Persistent cloudiness and green

[rabbet]

I'm testing 3 or 4 times a day. The drop is usually from 16 to 15, but yesterday between 11:30 am and 5 pm it dropped to 12. I'd done a lot of brushing and stirring things up. But after I added 164 oz of high test chlorine, the FC held. It was 18 this morning at 7.
The brushing is difficult bc the pool has square corners and seams on the floor as well as numerous patched areas. I use a brush with a fin for the walls, a flat brush for the floor, and a round brush for the corners and seams, so it's a three step process. By the time I'm done it's so cloudy I can't see. I'm doing my best, but I cannot say I've touched every single bit. If the FC is at 15 or 16 (CYA 40), could the algae survive if I missed a spot brushing?

Wish I could report success, but thanks v much for your continued help.

 

[PoolStored]

I would deep clean and check the filter to ensure it has the right amount of sand.

Deep Clean:

Deep Cleaning a Sand Filter

This post will walk you through the anatomy of a sand filter, and then provide a video at the end for how to deep clean your sand filter. The filter used in the photos and videos is a Hayward S180T top mount sand filter. The images are of a similar filter. Obviously not all filters are...

www.troublefreepool.com

Amount of Sand from the manual here:

https://www.pentair.com/content/dam/extranet/nam/pentair-pool/commercial/manuals/filters/triton-instructions-english-spanish-french.pdf

 

[Newdude]

Wish I could report success,

Steady as she goes. It'll get there.

 

[rabbet]

Newdude: Really think so?!
PoolStored: As for the filter, I followed that chart when setting it up, maybe 5 years ago, but haven't deep cleaned since. I was planning to do this next spring at opening. Are you thinking I should do it now?

 

[PoolStored]

You are fighting a couple factors. You have a sand filter; they take the longest to clear a pool. You have a VERY large pool. You have no skimmers, just a main drain(s).

Post a picture of your equipment pad, and the label on your sand filter so we can see the model number. It may be that you have a smaller (ish) filter.

Were it I, I would, but depends on how it is plumbed. Post a picture.

Have you added anything to the pool in the last 5 years that is on this list?

Non-Recommended Pool Chemicals

These pool chemicals should not be added to your pool. Save your money and frustration and avoid these chemicals!

www.troublefreepool.com

 

[Newdude]

Are you thinking I should do it now?

If things were progressing well, no. 5 years later something could be broken internally or the sand channeled or gummed up. It time.

Newdude: Really think so?!

We haven't been licked yet, so yes, I do believe it will end well.

 

[Mdragger88]

7 gals of 12.5% chlorine in 7 days. Keep going?

Keep going until crystal clear. You’re in the POP phase- Pool Owner Patience.
It will happen!

 

[rabbet]

I have occasionally used Bioguard Polysheen which I understand clumps fine particles together to be filtered out. I also sometimes use powdered chlorine if I can't attend to the pool daily or when I'm first opening the pool, but otherwise, since 2012, I've used liquid chlorine most of the time. I always have a mess at opening. The pool may be clear in April but it goes bad as soon as the temps rise. It takes about a week to clear it up. Last three pictures opening: May 20 7:30am, May 20 5pm, June 4

 

[rabbet]

The 5pm picture on opening day is about what it looks like now.

 

[PoolStored]

Given that setup, and the fact that you used the polysheen, I'd deep clean the filter and inspect the sand.

 

[rabbet]

Usually looks like this.

 

[rabbet]

I'm trying to deep clean the filter sand. The water in the filter is cloudy like the pool, quite a lot of fine particles, plus bigger flakes. Is it possible to post a video clip?

 

[rabbet]

The junk coming up.

 

[Newdude]

Is it possible to post a video clip?

You have to post it to YouTube and then post the link here.

I'm trying to deep clean the filter sand. The water in the filter is cloudy like the pool, quite a lot of fine particles, plus bigger flakes

It didn't get dirty in a day, and it's not going to clean in a minute. Take your time and get all up in there.

 

[Mdragger88]

Just keep going until it comes up clearish/less funky.
Gently root around in the sand with the hose so you flush it out & fluff it up.

 

[rabbet]

The pool is finally clear. Deep cleaning the filter sand helped a lot. Before I did that I could see that cloudy water was coming into the pool as I was vacuuming. I think I need further deep cleaning or a whole new batch of sand to start fresh. When I opened the pool last May it was full of plastic flecks from the disintegrating loop loc cover. It took forever to clear them out of the water and I saw them again last week when I was cleaning the sand. I'm wondering if they were part of the problem. Any thoughts about that?

I am very grateful to PoolStored, Newdude, and Mdragger88 for all the advice and moral support. Thanks so much.

 

[Newdude]

I think I need further deep cleaning or a whole new batch of sand to start fresh.

If it's still sand like, even if it's nasty, it'll clean as good as new. If it's gummed up and/or rubbery, it needs to go.

That said, in this one instance of replacing something that could be salvaged, it won't break the bank to start over and the time saved cleaning it will make up for the small expense.

 

[PoolStored]

Congrats!

 

[rabbet]

If it's still sand like, even if it's nasty, it'll clean as good as new. If it's gummed up and/or rubbery, it needs to go.

That said, in this one instance of replacing something that could be salvaged, it won't break the bank to start over and the time saved cleaning it will make up for the small expense.

This was my thinking too. I used my hand to stir it around and it definitely feels like sand, not rubbery or gummy, but I wasn't able to get to clear in the time I had. Now that I know about the deep cleaning I am thinking of starting next spring with new sand and then deep cleaning annually.

I've been taking care of this pool for 23 years but I got a new deeper understanding of how it works from all your comments during this 2 week SLAM ordeal. Thanks a million.

 

[Mdragger88]

Congrats!
Make sure you pass all 3 exit criteria before calling it good.
Afterwards be sure you never run close to minimum to avoid any more algae troubles
FC/CYA Levels