Cloudy water after vacuuming

KaylaP

Member
Jul 26, 2021
21
Portland, Oregon.
Pool Size
6000
Surface
Vinyl
Chlorine
Liquid Chlorine
So frustrated. This has been going on for weeks. Every time I vacuum or get in my pool it turns cloudy. I’ve been vacuuming up a white substance that seems to be the remains of phosphate treatment. Please don’t judge previous treatment. I was advise by a pool store (bad idea) that everything was normal but high phosphate (4000) and did a phosphate 911 treatment. Within a day pool was clear besides white substance floating at bottom. I’ve now been vacuuming my pool 2-3 times per day and while it’s getting better it seems never ending. Any Advice??
Is this drain worthy? I am not getting much too out vacuuming at this point but still cloudy.
I’m also waiting on delivery of a new test kit (Taylor 2006c) to run a Total chlorine loss test and possibly SLAM it.
 
Last edited:
Welcome to TFP! :wave: No worries, no judging here. :poke: Good you have the K-2006C on its way. Let's wait for a full set of test results from that kit before going any further. You can however update your signature with all of your pool and equipment info. That will help.

 
Welcome to TFP! :wave: No worries, no judging here. :poke: Good you have the K-2006C on its way. Let's wait for a full set of test results from that kit before going any further. You can however update your signature with all of your pool and equipment info. That will help.

Ok! It doesn’t come until Thursday and I’m going crazy vacuuming.
it’s this a drain worthy problem? I don’t feel like I can get the goo out.
 
6,000 gal above ground pool. 1500 gal sand filter, water clear in the morning but patchy areas of clouds floating just above surface.
taylor k-2006c results( last night test
FC 2.8
CC 0.6
Ph 7.2
Alk 150
Cya 95 ( I know I need to get this down before slamming)

This morning results
FC 1.8
CC 0.4

since FC loss is 1 do I slam? I’m just not sure if cloudiness is from the phosphate treatment I used 3 weeks ago because I was vacuuming a lot of goo out.
 
Since you passed the OCLT and have used store products in the past, I would simply increase the FC to about 10 ppm. Keep it elevated and balanced per the FC/CYA Levels and monitor water clarity and FC loss through the weekend. No doubt with a CYA that high, your FC needs to be much higher. A SLAM s not out of the question, but let's see how your water responds to maintaining a better/proper FC level first.
 
Since you passed the OCLT and have used store products in the past, I would simply increase the FC to about 10 ppm. Keep it elevated and balanced per the FC/CYA Levels and monitor water clarity and FC loss through the weekend. No doubt with a CYA that high, your FC needs to be much higher. A SLAM s not out of the question, but let's see how your water responds to maintaining a better/proper FC level first.
Thanks! I read that you should slam if your CC is not zero. I don’t fully understand this.
 
Is high chlorine safe to swim in if cya is high? My cya is 95 so added chlorine to get to target level of chart. It’s 12. Is this safe since so much stabilizer?
I drained some water and refilled and also removed chlorine tablets and have gone to liquid chlorine. My cya is still 95 after testing this afternoon. 6 hours after the above being done. What’s my next step? Should it take so long to go down?
 

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Is high chlorine safe to swim in if cya is high? My cya is 95 so added chlorine to get to target level of chart. It’s 12. Is this safe since so much stabilizer?
I drained some water and refilled and also removed chlorine tablets and have gone to liquid chlorine. My cya is still 95 after testing this afternoon. 6 hours after the above being done. What’s my next step? Should it take so long to go down?

Yes, it's safe. How much water did you drain? How are you testing?
 
Swimming is safe provided you can see the bottom of the pool clearly and FC does not exceed SLAM levels based on your CYA.
Given your high CYA, the level may sound high now but it’s barely enough!

 
Swimming is safe provided you can see the bottom of the pool clearly and FC does not exceed SLAM levels based on your CYA.
Given your high CYA, the level may sound high now but it’s barely enough!

So it’s safe to swim even when slamming?
 
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I’ve been trying for almost a month to get the goo left behind from phosphate remover out of my pool. I’m now draining. Never going back to a pool store. Have a Taylor test kit abs will be doing it all.
Is there a post or a link of how to start after refilling? Do I just test an add accordingly?
6000 gal vinyl above ground pool. 1500 gal sand filter.
 
Is there a post or a link of how to start after refilling? Do I just test an add accordingly?

  • Add CYA & chlorine - you always need them
  • Test your pH and adjust as needed
  • TA adjustment is not needed if you don't have a SWG or heater. Just let pH adjustments bring down TA
  • CH adjustment is not needed for vinyl pool is you don;t have SWG or heater
Basically CYA, chlorine and pH. Then go swim.
 
What kind of pool? Fill out your signature.

You need to drain 50% of your pool volume and refill. Then follow the SLAM Process.

Depending on what type of pool you have will inform us on guidance to you for the drain.
 

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