Pool won't clear no matter what. Tired of fighting with it.

[brettbandlow]

Second year pool owner and new to this forum because I've exhausted all other resources and I'm exhausted. I have a 28ft round, above ground pool built into our deck that's 13,600 gallons. Pool was cloudy all of last summer. Opened this spring and it was clear the first 30 days. Now is back to turquoise and cloudy again. So frustrating and aggravating the time and money I've put into this. If i can't get it clear enough to enjoy it this summer, I'm seriously thinking about having it removed for good!

I've learned a lot these last 2 weeks trying to find a solution and now realize the importance of maintaining balance of chemicals in a pool. Everything i have done so far has not worked. I have now purchased my own at home test kit. Here is what I know, and what I've done so far. I found out it was high on phosphates which seems to be why my chlorine wasn't working well. Everyone just kept telling me to shock it, that has not done anything. I recently added a phosphate remover, still cloudy. But now my chlorine has stayed more consistent. I'm vacuuming twice a week and I've replaced the sand in my filter this season.

My PH is now at 7.8, chlorine at 4 ppm, alkalinity 170. I wait a couple days each time to see results but nothing changes. Only thing I've added was the phosphate remover, then a little bit of muriatic acid, and a little chlorine every couple days. I'm to the point of thinking about draining it this weekend and starting over fresh. Should I drain and refill? If I were to keep putting heavy doses of chlorine in it and waiting would it eventually clear up? I'd like to use it this summer, but it's becoming less hopeful and this pool has been nothing but a major pain and expense. I'm taking a sample in tmw to the pool store to have them double check my cya levels one more time before i drain it this weekend. I'm stuck and I'm out of things to try. Thanks in advance for any advice.

Brett

 

[Deb04]

Which home test kit do you have. We have a method here that will clear your pool, but it involves testing daily and adding liquid Chlorine in response to your test results. We have no faith at all in pool store tests bc they are almost always wrong. The only 2 test kits we use are either Taylor K2006C or one of the TF Kits. https://www.troublefreepool.com/blog/2019/01/18/test-kits-compared/. If you have one of those 2 kits, we can jump right into this tonight. If not, please order one. The methods we use here will allow you to stay out of pool stores and the roller coaster their products cause.

Couple of questions:
- Am I correct that you usually chlorinate your pool with liquid chlorine? How often do you add chlorine?
- Do you know what your CYA is?

 

[brettbandlow]

I have the pentair rainbow pool and spa kit. I'm not exactly sure what cya level is since this kit doesn't have a test for it. Last time I checked at pool store it was close to 80. I'll order one of the other test kits immediately.

I recently switched to liquid chlorine. I was using powdered shock. Used to keep pucks in a floater. My chlorine readings were always low. Sometimes 0. I dumped a gallon of liquid chlorine in it to start. Now I put about a quart of liquid chlorine every couple days. Thanks for the response.

 

[Deb04]

If you were chlorinating regularly with pucks, its very possible that your CYA is very high and some draining may be necessary. Depending on which powder, that may have added more CYA. But, we'll know for sure once you have your test kit and can test.

While you wait for your test kit, add 5 ppm to your pool every day, which will keep the algae from getting worse. There is an app, or you can use this web page calculator to calc how much liquid chlorine that is. How much is dependent on the strength of your chlorine. If you're using 10%, then add about 3/4 of a gallon per day. You can calc how much of other percentages using the app or web page.

We can hold your hand through the process of getting the pool clear, but you will eventually learn the methods we use. There is a TON of information on this web site. While waiting for your kit it would be good to start reading. Here's a place to start. ABC's of Pool Water Chemistry

 

[brettbandlow]

After getting my more complete test kit today, here are my results:

PH 7.7, TA 120, Calcium Hardness 189, Free Chlorine 0.9, Total Chlorine 1.4, CYA 141, Phosphate 42.

I drained pool last night below the return and jet. With pump off for the evening, my pool got clear. It has a milky white film on the bottom. I am beginning to fill it back up and vacuum. Once filled, I know I'll need to add Chlorine and will use the calculator. I'm hoping I drained enough and by adding fresh water my cya will lower.

 

[JJ_Tex]

After getting my more complete test kit today, here are my results:

PH 7.7, TA 120, Calcium Hardness 189, Free Chlorine 0.9, Total Chlorine 1.4, CYA 141, Phosphate 42.

I drained pool last night below the return and jet. With pump off for the evening, my pool got clear. It has a milky white film on the bottom. I am beginning to fill it back up and vacuum. Once filled, I know I'll need to add Chlorine and will use the calculator. I'm hoping I drained enough and by adding fresh water my cya will lower.

What test kit did you get, and I just want to confirm the above numbers are from your kit and not a pool store.

Once you refill your pool, post a new set of numbers using your test kit for us. I would also suggest adding 3/4 gallon of liquid chlorine daily until we can see a good set of numbers. This will help keep the algae from getting worse.

 

[brettbandlow]

I bought the Taylor 2006c. It will probably take 2 days to fill pool back up to normal level and I'll re-test and post those numbers then. I will add Chlorine once pool is full again. I never knew owning a pool would be this complicated. Really has me questioning if I want to continue to fool with this thing all the time or just get rid of it. I'd like to give it an honest try and at least get to swim in it for one summer, but man what a pain!

 

[JJ_Tex]

Its easy to get lost in all of the numbers. Just keep it simple:
- The cloudiness is most likely caused by algae in the water
- Algae occurs when your pool does not have enough chlorine to kill the algae
- Chlorine is the only thing that kills algae

Since low chlorine is your problem, I stick to my recommendation to add 3/4 gallon of liquid chlorine daily even if you are still filling your pool. That will keep algae from multiplying and getting worse in the next 2 days.

Once full, stay out of the pool store and post the results from your 2006c and we can guide you from there, but anticipate a lot more chlorine so start looking for a good source (Walmart is usually the best bet).

 

[brettbandlow]

Thank you JJ_Tex. Can't tell you how much I appreciate the help. I am done with the pool store since they haven't been much help anyway. Using only liquid chlorine from now on. I am committed to getting this thing right and understanding it all. I'll add Chlorine to it today and keep adding each day. I've got 4 gallons on hand and I'll get some more. I'll post test results again tomorrow and see where we stand. Thanks again!

 

[CreedenceTapes]

I bought the Taylor 2006c.

How did you test phosphates with a Taylor K-2006C?

 

[brettbandlow]

How did you test phosphates with a Taylor K-2006C?

I have a separate test kit for phosphates because a few weeks back when chlorine was reading low, someone suggested I may have too many phosphates in my pool. I now have 3 different test kits while I was over here losing it trying to figure out why . I'm going to stick with the Taylor k2006c from now on and only listen to people on the forum and see if it works out.

I have a little clearer water today after replacing about 20% and vacuuming, just added chlorine and going to see what tmw brings. I noticed before putting chlorine in, I do have white particles floating in the water which isn't helping the clarity. But for now, I'll keep testing and adding chlorine while I post my test results.

 

[CreedenceTapes]

I have a separate test kit for phosphates because a few weeks back when chlorine was reading low, someone suggested I may have too many phosphates in my pool. I now have 3 different test kits while I was over here losing it trying to figure out why . I'm going to stick with the Taylor k2006c from now on and only listen to people on the forum and see if it works out.

I have a little clearer water today after replacing about 20% and vacuuming, just added chlorine and going to see what tmw brings. I noticed before putting chlorine in, I do have white particles floating in the water which isn't helping the clarity. But for now, I'll keep testing and adding chlorine while I post my test results.

Phosphates are measured in parts per billion. 42 ppb is minuscule, but even if it weren't, you can completely ignore phosphates if you keep your chlorine to CYA ratio in the TFP recommended ranges. Even if you do decide to take the optional step of lowering phosphates, you shouldn't consider it if they're already less than 1000 ppb and your water is already algae free. When and if you ever do use a phosphate remover to remove significant phosphates, it's going to cloud your water. That's part of the process.

How did you come up with a CYA reading of 141 with a Taylor K-2006C?

 

[PoolStored]

How did you come up with a CYA reading of 141 with a Taylor K-2006C?

^^^What Creedence said...???

 

[SoDel]

I bought the Taylor 2006c. It will probably take 2 days to fill pool back up to normal level and I'll re-test and post those numbers then. I will add Chlorine once pool is full again. I never knew owning a pool would be this complicated. Really has me questioning if I want to continue to fool with this thing all the time or just get rid of it. I'd like to give it an honest try and at least get to swim in it for one summer, but man what a pain!

I can’t add much to help you with your cloudy issue but I can totally relate to feeling like a pool is a complicated big deal of work at first. I remember taking over my pool from the pool company at opening one season and looking at it like wow, this is a mess, what did I get myself into? The good news is once you get the hang of it and have done it for a little while, all the stuff that seems complicated now becomes simple familiar routine and takes hardly any time. Once you get this issue resolved, it’s mostly get your chlorine right, check the water chemistry every so often, swim & enjoy.

 

[Deb04]

I never knew owning a pool would be this complicated. Really has me questioning if I want to continue to fool with this thing all the time or just get rid of it. I'd like to give it an honest try and at least get to swim in it for one summer, but man what a pain!

I know it seems complicated right now. And right now you are putting in a lot of work. But once you get through this phase, it will be crazy easy, straightforward, and inexpensive to maintain.

We’ve been using the TFP method for 17 years. For 17 years my mother (who has a tendency to believe the vague “everyone”) has been saying “everyone says the pool is so expensive and difficult to maintain.” And by that she means you must be spending a lot of money, and working really hard on this, and just not telling me. And for 17 years I’ve been saying to her “it isn’t expensive and it isn’t a lot of work if you test every day and react immediately to any problems. You, my daughter, and my granddaughter are all playing in my pool. Do you think I would let any of you in here if I didn’t know it was clean? And look how crystal clear the water is.”

Yes, the pool needs some work every year when we open it. But after that, until the end of the year, five minutes a day. Well, I spent five minutes a day. My husband spends a little time vacuuming.

 

[98valkyrie]

I can echo what Deb04 said. I knew nothing about pools before this past winter when we bought a house with a pool. Everyone here is sooooo helpful. Yes, a bit of work in the beginning, but I too don’t spend very much time each day maintaining it.

Talking a few minutes to relax at lunch with my TFP clear pool.

 

[brettbandlow]

I appreciate the kind words and support of everyone on here. Seemed like beforehand I was getting lousy advice and I spent a fortune every week and just kept dumping chemicals in it with no progress. It's my fault as I should've spent more time researching before had I known how much goes into it. My friends and local pool stores just kept telling me to shock it and add more chlorine, which clearly has not worked. I don't mind putting in the work, just don't want to be wasting money and chasing my tail all summer. Thanks again!

 

[PoolStored]

If you were "Pool Stored" share your experience in this thread...Link--> I knew I was Pool Stored when...

 

[brettbandlow]

^^^What Creedence said...???

Phosphates are measured in parts per billion. 42 ppb is minuscule, but even if it weren't, you can completely ignore phosphates if you keep your chlorine to CYA ratio in the TFP recommended ranges. Even if you do decide to take the optional step of lowering phosphates, you shouldn't consider it if they're already less than 1000 ppb and your water is already algae free. When and if you ever do use a phosphate remover to remove significant phosphates, it's going to cloud your water. That's part of the process.

How did you come up with a CYA reading of 141 with a Taylor K-2006C?

Sorry, I started typing phosphates were 41-42 while I was talking about cya to someone else. Too much cya on the brain! Wish i knew about it before filling my pool. I have another test for phosphates since someone local told me that might be my problem. I'm going to ignore that test for now.

What I meant to say is cya is at 100 I'm guessing??? I can still see the dot no matter what. Not sure if I'm doing that part right because the dot didn't disappear for me.

 

[PoolStored]

If the dot did not disappear, your CYA is 0.