videos that might help. While they show as the TF-100 kit, the process should be similar to the Clear Choice Lab products:
Here is a link to our spa/tub sticky thread. Lots of good info here as well.
How do I use Chlorine in my Spa or Hot Tub?
If you have a question about any information within this Sticky, please start a new thread for yourself where you will receive very quick responses to your specific questions. Thank you! Introduction There are two main things to consider when maintaining your hot tub water, Water Balance and...
I am going to tag a couple locals though to help you feel a bit more at home. @AUSpool and @mgtfp.
I was going to try a pool clarifier do you think that might work ?
Attachments
- Jun 24, 2021
- 15,941
- Pool Size
- 29000
- Surface
- Vinyl
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- CircuPool RJ-60 Plus
Hard to recommend exactly what you need, until we can nail down the CYA amount.
From Pool Math, it looks like 5g will raise your FC by 2.2ppm. If you are always at 0, that's too little.
Do you have some liquid Cl from your adventures with the pool side? (her unit is a 1/2 spa 1/2 pool installation - with no water exchange between sides)
If so, add 3/4 cup (175 ml) just for today. Let it mix for 1/2 hr, and report back what level it brings it to.
We might be able to guess, very imprecisely, what your CYA level is near.
Let us know if in several hours or tomorrow if there is any improvement in the cloudiness. Do a new reading tomorrow, and let us know what the FC is then, also.
From Pool Math, it looks like 5g will raise your FC by 2.2ppm. If you are always at 0, that's too little.
Do you have some liquid Cl from your adventures with the pool side? (her unit is a 1/2 spa 1/2 pool installation - with no water exchange between sides)
If so, add 3/4 cup (175 ml) just for today. Let it mix for 1/2 hr, and report back what level it brings it to.
We might be able to guess, very imprecisely, what your CYA level is near.
Let us know if in several hours or tomorrow if there is any improvement in the cloudiness. Do a new reading tomorrow, and let us know what the FC is then, also.
- Jun 1, 2018
- 16,012
- Pool Size
- 26000
- Surface
- Vinyl
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Hayward Aqua Rite (T-15)
Thats simply not enough- it’s only about 2ppm worth of chlorine for only the spa side if you’re using 99% dichlor.
Even less if its for both bodies.
2ppm every now and then just doesn’t cut it. Thats likely only enough to cover standby loss for 1 day - not enough to also make up for any bather load
Funky Things are constantly proliferating in the tub/pool and this must be continuously managed with proper sanitation.
If you have been solely using dichlor then its likely time to switch to liquid chlorine due to your cya level. So you can follow the appropriate FC/CYA Levels
If you notice in the photo the dichlor adds cya with each dose as well- this doesn’t leave like the chlorine. It just continues to add up. Once cya is in the 30/40 range its time to use liquid chlorine instead.
You can attempt to do the
SLAM Process to clear up your spa.
If things don’t get better after several rounds it may be best to purge & start fresh.
The spa handover guy told me the heat just burns the chlorine so no need to put it in every day. I dumped the water a few weeks ago then had some kids over now it’s gone cloudy.
I have heaps of the dichlor chlorine so I’d rather use that first before liquid.
How much dichlor chlorine should I put in the spa every day ? And do I need to put chlorine in the pool every day too ?
Going forward once I finish the dichlor is there a granule chlorine i can get that would be the same as liquid ?
I was using the attached before
I have heaps of the dichlor chlorine so I’d rather use that first before liquid.
How much dichlor chlorine should I put in the spa every day ? And do I need to put chlorine in the pool every day too ?
Going forward once I finish the dichlor is there a granule chlorine i can get that would be the same as liquid ?
I was using the attached before
Attachments
To know the amount you need every day, you first need to know your CYA level to determine your target range (see chart below)
Then test for FC.
Pool Math will then tell you how much to add to get to the target.
Test the next day, and see what the new amount to add to get back to the target again needs to be.
After a few daily repeats of the cycle, you will learn the approximate daily amount you need to add. You can reduce testing to a couple of times per week, to make sure you aren't slowly increasing/decreasing too much. But still adding every day.
If lucky, add enough to get to the top of the recommended range. You can even safely go as high as what is recommended for the SLAM level. Then skip a day before repeating. The critical piece is to never go below the listed minimum amount. So after skipping a day, test to make sure your level stayed above minimum If it is well above, you could try skipping another day. If it didn't, then you will have to add every day. From that learning process about how you spa behaves, you can then determine a schedule as to how often to add.
There used to be a lithium hypochlorite that had far fewer side effects. Apparently it is no longer made as a tablet/powder, but I could not verify that claim. It used to be very expensive. I see in AU that some places sell a "liquid lithium" replacement. Unfortunately, the Pool Math app does not have the information for that one, so if you use it, you will have to rely on your own testing to determine "how much". Other than that (if it can be found in a powder), no other dry powders that are better. Liquid chlorine (strong bleach) is the alternative.
If you continue to use your powder, you will have to monitor CYA about weekly, and know that periodically you will have to drain and refill the spa. Maybe even monthly....depending on how much powder you have to keep adding as the CYA level keeps rising.
Then test for FC.
Pool Math will then tell you how much to add to get to the target.
Test the next day, and see what the new amount to add to get back to the target again needs to be.
After a few daily repeats of the cycle, you will learn the approximate daily amount you need to add. You can reduce testing to a couple of times per week, to make sure you aren't slowly increasing/decreasing too much. But still adding every day.
If lucky, add enough to get to the top of the recommended range. You can even safely go as high as what is recommended for the SLAM level. Then skip a day before repeating. The critical piece is to never go below the listed minimum amount. So after skipping a day, test to make sure your level stayed above minimum If it is well above, you could try skipping another day. If it didn't, then you will have to add every day. From that learning process about how you spa behaves, you can then determine a schedule as to how often to add.
There used to be a lithium hypochlorite that had far fewer side effects. Apparently it is no longer made as a tablet/powder, but I could not verify that claim. It used to be very expensive. I see in AU that some places sell a "liquid lithium" replacement. Unfortunately, the Pool Math app does not have the information for that one, so if you use it, you will have to rely on your own testing to determine "how much". Other than that (if it can be found in a powder), no other dry powders that are better. Liquid chlorine (strong bleach) is the alternative.
If you continue to use your powder, you will have to monitor CYA about weekly, and know that periodically you will have to drain and refill the spa. Maybe even monthly....depending on how much powder you have to keep adding as the CYA level keeps rising.
I don’t know my cya level as I can’t work out the test kit I’m only going by what the pool shops results were. Does it matter that my spa and pool are under cover 99% of the time and only off when being used ?
- Jun 22, 2014
- 52,018
- Pool Size
- 17888
- Surface
- Fiberglass
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- CircuPool RJ-45 Plus
Even covered water like a hot tub or indoor pool needs "some" stabilizer (CYA) ( 20-30 range) to help buffer the intensity of chlorine. Pool stores often do a horrible job with the CYA test. If you have a good Clear Choice Labs kit, it's best to test your own CYA. Refer to the links above for assistance.