Teal cloudy water

[rubberhead5613]

I have been battling cloudy water for over a month.

FC=1
TC=1.5
PH=6.8
ALK=140
CYA=75
Calcium=350

Last night I put in 6 gallons of liquid chlorine. The above numbers are what I got today.
I have a salt water pool, but the salt generator is not producing chlorine, I'm in the process of getting a new one. I'm using chlorine pucks in the meantime.
How do I get the water to clear up?

 

[W.J.Christy]

Looks like an algae problem. With an FC of 1.0 And a cya of 75, I would prep for the slam process.

Also, your ph is way to low. You need to get that up into the 7's before you begin slamming.

Use liquid chlorine for the slam, dont use pucks or cal.hypo.

Also if you could fill out your signature, it would really help us help you.

 

[Newdude]

Hey rubberhead and Welcome !!!

Which came first ? I ask because SWGs cannot overcome an active algae bloom, so it will look like the cell isn't working. It's entirely possible the cell is fine.

How do you test ? You need a reliable test kit. The TFpro-salt is the best value once you add the things it includes to the others. Or the TF100-salt is the budget model which functions the same.

Test Kits Compared

Once you have your test kit, SLAM Process. The pool store simply wont test you as many times as you'll need, and they won't be open at the end of SLAM test times.

Download PoolMath and configure your basic pool details. Then click on 'FC' and enter 0 to 5 ppm to find out how much chlorine you need to add daily until the test kit comes. This will stop it from getting exponentially worse.

 

[rubberhead5613]

Hey rubberhead and Welcome !!!

Which came first ? I ask because SWGs cannot overcome an active algae bloom, so it will look like the cell isn't working. It's entirely possible the cell is fine.

How do you test ? You need a reliable test kit. The TFpro-salt is the best value once you add the things it includes to the others. Or the TF100-salt is the budget model which functions the same.

Test Kits Compared

Once you have your test kit, SLAM Process. The pool store simply wont test you as many times as you'll need, and they won't be open at the end of SLAM test times.

Download PoolMath and configure your basic pool details. Then click on 'FC' and enter 0 to 5 ppm to find out how much chlorine you need to add daily until the test kit comes. This will stop it from getting exponentially worse.

I have the TF-pro salt test kit
It started getting cloudy before I shut off the salt cell.

 

[Newdude]

I have the TF-pro salt test kit

Sweet !!!

It started getting cloudy before I shut off the salt cell

If the lights all report that it's working, but you're not seeing results, it's likely just overwhelmed by the algae bloom.

SLAM Process and once there is nothing chewing through your FC, we can see if the unit is producing FC.

 

[wireform]

Run as normal with swcg at 100%, go grab a empty water bottle and put directly in front of a return and fill it straight out of the pressured water flow. Go test the FC and see what you've got. Not that this will fix your pool water but you'll know at least if it's producing.

 

[SoCalPoolFool]

You need to act fast, Here's what I would do and have done with great results thanks to the good people here at TFP. First check your filter pressures and make sure their not too high, if ok then I would first use a manual vacuum brush head like this from Leslie's #20881

it says for vinyl but I use it on my Pebble Tec pool all the time it's just hard to push but it does a really good job, it has suction bypass ports, longer bristles and a spring pole attachment (helps keep it on the walls), vacuum brush the floor and walls nice and slow, try to get as much algae sucked up in the filters now so the water will clear up faster. Possibly get a corner suction brush too. Then clean your filters really well, possibly a light acid bath in a trash can mix 1 part muriatic acid added to 20 parts water for 10-20 minutes. If it bubbles up then you have calcium and crud clogging your filters. I do this to my filters twice a year. Always add chemicals to water never water to chemicals. Set your system to filter 24/7, Then SLAM to a T, brush every square inch again, test, brush, test, brush, test, till you pass the OCLT, clean filters as much as needed depending on pressures, this is the only way. Only use liquid chlorine the stronger the better! Don't add any copper or bromine. Hasa liquid 12.5% Good luck and don't give up. You'll be swimming in no time.

 

[rubberhead5613]

I'm on my 5th day of the slam. Water still cloudy. I have been brushing and vacuuming daily.
I have a safety cover on all the time now. Should I roll back the cover or just keep going?
How long should it take to really start seeing results?

 

[mknauss]

You are not saving your FC test data in Poolmath so hard to give a view on status. Also have you taken pictures of the pool water each day to see the changes.
Cover needs to be off for several hours each day, at least.

 

[rubberhead5613]

Started on 8-22 added 15 gal LC
8-23
Morning FC 20 added 6 gal LC
Afternoon FC 27.5 added 2 gal LC
8-24
Morning FC 25.5 added 3 gal LC
Afternoon FC 27 added 2 gal LC
8-25
Morning FC 28 added 2 gal LC
Afternoon FC 31.5 nothing added
8-26
Morning FC 28.5 added 1 gal LC
Afternoon FC 31 nothing added
8-27
Morning FC 28.5 added 2 gal LC
Afternoon FC 35.5 nothing added
Late afternoon FC 29 added 1 gal LC (12.5)

 

[PoolStored]

You have a number of factors that may be working against you.

A 50K G pool is a big pool and will take time to clear.

You have not indicated the type of filter you have. If you fill out your signature, that will help.

Create Your Signature - Further Reading

www.troublefreepool.com

If you have a sand filter, this will take the longest of the filter types to clear. You may want to add DE to help filter if you have a sand filter. Use only POOL DE.

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.troublefreepool.com

If you are able to test and replace your FC more often that 3x per day, to get back to 32, that *might* help.

You can also switch to a 5ml FC test sample size. Each drop is 1ppm. This will save reagent.

I think you are at the point that taking a few of these while you are slamming will help. My guess is that it will just take time...usually does, and with 50K...Whew!

CapturePOP.JPG

• PoolStored
• Jun 12, 2023

 

[rubberhead5613]

I have a filter system

 

[PoolStored]

Huh?

 

[rubberhead5613]

Cartridge system.

What is 5ml FC test?

 

[wireform]

What is 5ml FC test?

Instead of filling the vial to the 10ml line you'd only fill the vial to the 5ml line. Every drop of the R-0871 now will count for 1ppm so 10 drops = 10ppm FC. Be sure to have the level correct as the margin of error is greater. This method is only used for slam to save reagent but for normal and OCLT FC testing, it should be done using the 10ml measurement at minimum.