Sand filtering issues on new pool build

[bferrua]

I'm looking for any advice on possible solutions to help my situation. The in-ground pool was completed about 2 months ago, ever since the sand filter pump started up after getting the water filled, the pool has been cloudy. FWIW, my builder started up the system, not me.

The chemical balance is good (outside of the alkalinity, which I can't seem to get below 110). I've done a SLAM on the pool 2 weeks ago, I backwash when needed, test water chems every other day, and just have a cloudy pool to deal with. Can't see past a foot or two down. Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

 

[proavia]

Welcome to TFP!

Great job on having a Taylor 2006c test kit.
Post a full set of current test results from that kit.You can use PoolMath to enter the results and share your PoolMath logs here - or post the following....

FC
CC
pH
TA
CH
CYA
Water temperature

How are you chlorinating your pool?
Have a look thru Pool Care Basics

 

[Bperry]

I'm looking for any advice on possible solutions to help my situation. The in-ground pool was completed about 2 months ago, ever since the sand filter pump started up after getting the water filled, the pool has been cloudy. FWIW, my builder started up the system, not me.

The chemical balance is good (outside of the alkalinity, which I can't seem to get below 110). I've done a SLAM on the pool 2 weeks ago, I backwash when needed, test water chems every other day, and just have a cloudy pool to deal with. Can't see past a foot or two down. Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

Post up your water test results from your kit and make sure not to trust the pool store testing. (hint: the pool stores give really inaccurate results)

Your pool is likely cloudy because there isn’t enough chlorine in the water.

 

[zea3]

Hi, welcome to TFP! Was the pool cloudy as soon as you started running the pump? Have you been brushing the pool daily since start up? Have you backwashed the sand filter yet?

 

[bferrua]

Here's my latest test results:

FC: 1.4 (was 6.5 on Monday)
CC: 0
PH: 7.4
TA: 120
CH: 390
CYA: 40
Water temp: 82 F

To chlorinate, I have a pool guy that looks to put granulated chlorine directly into the pool (causes major cloudiness) and then I have tabs.

@zea3 The pool was not cloudy until the pool guy put a bunch of granulated chlorine in the pool at startup, the pool was cloudy since then. I have not been brushing everyday, only occasionally, I just read the article on this site that I should have been >_<. I have backwashed the filter a few times.

 

[zea3]

Do you know if he was using calcium hypochlorite? Your calcium level is getting pretty high, so if he is using cal-hypo that is contributing to the cloudiness. What part of Texas are you in? If you are in an area with hard water you will need to keep a close eye on your calcium levels. They should be between 250 and 450 ppm. Calcium does not evaporate out with water and it does not degrade over time. The only way to remove excess calcium is to drain the calcium laden water and refill with lower calcium water. If the pH gets to 8.0 you are at risk of developing calcium scale, which is when calcium comes out of solution and deposits on the walls of your pool leaving the surface rough and stained.

You should be brushing daily to remove the plaster dust that accumulates as part of the plaster curing process, and backwashing the filter when you see a 10% rise in pressure. I would also switch to liquid chlorine, especially if you are in a hard water area. Your CYA is at a good level so you don't want to use dichlor or trichlor granules or tablets. They both contain CYA and will raise CYA levels. When CYA gets too high chlorine is less effective and must be used in higher doses to achieve the same level of sanitation. It is very important to keep the CYA/Chlorine ratio in balance. CYA also does not evaporate out and can only be lowered with fresh water exchange. CYA does not occur naturally in water so levels will only go up when you use products that contain CYA.

If you can run an Overnight Chlorine Loss Test tonight to make sure there is nothing growing in the water and you are just dealing with calcium clouding.

 

[bferrua]

I'll check with him on the cal-hypo usage, it seems like it is that because I have noticed a rise in calcium over the last month.

I live outside of Austin and we have very hard water in our area. Ill keep a close on the the levels.

I ran an overnight chlorine loss test a couple weeks ago and saw a drop of ~.2 ppm. If it was just calcium clouding, should the sand filter be struggling this much to clear it out or are my only options to drain and refill with lower calcium water?

Appreciate the responses!

 

[JamesW]

Do you have a picture of the system?

 

[bferrua]

Here's a picture of the system

 

[bferrua]

Problem discovered...

The builder forgot to put sand in the filter

 

[zea3]

That would do it!

 

[JamesW]

And the SWG does not work because they forgot to add the salt.

None of their vehicles work because they forgot the gas.

All of the workers are too weak to work because they forgot to eat.