New SWG lots of stuff on floor of the pool

[mjelsner]

I just converted my pool from chlorine tablets (feeder) to SWG about 3-4 weeks ago. My water has been great the last couple of weeks, but I have noticed I get a lot of stuff that looks like sand (not saying it IS sand) on the floor of my pool. Pool vacuum cleans it up fine, but it seems like there is a lot and have to vacuum every 3-4 days, even when the pool is covered and not used much (run the robot usually). Is this normal? Am I finally just getting my pool sanitized properly and this is the result?

Side note - I have had my pool for about 10 years, but I have not taken care of it properly and stumbled upon TFP several years ago and have slowly made changes to follow the TFP methods. I'm finally understanding the chemistry relationships and just how important keeping things in balance is. That being said I think I finally have my pool in balance (or close) even tho it's been clear for many summers in the past it hasn't always been very balanced.
Current readings (water is clear)
FC - 11 (maybe a little high, still trying to dial in the SWG %)
PH - 7.6
TA - 130
CYA - 50
SALT - 3300

 

[PoolStored]

What is your CH?

Can you get some of the material and put some muriatic acid on it to see if it fizzes. If it does, it is calcium.

If so, I'd lower your TA and the flakes should go away.

Lower Total Alkalinity

A lower Total Alkalinity level can help a pool owner stabalize their pH increase. We'll explain how to lower TA with a little help from muriatic acid.

www.troublefreepool.com

If it doesn't fizz, then it is likely sand, and you may have a cracked lateral, or a problem with the MPV gasket.

Get some material and see if it fizzes.

 

[Jimrahbe]

mj,

If you try to keep your CSI at just a slightly negative value, then the calcium flakes will go away.

Thanks,

Jim R.

 

[mjelsner]

What is your CH?

Can you get some of the material and put some muriatic acid on it to see if it fizzes. If it does, it is calcium.

If so, I'd lower your TA and the flakes should go away.

Lower Total Alkalinity

A lower Total Alkalinity level can help a pool owner stabalize their pH increase. We'll explain how to lower TA with a little help from muriatic acid.

www.troublefreepool.com

If it doesn't fizz, then it is likely sand, and you may have a cracked lateral, or a problem with the MPV gasket.

Get some material and see if it fizzes.

It's on the bottom of the pool floor and when I go to get some of it, it breaks up to nothing(cloudiness).

I'll work on lowering my TA. I was thinking I needed to do that anyway. I haven't tested my CH in a bit, but last time I did it was 300.

 

[PoolStored]

If it poofs to nothing, then likely algae. Do this test tonight. Link-->Overnight Chlorine Loss Test

If you fail, then SLAM. Link-->SLAM Process

 

[mjelsner]

mj,

If you try to keep your CSI at just a slightly negative value, then the calcium flakes will go away.

Thanks,

Jim R.

Ok I will add this to my pool math to track. Thanks

 

[mjelsner]

If it poofs to nothing, then likely algae. Do this test tonight. Link-->Overnight Chlorine Loss Test

If you fail, then SLAM. Link-->SLAM Process

Ok I will do this test. My chlorine level has remained pretty stable (with SWG running), but I will do the test to make sure nothing is going on.

 

[Jimrahbe]

mj,

If you had calcium flakes, your cleaner would pick them up and they would look like paste or sand..

In any case, I don't think they would go 'poof'.

Like very fine sand.jpg

• Jimrahbe
• Jul 29, 2016

Thanks,

Jim R.

 

[mjelsner]

mj,

If you had calcium flakes, your cleaner would pick them up and they would look like paste or sand..

In any case, I don't think they would go 'poof'.

Like very fine sand.jpg

• Jimrahbe
• Jul 29, 2016

Thanks,

Jim R.

that's what it looks like in my pool robot filter. they seem to go poof when in the water, but maybe not.

 

[Jimrahbe]

that's what it looks like in my pool robot filter

If you can take it out of the robot and hold it, then monitoring your CSI should stop it... It did for me anyway..

Thanks,

Jim R.