Cloudy water, pool balanced??

[Rgoccer]

Hello. First season trying to use trouble free pool method.

Above ground pool. 13500 gallons. Sand filter.

I slammed over over a week ago and have kept free chlorine levels high. Chemicals seem to be okay:

FC 3.5
cc. .5
ph. 7.5
alkalinity 120
cya 25

issue is water remains cloudy. Pics attached. Added 1 lb cyanuric acid 4 hours ago. Added 10 ounces 10% liquid chlorine one hour ago. Added 5 ounces clarifier 4 hours ago.

I backwashed 4 hours ago. Have not done anything to the sand in filter for 5 years. Could this be the problem?

Thank you.

 

[mknauss]

Welcome to the forum! :handshake:

How are you testing your water chemistry?

You need to SLAM Process. Follow [FC/CYA][/FC/CYA]. Test FC and dose with liquid chlorine back to SLAM level every couple hours.

- - - Updated - - -

Do Not add any more clarifier. It is glue. It will gum up your filter. Depending on what type of filter you have it may require changing media.

Please add a signature. See Pool School - Read This BEFORE You Post

 

[kimkats]

HI! I hate to be the one to say this but...............you are not done with the SLAM I see as much green as I do blue in that water. You need to keep doing the SLAM. Here is the link just in case: Pool School - SLAM - Shock Level And Maintain Please note it is a process. The most important part of it is the M=maintain as in maintain the FC at SLAM level for your CYA. Since you added more CYA you will need to use more chlorine to get to SLAM level.

Your FC is too low for your last CYA of 25 (round it up to 30). SLAM (shock) level for 30 is 12.

You can and should take a pic each day looking down at the steps. That will help you see your progress. Your eyes will not see it day to day but the pic will show it to you.

How are you testing? How often are you testing and dosing?

 

[tim5055]

Welcome to the TFP pool! :splash:

First, your filter is not "the" problem. It may have issues, but algae is always a chemical issue not a filtration issue. Forget about the filter for this moment.

Your comments that you "slammed over over a week ago" and "Chemicals seem to be okay" lead me to believe that you are mixing what folks at a pool store have told you and some things that you have read here.

Kim and Marty are leading you in the right direction and I'm going to build on their comments and questions. We base our pool care system on accurate testing and only adding what the pool needs, when it needs it. To do that you need your own accurate test kit, hence the questions - where aer are your numbers coming from?

If you don't have what we consider an accurate test kit, order a TF100 test kit and at least include the XL option. That will give you what you need while you are clearing the pool, and probably enough reagents for a years normal use.

Please don't go to the pool store for a test kit. To effectively practice the TFPC methods, the FAS/DPD chlorine test is essential. The TF100 test kit has this test while very few other kits do. The kits sold at the pool store generally won't won't cut it, but be careful pool store employees are known to say “it's the same thing”. Generally it's not!

Also, don't take the pool store a sample of water and ask them to test it. Not much credence is given to pool store testing around here. While you would think that a "professional" would be the best, unfortunately in most cases it is quite the opposite. Between employees who blindly trust the word of chemical sales representatives and high school kids working in the pool store for the summer you end up with poor results from their testing. Plus, the results of their "testing" is used to convince you that you need to buy things. Why do you think that testing is free?

How much Pool School have you read? Start with these:
ABCs of Water Chemistry
Recommended Pool Chemicals
How to Chlorinate Your Pool

 

[Rgoccer]

Thank you. I am using the Thompsons rf 100 test kit. Have only been testing twice per day. Looks like I need to get the FC above 12 and keep it there till water clears.

 

[kimkats]

If at all possible try for at least 4 tests a day. Work days will be tough but it can be done with 3 being after you come home.

I have not heard ot the Thompsons rf 100 test kit. Do you have a link? I love learning about new things!

Kim