Green pool not clearing

[rchesani]

We uncovered the pool May 2nd and it was green. Started the SLAM process and it doesn’t seem to be getting any better. This is my 3rd year testing my own water and it has never been this long and difficult. I can’t vacuum anything because I can’t see the bottom anywhere other than the steps. What am I doing wrong? Any ideas?

 

[rchesani]

PoolMath Logs

 

[PoolStored]

Increase the frequency of your testing and replacing FC. Not more than every 2 hours, and no less than 3-4x per day.
The more often you replace FC the faster the SLAM goes.

 

[Bperry]

We uncovered the pool May 2nd and it was green. Started the SLAM process and it doesn’t seem to be getting any better. This is my 3rd year testing my own water and it has never been this long and difficult. I can’t vacuum anything because I can’t see the bottom anywhere other than the steps. What am I doing wrong? Any ideas?

Been a warm winter, you should consider opening by end of March in the future. That’ll help avoid the green on opening.

5 days isn’t very long if the pool is really green. Keep at it!

 

[Mdragger88]

Definitely test & replenish fc more often- SLAM = Shock Level And Maintain
Maintaining is much more effective than famine then feast.
Its ok to blindly vacuum!
Follow all the steps
SLAM Process

 

[an1vrsy]

What is also good for your sanity, is to take a picture of the pool. Same spot or area so that you can really compare the progress. Say the stairs, that way you might not see the bottom step one day but the next you day you can. However if you’re only looking at the pool overall you don’t notice the incremental changes. Hang in there.

 

[rchesani]

I still have a cloudy pool with a green deep end. Is it possible that I need a new pump or the sand filter needs sand? Should I add a lot more chlorine? Also, should I turn on the SWG? Help!
==========================================
Pool
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Build Type: Vinyl
Volume: 29160 gallons
Chemistry: SWG
------------------------------------------
Latest Test Result Summary:
FC: 15.0 (1 hour ago)
CC: 0.0 (1 hour ago)
pH: 7.6 (1 hour ago)
TA: 80 (6 days ago)
CH: 125 (2 years ago)
CYA: 35 (1 hour ago)
SALT: 3400 (11 days ago)
==========================================
------------------------------------------
Test Results 05-17-2025 @ 01:01 PM
------------------------------------------
Free Chlorine: 15.0
Combined Chlorine: 0.0
pH: 7.6
CYA: 35

------------------------------------------
Maintenance 05-17-2025 @ 12:59 PM
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Vacuumed, Backwashed, Brushed

------------------------------------------
Chemical Addition 05-17-2025 @ 09:00 AM
------------------------------------------
+ 1 Gallons of Bleach

------------------------------------------
Test Results 05-17-2025 @ 08:34 AM
------------------------------------------
Free Chlorine: 10.5
Combined Chlorine: 0.0

------------------------------------------
Maintenance 05-16-2025 @ 06:48 AM
------------------------------------------
Backwashed

------------------------------------------
Chemical Addition 05-16-2025 @ 06:35 AM
------------------------------------------
+ 1.5 Gallons of Bleach

------------------------------------------
Test Results 05-16-2025 @ 06:35 AM
------------------------------------------
Free Chlorine: 9.5
Combined Chlorine: 0.5

------------------------------------------
Chemical Addition 05-15-2025 @ 06:49 AM
------------------------------------------
+ 1 Gallons of Bleach

------------------------------------------
Test Results 05-15-2025 @ 06:43 AM
------------------------------------------
Free Chlorine: 11.5
Combined Chlorine: 1.0

------------------------------------------
Chemical Addition 05-14-2025 @ 07:30 AM
------------------------------------------
+ 1.5 Gallons of Bleach

------------------------------------------
Test Results 05-14-2025 @ 06:52 AM
------------------------------------------
Free Chlorine: 12.5
Combined Chlorine: 0.0
CYA: 35

------------------------------------------
Test Results 05-13-2025 @ 03:59 PM
------------------------------------------
Free Chlorine: 13.0
Combined Chlorine: 0.5

------------------------------------------
Chemical Addition 05-13-2025 @ 07:30 AM
------------------------------------------
+ 1.5 Gallons of Bleach

------------------------------------------
Test Results 05-13-2025 @ 06:30 AM
------------------------------------------
Free Chlorine: 11.0
Combined Chlorine: 0.0

------------------------------------------
Chemical Addition 05-12-2025 @ 10:30 AM
------------------------------------------
+ 1 Gallons of Bleach

------------------------------------------
Test Results 05-12-2025 @ 09:53 AM
------------------------------------------
Free Chlorine: 9.0

------------------------------------------
Maintenance 05-11-2025 @ 12:33 PM
------------------------------------------
Backwashed

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Test Results 05-11-2025 @ 12:21 PM
------------------------------------------
Free Chlorine: 11.5
Combined Chlorine: 0.5
pH: 7.6
Total Alkalinity: 80
CYA: 40

------------------------------------------
Chemical Addition 05-10-2025 @ 03:00 PM
------------------------------------------
+ 1 Gallons of Bleach

 

[PoolStored]

Increase the frequency of your testing and replacing FC. Not more than every 2 hours, and no less than 3-4x per day.
The more often you replace FC the faster the SLAM goes.

 

[rchesani]

Thank you for your response.
Should I turn the salt water generator on?
I work outside the home so it’s hard to test while I’m at work Do I need to hire someone?

 

[rchesani]

Finally my pool is clear! Hubby changed the sand in the filter and put in a bottle of clarifier, against my recommendation, but it worked! Not sure which part helped the most, but def keeping the SLAM process going the entire time and running pump 24/7. The pump was going to be our next move, because we had a similar issue during the season right before the pump stopped working all together. Pumps do not last like they used to

 

[Bperry]

Finally my pool is clear! Hubby changed the sand in the filter and put in a bottle of clarifier, against my recommendation, but it worked! Not sure which part helped the most, but def keeping the SLAM process going the entire time and running pump 24/7. The pump was going to be our next move, because we had a similar issue during the season right before the pump stopped working all together. Pumps do not last like they used to

For future reference, there’s no need to change the sand in a sand filter. Sand doesn’t wear out, but it can get caked together so it stops working as well if you use floc or some clarifiers. make sure you backwash the filter very well.

 

[PoolStored]

some clarifiers. make sure you backwash the filter very well.

^^^Preach.

 

[rchesani]

It was against my recommendation. Hubby did these things while I was at work. I take care of the water testing and reading the forums to take care of the pool without a pool store. However, he did see that my testing is accurate! The pool store sold him the clarifier, but the sand was totally his idea. I told him that sand never wears out and just needs cleaning, which is what he was supposed to be doing. He saw the sand was dirty and had black stuff in it so he changed it out. And now it’s clear

 

[Bperry]

He saw the sand was dirty and had black stuff in it so he changed it out. And now it’s clear

that’s what the backwash valve is for.

 

[PoolFool.]

It was against my recommendation. Hubby did these things while I was at work. I take care of the water testing and reading the forums to take care of the pool without a pool store. However, he did see that my testing is accurate! The pool store sold him the clarifier, but the sand was totally his idea. I told him that sand never wears out and just needs cleaning, which is what he was supposed to be doing. He saw the sand was dirty and had black stuff in it so he changed it out. And now it’s clear

I disagree that sand doesn't wear out. The pool I inherited when I bought my house was really having no effect on filtering the water. I took the valve off the sand filter and found the sand grains to be completely smooth and round, totally unlike pool sand which is "spikey" all over. It's possible they used the wrong sand, sooooo much was wrong with my pool that very little would have surprised me.
Needed new media anyway. So I went with recycled glass media and couldn't be happier. (9th year now)

 

[rchesani]

that’s what the backwash valve is for.

 

[rchesani]

The 3 grand boys went swimming today and had the best time! I’m so happy and I really appreciate TFP and PoolMath

 

[PoolStored]

The 3 grand boys went swimming today and had the best time! I’m so happy and I really appreciate TFP and PoolMath

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[Bperry]

I disagree that sand doesn't wear out. The pool I inherited when I bought my house was really having no effect on filtering the water. I took the valve off the sand filter and found the sand grains to be completely smooth and round, totally unlike pool sand which is "spikey" all over. It's possible they used the wrong sand, sooooo much was wrong with my pool that very little would have surprised me.
Needed new media anyway. So I went with recycled glass media and couldn't be happier. (9th year now)

The recycled glass is very smooth huh? I got suckered into it too. It doesn’t work any better in my pool than the regular sand even though it cost $600-ish.

 

[PoolFool.]

IDK if it works better or not or the physics, my sand wasn't working so nothing to compare to.
And yes it's my first Rod-e-o!


I do like the lack of a bio-film given the opening swamp I have (following my most disciplined closing ever)