Stubbornly Cloudy Water

[alex_t]

Hey everyone -

I am brand new to the forum and pool ownership. This website was recommended by the previous owner of this pool, but I am having trouble navigating all of the acronyms in the existing threads, so I decided to start my own and am hoping everyone will hold my hand through this.

I am 3 weeks into opening this pool. The pool was ripe with algae when it was first opened. After seemingly endless chemicals, sweepings, filter cleanings, draining 20” of the pool and refilling to address nitrates, the water looks blue but is cloudy. It has been this way for 8-10 days. I can barely make out the liner on the floor of the shallow end and have never seen the floor of the deep end.

Here is where we are currently: I take the water to two different pool centers to have it tested. They both say the water is testing within limits on all markers (total chlorine, free chlorine, alkalinity, hardness, PH, nitrates) except for phosphates. On 4 days ago, the phosphates were off the charts, over 2,500. Yesterday, the phosphates were down to 500 after using Phosclear (sp?). So, yesterday we used another round of Phosclear. After 24 hours, the water does not look any clearer. I don’t know where to go from here. Any suggestions?

The pump has been running 24/7 since I opened three weeks ago. Pressure seems great, jets in the pool are pumping great. I clean the skimmer basket at least twice a day, the dolphin is constantly sweeping the floor (I also clean the dolphin at least once a day), and I clean the filters every few days.

29,000 gallon pool. In ground. Vinyl liner. Heater (not running). In-line chlorinator.

 

[proavia]

Welcome to TFP!

Did the previous owner leave you one of the recommended test kits by chance?
Test Kits Compared

Have a read thru Pool Care Basics and watch a few of our TFP YouTube videos.

We can help you have a trouble free pool.
Here's some inspiration: How Clear is TFP Clear?

 

[alex_t]

No test kits, and yes I’ve seen the content you are recommending

 

[proavia]

Trouble Free Pool Care works 100% of the time. Pool store magic potions, as you will discover, will not clear up your algae bloom but will have you spending money without seeing positive long-term sustainable results.

One of the recommended test kits does cost $, but is well worth it. Then all you’ll need is liquid chlorine to clear the algae. Help us help you, buy a test kit then follow the SLAM Process.

 

[alex_t]

So, none of the information I have provided about the remedies I’ve used up to this point matter? You just recommend slam it and see what happens

 

[JJ_Tex]

So, none of the information I have provided about the remedies I’ve used up to this point matter? You just recommend slam it and see what happens

Not really, you have been what we called pool stored. They see you are in a panic and take advantage of you by selling you all sort of Crud you don't need and have you focusing on phosphates and other things that don't matter, except for their wallets. It happens all the time and we helped thousands of people in your shoes.

The simple answer is the only thing that kills algae is chlorine. The SLAM is a precise process that kills 100% of the algae when done right. Hardly a "see what happens" approach as you do need accurate testing hence the recommendation of a good test kit.

 

[proavia]

I recommend getting one of the recommended test kits and then the SLAM Process.
The SLAM Process will be successful if you follow it - no "see what happens" necessary.
TFP pool care just works.

Your other option is to follow what the pool store says.
You can't successfully mix the two.

In the long-term, testing the water yourself and adding only what the pool actually needs will save you money and a lot of unnecessary frustration.

 

[dfwnoob]

Welcome to TFP. I'm glad you've found us!

We don't recommend a SLAM to "see what happens". We're recommending a path forward to getting you clear, safe water. A cornerstone of the care methodology used here is understanding your water chemistry. We can't offer any specific prescription without accurate water testing. However, cloudy water is generally indicative of algae growth, hence the suggestion for a SLAM. You just made a huge investment in a new home - you'll need to make a relatively tiny investment in the care and maintenance of your pool. You can go with either the Taylor K-2006C (available on Amazon) or the TFTestKits.net TF-100/TF-Pro. They are the same Taylor reagents, but the TFTestKits models are a better deal. A Taylor SpeedStir/TFTestKits SmartStir is strongly recommended, but optional.

Phosphates are pool store scare tactic fodder and should be ignored. How are you chlorinating?

The pool store method of selling you hundreds of dollars in worthless chemicals a month based on unreliable testing is "seeing what happens", or as we call it here, dumping and praying. Let us help you fix it properly.

 

[JJ_Tex]

If you want us to help, here is what I would do:

1. Order one of the test kits and stop going to the pool store
2. While your kit is on order add 5ppm of chlorine to your pool per day. For your pool that is going to be about 1.5 gallons of liquid chlorine. I recommend Pool Essentials Chlorinating Liquid from Walmart, but Lowes, Home Depot, hardware stores also sell liquid chlorine.
3. In the meantime, read up on the pool school, especially the SLAM article. It will take a week or more to clear up your pool, we we will get you swimming soon.

 

[alex_t]

Pardon my skepticism, I just don’t see how what is recommended on a website is any more legitimate than what the pool store recommends. Their process seems legitimate, as they test the water and read results before making recommendations. I have gone into the store and walked out with no chemicals as the water levels tested OK.

Are you all suggesting the cloudiness is due to suspended algae in the water?

 

[JJ_Tex]

Pardon my skepticism, I just don’t see how what is recommended on a website is any more legitimate than what the pool store recommends. Their process seems legitimate, as they test the water and read results before making recommendations. I have gone into the store and walked out with no chemicals as the water levels tested OK.

Are you all suggesting the cloudiness is due to suspended algae in the water?

Yes, the cloudiness is suspended algae.

So your water levels tested "ok" per the pool store... what do your eyes tell you when you look at your pool?

 

[alex_t]

That it’s cloudy

 

[proavia]

I have gone into the store and walked out with no chemicals as the water levels tested OK.

And yet your pool water is cloudy.
That is one of the first signs of algae and of unsanitary water.

 

[dfwnoob]

We welcome skepticism!

Their process seems legitimate because they're really good at marketing.

Even if their testing was as accurate as what you'd get out of a Taylor/TFTestKits setup (it isn't), their care methodologies are still still flawed and based on outdated science and selling you the maximum amount of product possible with each visit (there's a reason why the testing is "free"). They are not interested in, nor do they care about the actual condition of your pool, equipment, or water. The TFP method has been fine-tuned for decades based on empirical science and the experience of hundreds of thousands of pool owners who maintain clean, sanitary water without ever stepping foot into a pool store. You're welcome to browse on over to the Deep End section and spend some time reading there to find the data and research behind our methods. This thread by Richard Falk (chem geek) has loads of the research that has been compiled over the years.

That it’s cloudy

Sounds like despite the perceived legitimacy of their salesmanship tactics, it doesn't seem to be working. This isn't meant to be snarky at all, but we see this pretty much every day here: pool store methods don't work long term.

 

[Jay09]

My advice would be to suck it up and read through the forums here. There is a wealth of knowledge from the awesome members of this forum that will solve all of your problems if you listen to and follow it. This is not just "some website".

I found this forum and have been lurking on here since during my pool build. Take the time to read all the Pool School articles. It's easy to be skeptical, and led astray because the TFP method really seems too simple. But it works.

In the meantime, order one of the recommended kits and start adding chlorine as JJ_Tex recommended. And whatever you do, stay away from pool store advice.

While waiting for your kit, search this forum. There are many posts from people just like you with very similar issues. Everything so far in your post has been repeated countless times in these forums.

Once you get your kit, post up a full set of test results and the amazing members here will hold your hand through this as you asked in your initial post.

 

[kimkats]

@alex_t I hear you ! I was right where you are now! The pool store said to do this and that BUT it did no good. My water was still cloudy I was running a bath one night and saw how clear the water was and I got mad that my pool was STILL cloudy after so much time and effort EVEN though the pool store said oh it is mostly fine. Just lower the water about 2" to lower the cya and it would all be good to go......................well it was not...............gurrrrrrrrr

That was when I ordered my test kit and found out my CYA was SKY High......well over the testing limit of the test and my ph and TA were all out of wack! Got it all balanced and used nothing but liquid chlorine and ran my filter. With in a week my pool was clear!! I have not looked back since!

 

[alex_t]

TC 0.5-1 pH 7.4-ish CYA-0 FC-0.5 CC-0.5 Calc-375 TA-170

I found a friend with a test kit. See results above. What do you all recommend I do next ?

 

[Mdragger88]

Pardon my skepticism, I just don’t see how what is recommended on a website is any more legitimate than what the pool store recommends. Their process seems legitimate, as they test the water and read results before making recommendations. I have gone into the store and walked out with no chemicals as the water levels tested OK.

Are you all suggesting the cloudiness is due to suspended algae in the water?

Their version of ok is obviously not or you wouldn’t still be having less than stellar water.
You may or may not have eradicated all the algae with the things you have added (you can’t be sure until you have a proper test kit & can do an
Overnight Chlorine Loss Test help prove so)
The phosphate remover has the fantastic side effect of causing cloudy water further convoluting one of the 3 important metrics we use to determine if you’re actually algae free :
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)
Phosphate remover also does nothing to eliminate algae.
The pool store may tell you that an fc of 3 is great even if your cya is 100 then sell you potions like algeacides for your algae problem. Or have you raise fc to dangerous levels or even inefficient levels.
The cornerstone of TFPC is the
FC/CYA Levels & their relationship. Often the pool store largely ignores this.
The
SLAM Process is a specifically carried out process based on frequent, accurate home testing (multiple times per day) in which you raise your Fc to your specific slam/shock level for your confirmed cya with liquid chlorine & keep it there (Maintain it) until you prove that the algae has been eradicated via the 3 end of slam criteria mentioned above.
Along with
doing these things:
*Check & scrub every nook & cranny where algae may hide (light niches, steps, drain covers, ladder handrails, skimmer throats/weirs, abandoned lines, autofill, overflow drains, 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.
It is far removed from the dump & pray method.
Even if the pool store yields accurate results relying solely upon their testing is not sufficient nor convenient for adequately maintaining a pool that eats daily or hourly when there’s an algae problem.
Frequent Accurate Home testing allows you to be proactive instead of reactive & playing catch-up.

 

[dfwnoob]

TC 0.5-1 pH 7.4-ish CYA-0 FC-0.5 CC-0.5 Calc-375 TA-170

I found a friend with a test kit. See results above. What do you all recommend I do next ?

If this is correct and you truly have no CYA, that's an issue (although this is rarely the case, normally we see it in the opposite direction). How is the pool getting chlorinated at the moment? With no CYA in the water, your chlorine will get rapidly depleted off UV alone.

 

[alex_t]

I ran the CYA test three times and the black dot never disappeared.

It is being chlorinated by an in-line chlorinator. I add 3” pucks to it.