Cloudy Water, Cannot Keep Chlorine Levels

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C

Chipley3059

Active member
May 19, 2023
30
Antioch, CA
Pool Size
20000
Surface
Plaster
Chlorine
Liquid Chlorine
Let me preface by saying, I have ordered a test kit and it’s on the way. 😁

This year we have had a terrible time opening our pool… the longer rainy season really put us in a bad place and for the first time since having the pool, we cannot get it to clear. The pool was very green initially but after a few rounds of shock, it’s blue but cloudy and chlorine added in the evening is gone by morning. Filters are a month or two old and were cleaned last weekend.

The pool is approx 20,000 gallons and dark plaster that was refinished 2021.

Right now I am using Clorox Test Strips and the readings from this morning are after putting in 2 bags of shock about 8pm yesterday:

Hardness: 500 (this has been the hardness forever… even when the pool was inspected at time of sale. We have really hard water)
Total Chlorine: 0
Free Chlorine: 0
PH: 7.2
Total Alkalinity: 120
Stabilizer: 0
 
Chipley3059 said:
Let me preface by saying, I have ordered a test kit and it’s on the way. 😁

This year we have had a terrible time opening our pool… the longer rainy season really put us in a bad place and for the first time since having the pool, we cannot get it to clear. The pool was very green initially but after a few rounds of shock, it’s blue but cloudy and chlorine added in the evening is gone by morning. Filters are a month or two old and were cleaned last weekend.

The pool is approx 20,000 gallons and dark plaster that was refinished 2021.

Right now I am using Clorox Test Strips and the readings from this morning are after putting in 2 bags of shock about 8pm yesterday:

Hardness: 500 (this has been the hardness forever… even when the pool was inspected at time of sale. We have really hard water)
Total Chlorine: 0
Free Chlorine: 0
PH: 7.2
Total Alkalinity: 120
Stabilizer: 0
Click to expand...
Welcome! Add 5ppm worth of liquid chlorine each day until your test kit arrives. Don’t do anything other than that.
 
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Welcome to TFP! :wave:

Without a good test kit, it's difficult to know what your numbers really are.
Good news is you already ordered a test kit.

Use PoolMath and add 5 ppm every day until your trst kit arrives and you can provide accurate test results.

Fill out your signature with pool, pool equipment (including manufacturers and model numbers) and test kit info.
This assists us in providing help specific to your pool without needing to ask you each time.

I see you mentioned you opened your pool. Do you not maintain your pool and pool chemicals year round in Antioch? I wouldn't think it gets cold enough for long enough to close a pool there.
 
Last edited:
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proavia said:
Welcome to TFP! :wave:

Without a good test kit, it's difficult to know what your numbers really are.
Good news is you already ordered a test kit.

Use PoolMath and add 5 ppm every day until your trst kit arrives and you can provide accurate test results.

Fill out your signature with pool, pool equipment (including manufacturers and model numbers) and test kit info.
This assists us in providing help specific to your pool without needing to ask you each time.

I see you mentioned you opened your pool. Do you not maintain your pool and pool chemicals year round in Antioch? I wouldn't think it gets cold enough for long enough to close a pool there.
Click to expand...
Maybe “opened” the pool is the wrong term… we basically keep an eye on the pool and keep it from turning green when it’s too cold to swim. Honestly, this year it got away from us… we had crazy amounts of rain and wind, all the neighbors trees went nuts blooming and dropped truck loads if leaves and it got really green. I figured clearing it up would be a struggle but I’ve never been unable to clear the pool… the cloudy but blue issue has been a struggle.
 
Having the amount of weather events you endured this past season is even more reason to stay on top of the pool. It's never fun being out in the cold and rain, but letting the pool get away from you makes it much more difficult to get it back - as you are now experiencing.

Just be patient and stay the course.
While waiting on your test kit, read thru:
Pool Care Basics
SLAM Process
FC/CYA Levels
Download, setup and become familiar with:
PoolMath

Inspiration:
How Clear is TFP Clear?
 
proavia said:
Having the amount of weather events you endured this past season is even more reason to stay on top of the pool. It's never fun being out in the cold and rain, but letting the pool get away from you makes it much more difficult to get it back - as you are now experiencing.

Just be patient and stay the course.
While waiting on your test kit, read thru:
Pool Care Basics
SLAM Process
FC/CYA Levels
Download, setup and become familiar with:
PoolMath

Inspiration:
How Clear is TFP Clear?
Click to expand...
We spent more than our fair share out tending to the pool in the weather… the leaves were more than we could keep up with. Not a single tree in OUR yard but surrounded on all sides by Cottonwoods, pines, etc. All the leaves sank, robot couldn’t keep up, broke 2 net poles and the manual vacuum couldn’t be used because the pool was already close to overflowing from rain and adding more with the hose was gonna push us over the edge. 😬

I’m just hoping to get it under control before we go out of town Friday and it gets out of hand again. 🤦🏻‍♀️
 
Test kit arrived today and they sent me the wrong one… Thru Amazon I ordered the Taylor K-2006c and got the Taylor K-2005c.

Amazon said they can refund me the difference or I can send it back and get the correct one but it will take several more days and I am going out of town Friday.

Can I make this work and just order the FAS/DPD test next week or do I need that in order to diagnose my current problem right now?
 
PoolStored said:
Return it and order TF-Pro. Will be there in the same time as replacing with Amazon.

tftestkits.net

TF-Pro

tftestkits.net tftestkits.net
Click to expand...
So I can’t address the pool without the FAS/DPD test? I’m hoping to get it under control before I leave for 5 days…. I don’t want to risk it turning green and having to start at square one.
 

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Chipley3059 said:
So I can’t address the pool without the FAS/DPD test? I’m hoping to get it under control before I leave for 5 days…. I don’t want to risk it turning green and having to start at square one.
Click to expand...
Chlorine is KING. It is the most important chemical to maintain a sanitized pool and keep bacteria and algae at bay. You might call around to (^$%$^#) local pool stores and see if you can find a FAS-DPD test kit.
 
Are you sure your stabilizer is 0? If so, I would do the following:

1. Order the correct test kit
2. Add 5ppm chlorine daily until it arrives or you leave
3. Before you leave, get a floating chlorine dispenser and add trichlor pucks to tide you over until you get back.

Then when you get back, post a full set of results and start prepping to SLAM.
 
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JJ_Tex said:
Are you sure your stabilizer is 0? If so, I would do the following:

1. Order the correct test kit
2. Add 5ppm chlorine daily until it arrives or you leave
3. Before you leave, get a floating chlorine dispenser and add trichlor pucks to tide you over until you get back.

Then when you get back, post a full set of results and start prepping to SLAM.
Click to expand...
I’ve been using test strips and that’s the reading it has for stabilizer. 🤷🏻‍♀️I ordered the kit Friday and have been adding chlorine each evening while I waited.

According to Pool Math, a gallon of liquid chlorine is what I need to get to 5ppm. I have been adding a gallon in the evening and while it registers chlorine in the morning (1ppm), it’s gone by the evening again. I have a floating dispenser with 3 inch tri-chlor tabs currently in the pool.

Also have been sweeping the pool 2x a day, running the pump 24/7 and cleaned the filters on Sunday.
 
Chipley3059 said:
I’ve been using test strips and that’s the reading it has for stabilizer. 🤷🏻‍♀️I ordered the kit Friday and have been adding chlorine each evening while I waited.

According to Pool Math, a gallon of liquid chlorine is what I need to get to 5ppm. I have been adding a gallon in the evening and while it registers chlorine in the morning (1ppm), it’s gone by the evening again. I have a floating dispenser with 3 inch tri-chlor tabs currently in the pool.

Also have been sweeping the pool 2x a day, running the pump 24/7 and cleaned the filters on Sunday.
Click to expand...
Maybe take the tab out, but

Episode 1 Applause GIF by Friends
 
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Until you know your true CYA and FC numbers it sounds like you are doing all you can at this point.

Have you never added stabilizer or used pucks previously? We don't trust test strips, so trying to figure out if your 0 CYA from your test strip is even remotely close.
 
JJ_Tex said:
Until you know your true CYA and FC numbers it sounds like you are doing all you can at this point.

Have you never added stabilizer or used pucks previously? We don't trust test strips, so trying to figure out if your 0 CYA from your test strip is even remotely close.
Click to expand...
I have never added stabilizer before and always use pucks during the summer. Honestly we have never had to do more than shock in 1-2 times at the start of the season and add chlorine once it gets down to 1ppm. This is the first time we have had an issue. 🤷🏻‍♀️

I responded to Amazon saying I wanted to return the item instead of just the price adjustment and once they started the return process realized this item cannot be returned. 🤦🏻‍♀️🤦🏻‍♀️🤦🏻‍♀️

So I guess I’m gonna have to make it work and find an add on FAS-DPD test.
 
PoolStored said:
Maybe take the tab out, but

Episode 1 Applause GIF by Friends
Click to expand...
Thanks. We’ve never had an issue clearing up the pool but this winter/spring really screwed us up…

So once I confirmed to Amazon I wanted a return not just price adjustment they realized it was not a returnable item. 🤦🏻‍♀️ Fire risk from the chemicals or some bs. So guess I’m looking for a FAS-DPD test to add.
 
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