Help with Stubborn Cloudy Green
- Thread starter madyogi
- Start date
I think the jury's still out, kellyfair. Plenty of people have pools around here, and I'm sure they all fill from city water, and I had no problem last year, so who knows.
Just a quick afternoon update here ... Water seems to be clearing slowly but surely. I'll be honest that I am experiencing a serious case of testing fatigue. I can't really be sure that passing the OCLT two nights ago was legit, because it failed last night. I have to pull myself together and make sure I'm taking my time enough to get accurate tests the next few days!
That said, water is still definitely green in the deep end, no visual of the MD yet, but I can definitely see my brush at the bottom when I'm working. Plus, the pebble pattern on my liner seems to be visible further and further down as the days go by.
I will note that we've had at least one heavy thunderstorm every day since Saturday, sometimes 2-3, and from past experience, even just that can cause a cloudy pool for a day or two, so I know that's not working in my favor. The sun finally came out full this afternoon, though, and like I said things are looking up.
I'm maintaining SLAM levels at 20+ ppm. I have my Duda Bags on today, with those two returns isolated, and I have the intake line biased toward the MD. I plan to run 2-3 more courses of DE this evening after work, and I am considering a 24 hour Mustard Algae level SLAM starting tonight and all day tomorrow, just to see if that might speed things up.
I've decided against posting more pictures at this point because they simply don't show the kinds of changes I can see with my eyes, so it's not worth it until things really clear up. I'll post another update this evening ... Trying not to let my optimist train get going too fast at this point, but I believe I have enough strategies in the pipeline to get this thing whipped in time to swim happily by Monday!
That said, water is still definitely green in the deep end, no visual of the MD yet, but I can definitely see my brush at the bottom when I'm working. Plus, the pebble pattern on my liner seems to be visible further and further down as the days go by.
I will note that we've had at least one heavy thunderstorm every day since Saturday, sometimes 2-3, and from past experience, even just that can cause a cloudy pool for a day or two, so I know that's not working in my favor. The sun finally came out full this afternoon, though, and like I said things are looking up.
I'm maintaining SLAM levels at 20+ ppm. I have my Duda Bags on today, with those two returns isolated, and I have the intake line biased toward the MD. I plan to run 2-3 more courses of DE this evening after work, and I am considering a 24 hour Mustard Algae level SLAM starting tonight and all day tomorrow, just to see if that might speed things up.
I've decided against posting more pictures at this point because they simply don't show the kinds of changes I can see with my eyes, so it's not worth it until things really clear up. I'll post another update this evening ... Trying not to let my optimist train get going too fast at this point, but I believe I have enough strategies in the pipeline to get this thing whipped in time to swim happily by Monday!
I’m sorry, I feel like my questioning has made you not want to post your progress! If you are seeing it, then it is real - please continue to update and I will shut my trap!
- Jun 22, 2014
- 52,030
- Pool Size
- 17888
- Surface
- Fiberglass
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- CircuPool RJ-45 Plus
Hang in there! I think you are at the P.O.P. stage now that most problems have been identified/eliminated/denied/confirmed 
I would just let your filter do the work now, just test FC to keep it at SLAM level (have you noticed a "pattern" yet of loss?)
I like that you are able to use the MD to pull the water from the deep end into the filter, that should help immensely!
I would just let your filter do the work now, just test FC to keep it at SLAM level (have you noticed a "pattern" yet of loss?)
I like that you are able to use the MD to pull the water from the deep end into the filter, that should help immensely!
Not you at all, it's just fatigue, and also the fact that this SLAM thread became ridiculously long once, and still becoming longer, so I'm trying to contain the posts for those reasons. No need to shut any traps
Not you at all, it's just fatigue, and also the fact that this SLAM thread became ridiculously long once, and still becoming longer, so I'm trying to contain the posts for those reasons. No need to shut any traps
No one minds a long thread! Have you seen the BBQ and Beer thread? LOL
Hang in there! I think you are at the P.O.P. stage now that most problems have been identified/eliminated/denied/confirmed
I would just let your filter do the work now, just test FC to keep it at SLAM level (have you noticed a "pattern" yet of loss?)
I like that you are able to use the MD to pull the water from the deep end into the filter, that should help immensely!
I think all of that is right. In past years, though, I was engaging in POP after 5-7 days, not 30+, so this is tough. That said, I think the MD clog was the major issue the first three weeks. I haven't noticed a specific pattern of FC consumption, but I think that's a combination of partly cloudy conditions and intermittent storms lately and testing fatigue on my part. Tonight and tomorrow are dedicated to accurate testing and maintaining SLAM (perhaps SUPER-SLAM). Then we'll see what goes on Saturday, but I'm optimistic (of course, I'm always optimistic ...)
So, here's kind of a fun diversion while we "wait" on my pool to do it's thing:
Let's figure up what I've spent so far on this crazy journey, then let's imagine what it might have cost me if I had been unaware of TFP.com and been blindly following the advice of a pool store ...
(all numbers are theoretical because I didn't keep receipts, but they are definitely in the ballpark)
$175 - liquid bleach
$ 20 - CYA/Stabilizer
$ 15 - Baking Soda
$ 20 - Muriatic Acid
$ 55 - replenish test reagents (R-0871, R-0013, etc)
$ 8 - new pressure gauge
$100 - new sand, a union to re-plumb the return line, and some PVC cement
$ 35 - 2 duda bags and 2 elbows and 2 hose clamps for filtration enhancement
$ 25 - a 25lb bag of DE, also for filtration enhancement, that will likely last 2 more years
$ 15 - replacement bags for Polaris 360
________________________________
$473 - total
No small number, obviously, and nowhere near what I spent last year, but this is a unique case when considering pool openings in general.
Now for the fun part: anyone want to wager a guess as to what all this would have cost keeping my blindfold on and using a pool store/service?
Let's figure up what I've spent so far on this crazy journey, then let's imagine what it might have cost me if I had been unaware of TFP.com and been blindly following the advice of a pool store ...
(all numbers are theoretical because I didn't keep receipts, but they are definitely in the ballpark)
$175 - liquid bleach
$ 20 - CYA/Stabilizer
$ 15 - Baking Soda
$ 20 - Muriatic Acid
$ 55 - replenish test reagents (R-0871, R-0013, etc)
$ 8 - new pressure gauge
$100 - new sand, a union to re-plumb the return line, and some PVC cement
$ 35 - 2 duda bags and 2 elbows and 2 hose clamps for filtration enhancement
$ 25 - a 25lb bag of DE, also for filtration enhancement, that will likely last 2 more years
$ 15 - replacement bags for Polaris 360
________________________________
$473 - total
No small number, obviously, and nowhere near what I spent last year, but this is a unique case when considering pool openings in general.
Now for the fun part: anyone want to wager a guess as to what all this would have cost keeping my blindfold on and using a pool store/service?
If you were going with the pool store I would have easily put you at $1200.00 between 50 lbs of trichlor pucks, flocculant, pool rx magic potions, stabilizers, PH + and - Algecide, sand, and having someone unclog the MD run the plumbing unions, etc.
My 1st and 2nd year. I went that route and it cost me about $370. Never again.
My 1st and 2nd year. I went that route and it cost me about $370. Never again.
I was going to be more generous, Robert 
I think the local spot I like probably would have cost me $650-750. They would have come out and dealt with the filter, and cleared the MD, probably in two service calls. Additionally, they would have recommended unnecessary things like calcium for my in ground vinyl pool, along with some variety of clarifier/floc/whatever.
Those things may have got it done faster, maybe not. Either way you look at it, I feel like my pool is clearing (more details in my final update today in a bit) and we've finally turned a corner, and I have learned everything I could have wanted to learn about my pool setup, and I've learned pretty much every legit intervention one can make.
It's kind of like those old credit card commercials
Sand -- $75
Test Kit -- $75
Chlorine -- Way too many dollars
Intimate knowledge of my pool system and a real sense of accomplishment -- priceless!
That is, if my pool clears up my Monday
I think the local spot I like probably would have cost me $650-750. They would have come out and dealt with the filter, and cleared the MD, probably in two service calls. Additionally, they would have recommended unnecessary things like calcium for my in ground vinyl pool, along with some variety of clarifier/floc/whatever.
Those things may have got it done faster, maybe not. Either way you look at it, I feel like my pool is clearing (more details in my final update today in a bit) and we've finally turned a corner, and I have learned everything I could have wanted to learn about my pool setup, and I've learned pretty much every legit intervention one can make.
It's kind of like those old credit card commercials
Sand -- $75
Test Kit -- $75
Chlorine -- Way too many dollars
Intimate knowledge of my pool system and a real sense of accomplishment -- priceless!
That is, if my pool clears up my Monday
Okay, so I got in a played with my son for 45 minutes or so this evening, there's a big difference in clarity throughout! Still can't see the main drain from the pool deck, but if something dark like the brush moves down there, you can see it no problem. Anyway, I took the duda bags off and ran two cycles of 1/2 cup DE, then I jacked the FC up to Mustard Algae level as a last hurrah. Gonna get this thing clear by Monday by hook or by crook!
Quick update:
Maintained Mustard Algae level until late this evening, and I could legitimately see the main drain from the diving board!
For now, it's maintain SLAM and hope for the best. I hope everyone has a great holiday weekend!
Maintained Mustard Algae level until late this evening, and I could legitimately see the main drain from the diving board!
For now, it's maintain SLAM and hope for the best. I hope everyone has a great holiday weekend!
Great news Madyogi. In doing my darndest over at my wife's friends to train and convert her TFP methods. Her pool service company wrote a really belligerent note on their invoice. They cleared her green pool, 2 dead animals, and complained about the trees in a really nasty manner. Added too much stabilizer, and TA is really high. I just want to see her save money, and not deal with aggravation. Pool maintence stats in invoice are:
SWG pool.
FC :30
TA:120
CYA:100
CH: 60
PH 7.8
Salt 3000 ppm
My stats are
FC: 16
TA: 310
CYA: 100
PH:7.8
Salt 3000 ppm
CH: 60
Big difference from the so called professionals and an amateur like myself...lol...Ill make a convert out of her yet.
SWG pool.
FC :30
TA:120
CYA:100
CH: 60
PH 7.8
Salt 3000 ppm
My stats are
FC: 16
TA: 310
CYA: 100
PH:7.8
Salt 3000 ppm
CH: 60
Big difference from the so called professionals and an amateur like myself...lol...Ill make a convert out of her yet.