green pool won't clear

[repmekker]

Hi, I have never posted here, but I am at the of my wisdom. I am winging maintaining our saltwater pool (21,000 gallons, vinyl liner, cartridge filter) for 6 years (came with the house, I converted to salt after a year of ownership) and did a reasonable good job keeping it crystal clear most summers. I don't use a pool company or pool store chemicals.. I test my own water.
I opened the pool end of May and was never able to clear it from cloudiness this year. Turned out the salt cell was dying. Waiting for an expensive replacement from manufacturer Solaxx (after getting burned buying a cheap knock-off cell from a shady internet company (saltpoolstoredotcom, avoid at all cost) and loosing time).
Meanwhile the pool turned green again this week, although I kept adding shock and maintained a 3ppm chlorine level. I added 6 gallons yesterday and no change.
CYA level is at 80, which I guess is ok for a saltwater pool. PH is 7.8 this morning, a jump from 7.2 (after adding muriatic acid) pre-shock yesterday. Alkalinity is at 90. Current chlorine level is at 9ppm , from 17ppm yesterday evening.
New Salt cell is due to arrive tonight.
Appreciate any advice. Thanks.

 

[reggiehammond]

Pretty basic needs...

Invest in a proper test kit. Test Kits Compared
Get ready for the SLAM Process.

Your CYA is high for completing a SLAM - it might be wise to replace 50% of your water to lower CYA to make SLAM cheaper and easier. Then once SWCG is installed and operational, you can return to higher CYA levels.

 

[repmekker]

Thank you! I do use the Taylor Test Kit.
Is that how to do SLAM with a high-CYA saltwater pool? I can not possibly replace the water, plus replace all that salt, every time I have this issue? Is there any other way to deal with this?
Thanks,
Bjorn

 

[reggiehammond]

You have the K2006 or K2006C to be clear?

It's going to sound pithy - but you shouldn't have the issue with proper testing and a functioning SWCG. If you test FC regularly, even with a SWCG, you'll notice when levels begin to fall, but before it's too late.

You have to act quickly with high CYA, as once algae takes hold, it's much harder to eradicate due to the high CYA. The SLAM process does work, but the issue is the amount of liquid chlorine needed to maintain the SLAM level is both troublesome from a quantity standpoint, but also $$.

For now, replacing 50% of the water, completing the SLAM process, and getting your SWCG operational are the way out of the mess.

 

[repmekker]

Understand. Due to not having a working salt cell I waited too long. I do test daily. I have the K2006. Thanks!