Understanding test strips and why can I not get my pool to not look cloudy.

[Hooty_96]

First off sorry if this is a dumb thread I decided to join because I would love some advice…
This is my first year with above ground pool 4000 gallons maybe, Steel Pro Max 15 x 42 pool for my son and I am being tested by the pool God’s! My test strips are showing same results almost always, I’ve tried shocking, scrubbing and shocking, swapped to the intex 633t krystal clear pump because the factory pump was not cutting it. Still the pool is cloudy. When I clean the filter, it’s covered in thick sort of, “grey” mucus type stuff, and the filter cartridge housing will have grey particles floating in it when I open it to clean filter. Filter will be completely covered in grey stuff after running pump for 8 hours, clean it, repeat. Same results. I’m using the floating things with chlorine tablets for chlorine, I’ve done my scale build up products, algae protector, etc….
Also I have attached photo of test strips, and the reply I got from the number on the test strip kit where you can send your test kit photo for advice. Any help appreciated!!!!

 

[Hooty_96]

Pic of test strip…

 

[drsipe]

First, you came to the right place for help.

Next you may not want to hear this, but test strips and even pool store "free" water testing is extremely inaccurate, and rather than make a problem worse because of inaccurate test results, we prefer that you use a proper test kit and provide your own results.

Swimming Pool Test Kits Compared

What pool test kit should I buy? Why shouldn't I use test strips? Our recommended test kits will pay for themselves in no time!

www.troublefreepool.com

While you are waiting for your test kit, you can add enough liquid chlorine to add 5 ppm per day to the pool. Most people can get liquid chlorine at Walmart, they sell "Pool Essentials 10% sodium hypochlorite", if you can't find that, plain old cheap laundry bleach will do (DO NOT use splashless or scented). To determine how much to add, you can download Pool Math and use the "effects of adding", to determine the dose rate. All chlorine tablets and powders are not just chlorine, they add stabilizers (CYA) or calcium, which cause other problems, we don't encourage the full time use of tablets and powders. Liquid chlorine does not have either calcium or stabilizers and makes life easier.

A good place to start your pool education is in Pool Care Basics

Pool Care Basics Archives

Your one-stop shop for all things TFP to include: ABCs of Water Chemistry, Recommended Chemicals/Levels, Test Kits, Troubleshooting, and much more!

www.troublefreepool.com

If you provide accurate water test results, and read the materials, you may still have some questions and we will be more than willing to help.

You are on the right track to having a crystal clear pool

 

[Hooty_96]

First, you came to the right place for help.

Next you may not want to hear this, but test strips and even pool store "free" water testing is extremely inaccurate, and rather than make a problem worse because of inaccurate test results, we prefer that you use a proper test kit and provide your own results.

Swimming Pool Test Kits Compared

What pool test kit should I buy? Why shouldn't I use test strips? Our recommended test kits will pay for themselves in no time!

www.troublefreepool.com

While you are waiting for your test kit, you can add enough liquid chlorine to add 5 ppm per day to the pool. Most people can get liquid chlorine at Walmart, they sell "Pool Essentials 10% sodium hypochlorite", if you can't find that, plain old cheap laundry bleach will do (DO NOT use splashless or scented). To determine how much to add, you can download Pool Math and use the "effects of adding", to determine the dose rate. All chlorine tablets and powders are not just chlorine, they add stabilizers (CYA) or calcium, which cause other problems, we don't encourage the full time use of tablets and powders. Liquid chlorine does not have either calcium or stabilizers and makes life easier.

A good place to start your pool education is in Pool Care Basics

Pool Care Basics Archives

Your one-stop shop for all things TFP to include: ABCs of Water Chemistry, Recommended Chemicals/Levels, Test Kits, Troubleshooting, and much more!

www.troublefreepool.com

If you provide accurate water test results, and read the materials, you may still have some questions and we will be more than willing to help.

You are on the right track to having a crystal clear pool

Thank you. My CYA is extremely high according to the strips. Everything else is pretty solid and I’m able to maintain them all.
Now when you say add enough liquid chlorine to add 5ppm per day, that’s a daily dose of chlorine correct?? Also I am in the process of getting a proper testing kit. We’ve only had the pool up maybe 3-4 weeks so I’m still finding my way around what’s good/bad and what to use/not to use…

 

[needsajet]

Welcome to TFP. Good to have you here

You're going to need a drop-based test kit to get your pool clear. I recommend the TF-100 or Taylor K2006C. See options here: Test Kits Compared

Test strips are not suitable for maintaining a swimming pool.

Is your pool approx 15 feet by 42 feet and around 3.5 feet deep? If so, the volume is around 16,000 gallons.

While waiting for your test kit, read through pool school, especially the articles about water chemistry. There's a significant chance that long term use of floater and trichlor pucks may have raised your CYA level too high, and you'll need to do a partial drain and refill to get that down to a reasonable level. But there's no way to know until you have useful test results.

Pool Care Basics Archives

Your one-stop shop for all things TFP to include: ABCs of Water Chemistry, Recommended Chemicals/Levels, Test Kits, Troubleshooting, and much more!

www.troublefreepool.com

 

[Hooty_96]

Welcome to TFP. Good to have you here

You're going to need a drop-based test kit to get your pool clear. I recommend the TF-100 or Taylor K2006C. See options here: Test Kits Compared

Test strips are not suitable for maintaining a swimming pool.

Is your pool approx 15 feet by 42 feet and around 3.5 feet deep? If so, the volume is around 16,000 gallons.

While waiting for your test kit, read through pool school, especially the articles about water chemistry. There's a significant chance that long term use of floater and trichlor pucks may have raised your CYA level too high, and you'll need to do a partial drain and refill to get that down to a reasonable level. But there's no way to know until you have useful test results.

Pool Care Basics Archives

Your one-stop shop for all things TFP to include: ABCs of Water Chemistry, Recommended Chemicals/Levels, Test Kits, Troubleshooting, and much more!

www.troublefreepool.com

The pool is 15 feet round, 42 inches tall. Says it’s around 3,900 gallons at 90% and I’ve got it a bit higher so I figured I’m around 4000-4500 gallons.

 

[drsipe]

The daily dose I stated of 5ppm of chlorine is what I call a blind dose, in reality, at this time without proper testing, I can't tell you how much chlorine or anything else you need.

The 5ppm is a dose that may not be enough to solve any problems, but it should prevent it from getting worse.

Most pool's consume between 2 & 5 ppm of chlorine everyday. When I use liquid chlorine, I had to add 1/2 gallon of 10% sodium hypochlorite (liquid chlorine). Chlorine is consumed by biologicals (Algae, bacteria) and UV light, so pool's need chlorine added every day.

 

[cdadams1223]

Welcome to TFP! The pros on this site will get you going. Forget about test strips and pool store testing as both are inaccurate.

As @drsipe mentioned above, adding 5ppm of liquid chlorine (LC) per day until your new testing kit arrives. For a pool volume of 4000 gallons, that’s 26 ounces of 10% LC or 21 ounces of 12.5% LC. You can figure that out yourself with the PoolMath app. Good luck!!

 

[needsajet]

The pool is 15 feet round, 42 inches tall.

My bad. I had forgotten about the naming method. Old boy brain is different!