Cloudy water and algae

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Dawnamie

Dawnamie

Active member
Mar 14, 2022
31
Kauai
Pool Size
30000
Surface
Plaster
Chlorine
Salt Water Generator
SWG Type
Hayward Aqua Rite (T-15)
Okay I have been really good about testing and maintaining my water with my TFP test kit but apparently not that good. My water is looking cloudy and I have noticed some algae build up in the corners and when brushing the pool. Help!!! My levels are not low my But I guess I let my chlorine stay at too low a level. Do I need to SLAM? My pool is only 3 months old. Help!!
 

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Btw my chlorine has been at a 4 ppm but I bumped up my chlorinator and have it at a 5 now. My pump is running for 10 hrs a day.
 
Well, those numbers above look really good. However, if the FC did fall in the past, that could explain algae. So if you are sure it's algae, you'll want to follow the SLAM Process. If you're not sure about algae, you can still do an Overnight Chlorine Loss Test first to confirm.
 
I am going to do the overnight chlorine test tonight. Just to confirm I need to turn my chlorinator off for the test, correct? I ask didn’t realize it but my husband had turned off the main drain weeks ago. He thought it would help move the surface water to the skimmers to get rid of the gnats. Could that have been the cause of the cloudy water because the water wasn’t circulating properly? I did add 2 1lb bags of shock last night, which would not bring my levels to SLAM though. My water is definitely cloudy and I could see algae in the corners when I brushed the pool.
 
Main drains are not very useful, the skimmers is what is used most. I have my flow 25%main drain -75% skimmer.
If you have visible algae, then no need for Overnight Chlorine Loss Test just start your SLAM Process. Make sure to scrub behind the lights and ladders. Fill in your signature with your pool specs and equipment so we know what you have.
 
Dawnamie said:
Pretty sure my specs are all filled in. Can you not see them in my profile?
Click to expand...
We see profile info that goes under the avatar, but the signature field that displays under each post is blank. In your profile settings, the signature field is different than your general profile info.
 
Preformed the over night chlorine loss test last night. No loss in chlorine but my CC was at 0.5 both in the evening test and this morning. A friend of mine who maintains pools told me to add super blue to my water to clarify it. I added that last night and this morning my water is almost clear and whatever is in my pool is coagulated at the bottom. I’m thinking it’s pollen not algae but not sure how to know. I also added shock the night before last. Levels as of now. I have been running my pump 24 hrs for the last few days and cleaning my filter (which has a green algae looking stuff on it). Also when skimming there is a pollen/algae on the surface. How do I tell the difference pollen or algae? I never let my levels get low, lowest my TC has been is 3ppm. I have never had in CC it has always been 0 unit last night and this morning where it was a .5, could that be due to the super blue I put in? Should I still SLAM the pool? I just want clean sanitized water for my kids to swim in.
FC 9
CC 0.5
PH 7.8
CYA 80
CH 325
TA 80
Salt 3200
Temp 84
 
You are welcome to use what you wish, but Super Blue is a clarifier that is unnecesary. It can really gum things up being used with live algae in the system. The green in your filter is algae.

You maintain SLAM level FC until the pool water is crystal clear.

Without a signature we do not know what equipment you have.
 

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Okay I think I filled in all information on my signature. Planning to start the slam this evening. Question do I turn off my salt water chlorinator before I start the slam
Process? How long should we stay out of the water during slam?
 
We typically recommend turning off the swcg to start.
You can swim as long as you can see the bottom of the pool and the FC is at or below SLAM level.
 
At this point I feel like I’m losing my mind and my husband wants to strangle me. I just tested my TC/CC again and my TC is up to 10.5 with no CC This morning CC was 0.5. My salt water chlorinator is on which could be what is causing the increase in Chlorine.I can visibly see green algae in my skimmer and on the filter when I clean out my cartridge filter. I’m thinking I should just do a slam and get ride of the green algae right? My pump has been running 24/7 the last two days and I would like to be able to get it back down to 10/12 hrs after everything is cleared up.
 
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