Cloudy Water

[Diamond_Pool]

All

I recently started using Taylor Test Kit K2006. I was testing at leslie until last week. I was earlier getting FC around 7 and taylor will tell me around 12-15. I turned down my SWG output and now I was maintaining around 5 using Taylor FC test and now I have a cloudy pool. Cya is around 70.

 

[Texas Splash]

Welcome to TFP! Can you describe please the method and math of how you are performing your FC test?

 

[jeffchap]

5 ppm of FC with CYA of 70 is at the low end of the recommended range. I always keep my FC at least 10% of CYA just to be safe.

You'll need to perform a SLAM to clear the pool back up and the sooner you begin the better, before it goes green. If you do nothing else right now, add enough liquid chlorine to raise FC to 28 ppm. That should keep things from getting any worse.

Don't rely upon your SWG to do it - they generate chlorine too slowly. But do increase the output. Some people recommend turning off an SWG during a SLAM to prolong its life. But I don't. I keep mine running 100% to help keep the FC up and shorten the SLAM. It's a personal decision.

 

[Diamond_Pool]

FC test is done using K2006 test kit. I add the powder and see pink color and do dropwise addition of titrating agent.
I am more concerned with CYA test. Leslie test showed me 65 and K2006 showed 45. I increased it to 65-70. I think i could ve CYA addition which is causing worse

 

[Texas Splash]

One thing for sure, with a Taylor K-2006 test kit, you have to stop going to toe pool store for validations. It's won't validate anything and can actually cause you more stress. If you did your own CYA test and got about 45, just call it 50. If you added another 20 ppm of stabilizer for a salt pool to get to 70, then you should be very close to that area.

As for the FC testing, this is what I was hoping to see you write:

10 ml water sample size with ONE generous/heaping scoop of powder. Mix and add drops until it turns clear and divide in half. Example: 20 drops equals an FC of 10.

 

[Texas Splash]

If you are doing the testing correctly as noted above and still have concerns about cloudy water, do an Overnight Chlorine Loss Test first. That's always a good place to start.

 

[Diamond_Pool]

I actually had an OCLT reading of 5-2 ppm. Along with cloudy water. I was using cellulose for polishing which caused pressure reading to go up and resulted in swg turning off. Anyways i have added chlroine to pool and hope this clears up in a day or so.

 

[Texas Splash]

I actually had an OCLT reading of 5-2 ppm.

If your FC fell form 5 down to 2 overnight, that's a problem and explains the cloudiness (algae). I would encourage you to conduct the SLAM Process.

 

[Diamond_Pool]

K I tested chlorine and it is coming around 25. I need to get some more liquid chlorine but I think at superchlorinate SWG should be able to maintain atleast 15. I used to test 15 at 50% power.
Is it k to keep automatic pool cover closed during this process or should be left open.

 

[jeffchap]

Keep the cover off. UV burns off the chloramines, which is what makes pools have that chlorine smell. A properly maintained pool has no smell.

 

[Diamond_Pool]

I have been using this guide for SWG and targeting 7.5% FC since I did not have borates in it yet. Can someone explain where this is guiding me wrong. This is also in alignment with TFP targets. I was surprised to hear that FC requirement is 5 with CYA of 70. The chlorine-cya chart for SWG showed target as 5 and minimum 3. I have learned a lot here at TFP and want to thank all the pros.

 

[Texas Splash]

Can someone explain where this is guiding me wrong.

Z, I don't know where that product is from. The ranges are fairly close to some of TFP's ideal target ranges, but does have some variations from TFP as well. Be careful about trying to mix TFP methods with any local or online resource. TFP is unique for various reasons such as recommended ranges based on pool type, using the PoolMath APP to auto-calculate complex data based on pool type & chemistry, and several other factors. The link below contains everything you need to know about TFP pool care.

For the SLAM Process, SWGs are not ideal to try and maintain the elevated FC SLAM level. It places excessive stress on the cell and you cannot accurately predict the specific FC level required based on the FC/CYA Levels.

 

[Diamond_Pool]

Z, I don't know where that product is from. The ranges are fairly close to some of TFP's ideal target ranges, but does have some variations from TFP as well. Be careful about trying to mix TFP methods with any local or online resource. TFP is unique for various reasons such as recommended ranges based on pool type, using the PoolMath APP to auto-calculate complex data based on pool type & chemistry, and several other factors. The link below contains everything you need to know about TFP pool care.

For the SLAM Process, SWGs are not ideal to try and maintain the elevated FC SLAM level. It places excessive stress on the cell and you cannot accurately predict the specific FC level required based on the FC/CYA Levels.

This is from Lowry. He talks abt in his book and in a presentation he gave at a Pool conference. His book was sent to TFP for comments as well and is acknowledged. I think most of if aligns with TFP

Anyways pool has already started clearing up. I measured last night chlorine at 22 and added enough to bring to 30 and closed it for night. In the morning I measure FC at 35.
Tcell is still in super chlorinate state and pool is open now. I know it is hard to tell if I will pass OCLT.
Question for pros. When should i stop the SLAM. I know the 3 conditions but questions is should I stop if I pass OCLT tonight or let it run for extra day?

 

[Texas Splash]

should I stop if I pass OCLT tonight

Only if the water is crystal clear and the CC are 0.5 or less.

 

[Diamond_Pool]

Here are some pictures of pool. Water is crystal clear.
I am waiting on test reagents as I ran out so ran a 2.5 mL test. FC> 35 and CC<O.5. I cannot claim exact numbers as it was not ran at standard volume.
I dont plan to add any more shock tonight and let some chlorine burn off tomm and run OCLT tomorrow night when I get my reagents.

 

[Diamond_Pool]

Water is clear. I ran out of reagent so could not do OCLT last night. The pool was clear in morning as ever and no Cl smell and CC < 0.5. I let it open all day and let Chlorine drift down.
I ended the day with FC 17.5 and CC<0.5 and pH 7.7 and CYA 75, TA 200. I plan to run OCLT tomorrow morning.
Question for group if I pass OCLT what should be my FC ranger I should target?
Should I lower TA? I have gotten a pool aerator S well

 

[jeffchap]

Target FC at 8, never let it drop below 6.

 

[Diamond_Pool]

I tested this am and passed OCLT. FC 17.5 CC < 0.5.
Thank you all. This has been very helpful.
what do you guys use to raise FC on regular basis when you day have a pool party and what should be target.
1. Super chlorinate feature or liquid chlorine?
2. What should be target?
3. Do you raise it before or after the party?

 

[jeffchap]

I don't. I've never seen the need to do so, and our pool gets a LOT of teenage use. But if I was going to, I would use liquid chlorine and raise it to SLAM level.

 

[Diamond_Pool]

I used the robot late morning and I picked up lot white gritty crystalline powder. Almost sand texture. Please educate me what it is. Looks like some sort salt ppt out. This is for my learning. Pool is looking great