Waiting anxiously for my test kit...but why so cloudy

[karicali]

Hi all,
I'm new here.

I ordered my test kits last week, and they were misdirected by USPS to NY state (I'm in TN). I did get a pH meter which I calibrated and used pool math to decrease the pH to exactly 7.2 in one try which was very satisfying. The updated delivery is tomorrow (9/3)

In the meantime, I have been adding liquid chlorine above recommended levels daily, about to 10/12 PPM. Yes, I'm using test strips, because that's all the info I have access to. I'm guessing CYA around 60. (It was tested at the pool store around 125, and i replaced about half the water this week because of that, and the test strips have given the indication that cya has decreased. For me water is a cheaper than the extra chlorine over time.)

So my water is not greenish any more, but it's still very aqua/teal and VERY cloudy. I also brush multiple times a day and have vacuumed to waste some/used the robot vacuum. Backwashed daily w my sand filter.

Why is it still so cloudy?
Is the robot vacuum helping this process at all or should I only manually vacuum?

Estimated levels given test strips:
FC 9
CYA 60
CH ~400
PH 7.2
TA 80
Pool temp 80 F

 

[Bperry]

Hi all,
I'm new here.

I ordered my test kits last week, and they were misdirected by USPS to NY state (I'm in TN). I did get a pH meter which I calibrated and used pool math to decrease the pH to exactly 7.2 in one try which was very satisfying. The updated delivery is tomorrow (9/3)

In the meantime, I have been adding liquid chlorine above recommended levels daily, about to 10/12 PPM. Yes, I'm using test strips, because that's all the info I have access to. I'm guessing CYA around 60. (It was tested at the pool store around 125, and i replaced about half the water this week because of that, and the test strips have given the indication that cya has decreased. For me water is a cheaper than the extra chlorine over time.)

So my water is not greenish any more, but it's still very aqua/teal and VERY cloudy. I also brush multiple times a day and have vacuumed to waste some/used the robot vacuum. Backwashed daily w my sand filter.

Why is it still so cloudy?
Is the robot vacuum helping this process at all or should I only manually vacuum?

Estimated levels given test strips:
FC 9
CYA 60
CH ~400
PH 7.2
TA 80
Pool temp 80 F

Not having any test results at all is better than have bad test results. The strips provide bad test results. They really aren’t better than nothing.

We’d only advise adding 5ppm FC each day until your test kit arrives. Adding more risks damage.

 

[Mdragger88]

You’re in a holding pattern- thats the best you can hope for until you get accurate data. Hopefully your kit comes soon & you can dive into the SLAM Process. Until then do as you are & be patient.
Oh & fill out your signature

Create Your Signature - Further Reading

www.google.com

Use the calculator at the bottom of this page to help calculate your pool volume - 40k gal seems like alot.

PoolMath

Discover the calculator behind the perfect pool, PoolMath. Dealing with pools has allowed TFP to become the original authors of the best calculator on the net.

www.troublefreepool.com

 

[karicali]

You’re in a holding pattern- thats the best you can hope for until you get accurate data. Hopefully your kit comes soon & you can dive into the SLAM Process. Until then do as you are & be patient.
Oh & fill out your signature

Create Your Signature - Further Reading

www.google.com

Use the calculator at the bottom of this page to help calculate your pool volume - 40k gal seems like alot.

PoolMath

Discover the calculator behind the perfect pool, PoolMath. Dealing with pools has allowed TFP to become the original authors of the best calculator on the net.

www.troublefreepool.com

Yes it's 40k! 22*40 ft w a deep end.

 

[karicali]

Also don't i have my signature filled out? What is missing

 

[mknauss]

Also don't i have my signature filled out? What is missing

Create Your Signature - Further Reading

www.troublefreepool.com

 

[Mdragger88]

Also don't i have my signature filled out? What is missing

No - not the big one.
(Turn your device sideways to see mine below my posts)
Follow the instructions in the link I posted.

 

[proavia]

Also don't i have my signature filled out? What is missing

You have your account details filled out.

https://www.troublefreepool.com/account/account-details

Now fill out your signature with pool, all pool equipment (include manufacturers and model numbers) and testkit info. The signature appears below your post and is more detailed then the info that appears on the left under your user name.

https://www.troublefreepool.com/account/signature

 

[karicali]

My test kit arrived . I started my SLAM. Very satisfying. The water seemed a little more clear as i was running in from kids practices.

Hopefully more progress tomorrow.

No one answered this before, but is it necessary to vacuum with a manual vac (to waste) daily or is a robot vac helpful? My husband is also worried about ruining the robot at the high chlorine level, is that a concern?

 

[PoolStored]

Run the robot. FC up to and including SLAM level FC is safe for people, pool and equipment. You can even swim if you can see the bottom of the deepest end.

 

[Newdude]

The water seemed a little more clear as i was running in from kids practices.

GREAT. You can come and go at will between testing/dosing. You can dose early at any point to buy yourself the next block of time away. As the process plays out, the FC holds longer between doses allowing more life to happen in between. Go right until bed and do the best you can based on how busy that day is.

 

[karicali]

Thanks @Newdude. The OCLT was 1 PPM. I thought it would be higher as there is a lot of yellow stuff hanging around the pool that I can sweep around. Last night was 28 ppm (I overshot my goal of 24), this morning 27. I just brushed the pool and will recheck much later today after kids, medical appts, etc.

 

[karicali]

Also waiting to vacuum until the FC level comes down to SLAM levels. (FC 24 for CYA 60)

 

[Newdude]

The OCLT was 1 PPM

That's a pass but a borderline pass. C's don't get degrees here IMO.

Stay the course until you have no traces of algae whatsoever and also pass the OCLT. Any fail is a fail so you don't even need to do the OCLTs until the traces of gunk are gone.

 

[karicali]

Ok i get not needing to do the OCLT but if I'm testing for slam anyway, it's obvious what the value is. Thanks for feedback.

 

[Bperry]

Ok i get not needing to do the OCLT but if I'm testing for slam anyway, it's obvious what the value is. Thanks for feedback.

You just don’t need to get up at 6am to do the OCLT until the visible junk is gone. Get some extra sleep in!

 

[wireform]

Also waiting to vacuum until the FC level comes down to SLAM levels. (FC 24 for CYA 60)

There's no reason to wait. Just get rid of it as anything visible related to the slam is one of the 3 criteria you don't want.

 

[Mdragger88]

Great test & replenish fc to slam level as often as you can (4x’s a day is great) the more often you can do it the faster the process will go.
SLAM ON

 

[karicali]

You just don’t need to get up at 6am to do the OCLT until the visible junk is gone. Get some extra sleep in!

Lol well with four kids and one getting on the bus before daylight, this mom is using her flashlight to count r-0871 drops in any case.

 

[karicali]

I just tested and the water only fell to 26 ppm (still above SLAM levels), dropping just 1 ppm from 7 AM to 11:40. I feel like my algae is so resistant!

And thanks for the advice about the vacuum. I'll get it running.