I am stumped - all tests indicate perfection but still have light green cloudy water.

[JRzMom]

My pool pump was out of order for three days. I continued to add LC and swished it around manually, keeping it between 5 pmm and as high as 13 ppm. The pump is back in operation and I am testing daily. Everything looks great (even passed the OCLT, but my water is still slightly green and cloudy. I suspect copper because we are on well water. I've had to add water due to evaporation. I'm thinking I let the FC get down to about 5 ppm and maybe lower the pH. It is currently at 7.8, but that could be due to the higher than normal amount of chlorine I've been adding this week. Any suggestions? I've attached my Pool Math results and a photo of the color.

 

[Bperry]

My pool pump was out of order for three days. I continued to add LC and swished it around manually, keeping it between 5 pmm and as high as 13 ppm. The pump is back in operation and I am testing daily. Everything looks great (even passed the OCLT, but my water is still slightly green and cloudy. I suspect copper because we are on well water. I've had to add water due to evaporation. I'm thinking I let the FC get down to about 5 ppm and maybe lower the pH. It is currently at 7.8, but that could be due to the higher than normal amount of chlorine I've been adding this week. Any suggestions? I've attached my Pool Math results and a photo of the color.

Copper is not in well water unless its been contaminated. It could be iron though. But its more likely algae so do the SLAM process.

 

[Texas Splash]

You say yu passed the OCLT? Okay, then I would definitely start filtering out the iron now with polyfill. The more water filtered through polyfill now the better the results.

Also, since you have a vinyl pool you can just turn off the CSO tracker in your APP.

 

[Texas Splash]

See the following success story.

From brown to 😍😍. Thank you polyfil!

We filled our pool from our well. We knew the risks and knew we would have a battle when the water was 12" deep as it looked green from the metals. Our fears were confirmed when we added chlorine and the water turned brown almost immediately. Enter 5 gallon polyfil filter. It worked...

www.troublefreepool.com

 

[JRzMom]

Copper is not in well water unless its been contaminated. It could be iron though. But its more likely algae so do the SLAM process.

How can it be algae if it isn't eating up chlorine and CC is just a trace? I have tested it in the past and we do have copper. Possibly from copper pipes?

 

[Bperry]

How can it be algae if it isn't eating up chlorine and CC is just a trace? I have tested it in the past and we do have copper. Possibly from copper pipes?

Probably not copper. Iron is more likely. But iron tends to be clear but green colored and yours looks cloudy. Are you sure about the OCLT?

 

[JRzMom]

Probably not copper. Iron is more likely. But iron tends to be clear but green colored and yours looks cloudy. Are you sure about the OCLT?

Yes. Ran it last night. 7.5 ppm at 10pm and 7.5 ppm at 8am

 

[Rocket J Squirrel]

With only 3800 gallons, it might be easier to drain & refill. If the new water comes in green, that would be telling.

 

[JRzMom]

I think I'll live with it for this week. All other tests seem ok. Draining is not easy. No backflush on the filter so need a sump. I may try a metal clumper and turn off the pump to see what settles.

 

[JRzMom]

See the following success story.

From brown to 😍😍. Thank you polyfil!

We filled our pool from our well. We knew the risks and knew we would have a battle when the water was 12" deep as it looked green from the metals. Our fears were confirmed when we added chlorine and the water turned brown almost immediately. Enter 5 gallon polyfil filter. It worked...

www.troublefreepool.com

I can try it, but the water didn't turn brown when I increased the chlorine; it just got more green. I'm open to anything at this point! One thing to note: I cleaned the filter just before the pump stopped working. Since getting the pump running again, the filter is still clean. There is no algae, so I am convinced it is some kind of metal. Thank you for this, though. I'm sorry I didn't see it sooner...I often forget to scroll backward on these threads.

 

[Texas Splash]

the water didn't turn brown when I increased the chlorine; it just got more green.

Much depends on the shell/liner color and perhaps some other criteria I don't know about. But iron can make water green or brown. Worth a try if you rule-out organics.

 

[JRzMom]

OK, so I tried polyfill in the skimmer and it didn't collect anything looking like iron. The water is still green, and I'm still getting only trace CC. I brought a sample to the pool store to test. Surprisingly, they came up with the same results I was getting with my kit (except for alkalinity - I retested when I got home, and it is 80, not 137 like the pool store says). No iron, no copper, either. They did show 1,345 ppb of phosphate, so I am willing to admit it is algae. Why it isn't eating chlorine, I'll never know. CYA is 50, so not too high. I started SLAM this afternoon. Wish me luck!

 

[HermanTX]

OK, so I tried polyfill in the skimmer and it didn't collect anything looking like iron. The water is still green, and I'm still getting only trace CC. I brought a sample to the pool store to test. Surprisingly, they came up with the same results I was getting with my kit (except for alkalinity - I retested when I got home, and it is 80, not 137 like the pool store says). No iron, no copper, either. They did show 1,345 ppb of phosphate, so I am willing to admit it is algae. Why it isn't eating chlorine, I'll never know. CYA is 50, so not too high. I started SLAM this afternoon. Wish me luck!

Bring FC up to 20ppm for SLAM level using CYA is 50ppm. Test every 3-4 hours and add chlorine if needed to maintain 20ppm FC.
Take a picture now, then at 24 hrs and another at 48 hrs to determine any change in color. Good Luck.

 

[JRzMom]

Bring FC up to 20ppm for SLAM level using CYA is 50ppm. Test every 3-4 hours and add chlorine if needed to maintain 20ppm FC.
Take a picture now, then at 24 hrs and another at 48 hrs to determine any change in color. Good Luck.

Yep. I got it up to 22 ppm and will check again first thing in the morning, then throughout the day. Brush, test, add chlorine, repeat. Thanks!

 

[JRzMom]

I'm going to continue to add to this thread because the science just doesn't make sense. It passed the OCLT. Chlorine still at 22 ppm this morning with trace amounts of CC. No noticeable difference in color or cloudiness. I'm taking photos each day. I'll clean the filter this morning and see what has accumulated. I'll brush and vacuum, too.

 

[HermanTX]

I'm going to continue to add to this thread because the science just doesn't make sense. It passed the OCLT. Chlorine still at 22 ppm this morning with trace amounts of CC. No noticeable difference in color or cloudiness. I'm taking photos each day. I'll clean the filter this morning and see what has accumulated. I'll brush and vacuum, too.

It is odd since you have ruled out iron and copper. Maybe @ajw22 or @proavia has some views. Mystery solved in post 19.

 

[JRzMom]

I'm beginning to suspect mustard algae except it doesn't appear to be clinging to the walls or bottom. I can easily brush it off of the steps. I'll contunue to SLAM, then raise FC to 30. Or I can just empty the pool, scrub it thoroughly, and refill. Frustrating!

 

[HermanTX]

I'm beginning to suspect mustard algae except it doesn't appear to be clinging to the walls or bottom. I can easily brush it off of the steps. I'll contunue to SLAM, then raise FC to 30. Or I can just empty the pool, scrub it thoroughly, and refill. Frustrating!

Mustard algae would not allow you to pass OCLT.
It was mentioned earlier that it may be easier to empty and refill but that is based on your water cost and disposal requirements.

 

[JRzMom]

Mustard algae would not allow you to pass OCLT.
It was mentioned earlier that it may be easier to empty and refill but that is based on your water cost and disposal requirements.

Funny story. I came out at 11:30 to clean the filter. I checked the chlorine and it read 11 ppm. I am quite sure I forgot to divide drops by 2 on my first reading. LOL. In my defense, I hadn't had a cup of coffee yet. so, I am counting this as day one. Gotta laugh at yourself sometimes.

 

[HermanTX]

Funny story. I came out at 11:30 to clean the filter. I checked the chlorine and it read 11 ppm. I am quite sure I forgot to divide drops by 2 on my first reading. LOL. In my defense, I hadn't had a cup of coffee yet. so, I am counting this as day one. Gotta laugh at yourself sometimes.

OK well that solves the mystery and does indicate you have algae. We all are entitled to screw ups especially during the SLAM process. This is one reason we ask to test every 3-4 hours - it helps confirm testing process as well as monitor FC changes. Keep us posted.