Pool still not clear and bottom of pool has brownish dust

[kojakattack]

Hello, first time pool owner and first season!

So I bought a house in November that has a fairly run down 24 foot round above ground pool. It was left in total disarray, not weatherized over winter and forgotten about from the previous owner. When I first moved in, I had every intention of draining and demolishing it.

Eventually a friend convinced me to give it a shot because "when are you ever going to have a pool again" and so I found this website and started following its preaching.

Due to how bad the pool was, I completely drained, cleaned, and refilled it scrubbing all along the way. It had about 6 inches of solid tree debris in the bottom. Once full again, I backwashed and flushed the filter multiple times til it ran clean again (I did not change the sand or disassemble it). I then dosed it following pool math and only using recommended products from tfp.

We enjoyed it for awhile but I unfortunately made the newbie error of letting the fc drop to 0 two to three times in a week. After that the water was still clear but I noticed the bottom looked "dirty" so I proceeded to brush it (something I had not kept up on because I had seen any dirt or algae the whole time). After I brushed the water became very cloudy and the next day it started to turn green.

I discovered then that the ph had risen over 8.0 (I had limiting testing) and so I dropped the ph and prepared to slam. After slamming at 18-20 fc for a week I backed off as the water wasn't green anymore but still cloudy (didn't know about oclt yet). After that, the same thing happened again. Brownish dust, brushed and back to square 1. Ph shot up, green returned.

I have slammed again trying to be more diligent. I have brushed and vacuumed everyday as well as netted and cleaned the pool filter basket.

I started the slam last Thursday (8/24) and did an oclt test last night. I brought the pool to an fc of 12 (fell out of slam) and in the morning at 6am it was at 11. My cc is .5 or even lower as the reagent barely Reisters when added.

The issue is the pool is cloudy but has no color and I still see this Dang brown dust at the bottom! It can't be vacuumed , I have a poolblaster max with sand filter and it runs right through it and out the vents.

Fc 8
Cc .5 or less
Ph 7.6
Ta 60
Ch 30
Cya 50

13000 gallon pool, sand filtered, on liquid chlorine by hand. Probably get 4-5 hours direct sunlight. Does have a large tree partially overhead that drops debris fairly consistently (net every day for the most part).

Only anomaly I've found was I noticed I dosed for 10 fc last night and when I checked before bed it was 12, then 11 in the morning. Not sure if my cya is off? My previous test was 40 but last night showed 50 despite me not adding anything.

Any advice for me would be much appreciated!

 

[kellyfair]

You are jumping the gun on ending SLAM. You keep going until you see no sign of algae - dead or alive, and your water is crystal clear (not in the slightest bit cloudy. At that point, if you pass the overnight chlorine loss test (OCLT) and CC is less than or equal to 0.5, THEN you can end SLAM.

After SLAM, you still need to keep proper FC level for your CYA. I recommend ignoring the minimum and shooting for a point or two higher than the target range for your CYA.

 

[PoolStored]

Get those stairs out of the pool and scrub, inside and out with 10:1 Water:Bleach solution. You got stuff hiding in there...happens all the time.

 

[kojakattack]

Get those stairs out of the pool and scrub, inside and out with 10:1 Water:Bleach solution. You got stuff hiding in there...happens all the time.

So I took them out at the start of summer and scrubbed them completely clean. They are weighted down by 50lb sand bags inside the stairs. I wonder if those are holding algae? I replaced the sand bags at the start of the year. I will pull it all out and take a look. Do these types of stairs commonly cause algae? Should I get different stairs that won't do that?

The sand bags are in there because the stairs almost float even when bled of all air.

 

[kojakattack]

You are jumping the gun on ending SLAM. You keep going until you see no sign of algae - dead or alive, and your water is crystal clear (not in the slightest bit cloudy. At that point, if you pass the overnight chlorine loss test (OCLT) and CC is less than or equal to 0.5, THEN you can end SLAM.

After SLAM, you still need to keep proper FC level for your CYA. I recommend ignoring the minimum and shooting for a point or two higher than the target range for your CYA.

Alright I'll test and resume SLAM now. The pool just keeps plateauing at this stage but maybe I'm not giving it enough time. I'll report back.

Edit: just tested ph and its off my chart again. Bright pink but this kits highest ph is 8.0. Not sure why it would jump from 7.6 this morning so high

 

[Mdragger88]

So I took them out at the start of summer and scrubbed them completely clean. They are weighted down by 50lb sand bags inside the stairs. I wonder if those are holding algae?

Absolutely!!
- remove that & get some sealable containers that you can fill with sand/concrete - i use bleach jugs capped with duct tape then the cap then more duct tape.
Some people make weights out of filled & capped pvc pipes. Having multiple individual weights also makes things much easier.

I replaced the sand bags at the start of the year. I will pull it all out and take a look. Do these types of stairs commonly cause algae?

Yes - you may need to modify them & add more holes for circulation.

Should I get different stairs that won't do that?

The sand bags are in there because the stairs almost float even when bled of all air.

All stairs will have the propensity to harbor algae- just clean & modify the ones you have.

About your filter-

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.google.com

SLAM ON!

For a successful SLAM Process
you need to continue to MAINTAIN Slam level fc for your cya as often as possible (multiple times per day is best) until you meet ALL 3 end of slam criteria-

You are done when:
CC is 0.5 or lower;
You pass an Overnight Chlorine Loss Test
AND
The water is clear.
(Crystal Clear w/no algae dead or alive)

Do ALL the things
*Check & scrub every nook & cranny where algae may hide {light niches, steps (inside & out), drain covers, ladder handrails, skimmer throats/weirs, abandoned lines, autofill, overflow drains, seam flaps, etc.}
*If water can go there, algae can thrive there.
*Run slam level water through all water features & lines for at least a couple hours a day during the SLAM Process.
*Brush & or vac daily (this breaks up biofilms that algae uses to protect itself from chlorine)
*Backwash/clean filter when pressure rises 25%over clean pressure.

 

[Bperry]

Alright I'll test and resume SLAM now. The pool just keeps plateauing at this stage but maybe I'm not giving it enough time. I'll report back.

Edit: just tested ph and its off my chart again. Bright pink but this kits highest ph is 8.0. Not sure why it would jump from 7.6 this morning so high

The pH test will read high when the chlorine is over 10ppm. That’s why the SLAM says to only test FC and CC until the SLAM is over.

 

[kojakattack]

Alright so back in slam since last night. Holding at 20 fc and checking as much as I can.

Got in the pool today and removed the sandbags and stairs. The bags had water in them but don't appear to be full of algae or anything. There was some algae in the stairs but also not what I would imagine is exorbitant. I am keeping the stairs out of the pool til the waters clear to remove any variables.

I also scrubbed the pool throughly on the flooring and walls. I'll just keep the slam up and hope it clears. Thanks for the help and I'll check back in later!

 

[PoolStored]

There was some algae in the stairs but also not what I would imagine is exorbitant.

This amount of algae/bacteria consumed about a gallon every 2 hours until I found it.

3.jpg

• PoolStored
• Aug 2, 2022

 

[Mdragger88]

Having a little algae is a kin to being a little pregnant- a little or alot - it makes no difference.
Here’s my steps - note all the extra holes I have added for circulation & to be able to get a bottle brush in there when they are secured in place - they are all the way around the bottom

As I mentioned I use 4 concrete/sand filled bleach jugs to weigh them down along with some sealed drink mix containers in the round step ballast.
The jugs hang from a poly rope inside the steps tied through the two holes in the back - my steps are open on the bottom so I have nowhere to sit weights.

 

[kellyfair]

Some folks use empty bleach bottles filled with gravel, water and a little chlorine, then sealed, as weights.

 

[kojakattack]

Thanks for all the advice guys!

So, I know patience is a virtue and I feel like I already know the answer but is there a point where the issue wouldn't be solved by a slam? I'm about to hit 2 weeks of slamming (with 1 day where I stopped about a week ago) and the pool is in similar condition. I've been trying to maintain an fc of 20 the whole time and I am eating through liquid chlorine. Walmart also appears to have canceled the affordable pool essentials liquid chlorine so I am also running out of good places to buy more.

The pool still has a bit of cloudiness to it. I can now see things at the bottom of the pool, like a leaf, but it still isn't crystal clear. Could anything else be causing this?

I removed the stairs completely and have done daily brushing, netting, and spot vacuuming. Cc is .5 or very close to 0, it is honestly hard to tell if the water changes at all when you add the cc mix.

 

[PoolStored]

is there a point where the issue wouldn't be solved by a slam?

In SUPER rare circumstances...you don't have those circumstances. Keep Slamming.

How often are you checking and replacing FC?
How often are you cleaning your filter?
What kind of filter do you have?

 

[Bperry]

Thanks for all the advice guys!

So, I know patience is a virtue and I feel like I already know the answer but is there a point where the issue wouldn't be solved by a slam? I'm about to hit 2 weeks of slamming (with 1 day where I stopped about a week ago) and the pool is in similar condition. I've been trying to maintain an fc of 20 the whole time and I am eating through liquid chlorine. Walmart also appears to have canceled the affordable pool essentials liquid chlorine so I am also running out of good places to buy more.

The pool still has a bit of cloudiness to it. I can now see things at the bottom of the pool, like a leaf, but it still isn't crystal clear. Could anything else be causing this?

I removed the stairs completely and have done daily brushing, netting, and spot vacuuming. Cc is .5 or very close to 0, it is honestly hard to tell if the water changes at all when you add the cc mix.

There’s three criteria to stop SLAM. Passing all three?

 

[Mdragger88]

What kind of filter do you have?
Are you running it 24/7?
Filling out your signature helps us get you the best advice.

Create Your Signature - Further Reading

www.google.com

 

[kojakattack]

Ok, I updated my signature. The only other things I can I think of is I did not deep clean the filter and pool was extremely dirty when I bought this house. I did backwash and flush the filter thoroughly though Im likely due for another. However, after a fresh fill and deep clean of the pool, the water was crystal clear for almost a month.

I am running the filter 24/7 and have been since I started the slam on 8/24. I am adding liquid chlorine exclusively and I am able to add 2-3 times per day due to work related time constraints. The pool does have an overhanging tree which drops a lot of debris but I'm pretty diligent about getting it out.

For the slam, it's hard to tell what is algae and what is possibly fine debris from the tree. I am keeping up with brushing and vacuuming as much as possible. I do not see the swathes of brown dust I used to see though. Also the walls are and have been totally clean. The water has no discoloration and is almost clear. It's hard to get a picture that shows since the bottom is all blue. I haven't ran another oclt test yet due to the first 2.

 

[PoolStored]

You need to backwash and rinse. Note your filter pressure. When you filter pressure rises 25%, backwash and rinse again. This should be your normal filter maintenance cycle.

 

[Mdragger88]

Do the deep clean of the filter. There’s no telling what has been run through it.
It also gives you the opportunity to be sure the sand is at the appropriate level.
It’s something that should be done seasonally or so anyway.

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.google.com

Also, adding a little de or cellulose fiber to the sand can help it catch the finer particles.
Here’s the how to

Add DE to a Sand Filter

A clean pool filter will increase the efficiency of your pool! ... your filter are to backwash it, clean the manifolds and grids, and add new DE.

www.google.com

Sand filters are generally the slowest to clear but never fear, it will happen!

 

[kojakattack]

Thought my other message didnt send.

It is FAIRLY clear and I've attached an image that looks a bit worse than it is. The net is still white in person for instance.

Edit: one other thing, this filter does not have a pressure gage. Is that something I can install or the filter must be built with it?

 

[PoolStored]

What is the make and model of the sand filter.

Without a gauge, I would backwash a couple times a day...