What is this?

[jackieRN]

My pool has dirt in it. My numbers are completely balanced. I’m running my dolphin and it’s picking it up but-we swim and I brush and this keeps appearing. Just on the seams- not on the plastic steps or the walls so I doubt it’s algae? It’s been both stifling hot and humid and lots of rain. I’ve never had dirt like this. Nothing has changed in the 18 years regarding landscaping or trees etc… I am up against full woods so not sure if a new source of “air pollution “ is doing this?
Today ph 7.6
Fc 10 (I added last night I expected this)
Cc zero
Alkalinity 70
Cya 60
Vinyl liner 20k
Dolphin to waste

Even with the dolphin running I was brushing and could see puff clouds of powder dirt settling- water is sparking clear. Just air pollution?

 

[needsajet]

Best thing to do is an Overnight Chlorine Loss Test to see if you can rule out algae

 

[jackieRN]

Best thing to do is an Overnight Chlorine Loss Test to see if you can rule out algae

I did the test and lost 2ppm and yet when I tested for CC it was 1 drop to turn clear or 0.5 I guess- I use the magnetic stir bar so I do feel confident. The water appears crystal clear - the walls are clean and the white ladder steps are clear. I got in last night and manually scrubbed and this morning some black dirt agin only on the seams at the bottom- much less- but it puffs when I brushed it. I’ve had tissue paper algae before that clung to steps and fixtures so I keep thinking it’s sort (it’s been really windy and I’m against woods and also it rained last night. Does rain affect chlorine loss at night?
I will vacuum to waste today again and add my liquid chlorine. Thanks please advise if you have more thoughts.

 

[jackieRN]

I did the test and lost 2ppm and yet when I tested for CC it was 1 drop to turn clear or 0.5 I guess- I use the magnetic stir bar so I do feel confident. The water appears crystal clear - the walls are clean and the white ladder steps are clear. I got in last night and manually scrubbed and this morning some black dirt agin only on the seams at the bottom- much less- but it puffs when I brushed it. I’ve had tissue paper algae before that clung to steps and fixtures so I keep thinking it’s sort (it’s been really windy and I’m against woods and also it rained last night. Does rain affect chlorine loss at night?
I will vacuum to waste today again and add my liquid chlorine. Thanks please advise if you have more thoughts.

 

[needsajet]

If you lost 2 ppm in the OCLT, it's telling you that you have algae and need to SLAM.

Note that algae free-floating in the water is not visible to the naked eye. When the water gets green, or green patches appear, you already have gazillions of algae cells floating around.

 

[Mdragger88]

You failed the
Overnight Chlorine Loss Test so it’s
SLAM Process time.

Note* While the presence of elevated cc’s is certainly indicative of a problem their absence doesn’t mean there’s not one. You can have algae & no cc’s.
Hopefully with crystal clear water things will go quickly. Looking at your poolmath logs, It looks like a month ago you had a cya of 100.
It’s possible something has been brewing a while if your fc went below minimum at some point & you have just been keeping it at bay.
The slam done properly will eradicate it.
You mentioned a ladder- you’ll want to clean that inside & out. As well as any other hiding spots like lights/ drain covers/ weir doors etc.

The stuff in the bot bag looks kinda like soot or something.
What does it feel like? (Slimy/gritty)
Does it rinse away easily?
If it was something from the environment it would also be on the deck, patio furniture etc.

 

[jackieRN]

You failed the
Overnight Chlorine Loss Test so it’s
SLAM Process time.

Note* While the presence of elevated cc’s is certainly indicative of a problem their absence doesn’t mean there’s not one. You can have algae & no cc’s.
Hopefully with crystal clear water things will go quickly. Looking at your poolmath logs, It looks like a month ago you had a cya of 100.
It’s possible something has been brewing a while if your fc went below minimum at some point & you have just been keeping it at bay.
The slam done properly will eradicate it.
You mentioned a ladder- you’ll want to clean that inside & out. As well as any other hiding spots like lights/ drain covers/ weir doors etc.

The stuff in the bot bag looks kinda like soot or something.
What does it feel like? (Slimy/gritty)
Does it rinse away easily?
If it was something from the environment it would also be on the deck, patio furniture etc.

Thanks . I’ll slam

 

[jackieRN]

If you lost 2 ppm in the OCLT, it's telling you that you have algae and need to SLAM.

Note that algae free-floating in the water is not visible to the naked eye. When the water gets green, or green patches appear, you already have gazillions of algae cells floating around.

I had no idea. I thought algae was always visible. I also thought that if the numbers were balanced, the pool was perfect. I am still learning quite a bit, but I do have a Taylor 2006C kit but again I guess it doesn’t really test for algae. The test was the overnight chlorine and I failed.

You failed the
Overnight Chlorine Loss Test so it’s
SLAM Process time.

Note* While the presence of elevated cc’s is certainly indicative of a problem their absence doesn’t mean there’s not one. You can have algae & no cc’s.
Hopefully with crystal clear water things will go quickly. Looking at your poolmath logs, It looks like a month ago you had a cya of 100.
It’s possible something has been brewing a while if your fc went below minimum at some point & you have just been keeping it at bay.
The slam done properly will eradicate it.
You mentioned a ladder- you’ll want to clean that inside & out. As well as any other hiding spots like lights/ drain covers/ weir doors etc.

The stuff in the bot bag looks kinda like soot or something.
What does it feel like? (Slimy/gritty)
Does it rinse away easily?
If it was something from the environment it would also be on the deck, patio furniture etc.i

I didn’t touch it lol. I guess it rinsed easily? I did soak it in bleach water after so maybe it didn’t and I felt compelled to wash the bag. Anyway- the black stuff is still on the seams but less and not on the entry steps. Based on the OCLT tho I think o will put in 5 gallons of 10% chlorine tonight and see. We have been swimming daily and since I got my k2006c I almost obsessively test certain things daily. I would have never done the OCLT based on my pool readings and visual clarity. It was the back dirt that propelled me so now maybe I have just been keeping a major invasion at bay? If it is t algae is there any harm to dumping in 5 gallons of chlorine?

 

[Mdragger88]

You can have a totally swampy green pool with target fc levels present.
One lone test doesn’t tell the tale. It’s just a snapshot in time.
The fas/dpd test is necessary to do the oclt accurately which is one of the reasons why we recommend that kit & the tf100/pro as they are the only ones that contain it so it is great that you have it.
Invisible algae is called nascent algae- don’t worry- you’re nipping it in the bud!
Much easier than waiting for the swampy swamp to appear! The key to this prevention is the frequent testing
I have read through your other thread and never saw any mention of an oclt being done at that time.
Your cya was originally extremely high so I wouldn’t be surprised if that’s where your troubles truly began due to insufficient chlorine and your corrective behavior just kept it at bay.
As you proceed with this slam process be sure to check every nook & cranny as recommended (sooner rather than later). Failing to do so can cause things to drag on and no one wants that for you.
It is safe to swim with fc anywhere between minimum and slam level for your cya so long as you can see the bottom of the deep end of pool.

5 gallons of 10% adds 25ppm fc in your pool.
Slam fc for your cya level is 24ppm.
Be sure to account for your current fc level when dosing.
Going over just wastes chlorine
Use
PoolMath for calculations and toggle on the slam slider.
Please try to log every test & addition.
It helps us help you if you run into problems.
Slam on

 

[jackieRN]

Heck

 

[Mdragger88]

Heck

We got u !

 

[Texas Splash]

Jackie, I remember from previous pics of your pool that you have a cover and a rail-step ladder in the deep end. I don't know if we talked about those before in your other thread when you were exchanging water to try and lower the CYA, but you might want to look at those two items very carefully. Covers are prone to getting moldy and hiding algae. The step ladder is always partially submerged and you would never know by looking at that crystal clear water that you could potentially have algae growing in those steps. If you've never removed them before, you might want to try and inspect/clean every portion on the steps.

 

[jackieRN]

Jackie, I remember from previous pics of your pool that you have a cover and a rail-step ladder in the deep end. I don't know if we talked about those before in your other thread when you were exchanging water to try and lower the CYA, but you might want to look at those two items very carefully. Covers are prone to getting moldy and hiding algae. The step ladder is always partially submerged and you would never know by looking at that crystal clear water that you could potentially have algae growing in those steps. If you've never removed them before, you might want to try and inspect/clean every portion on the steps.

Thanks. I haven’t used the cover at all this summer it’s too hot and I find the water just stays cleaner. I did the slam last night and nothing changed I see nothing new and less “dirt” but I understand this can be invisible. I besides sides this am and am running my dolphin. I just have the bag that came with it not the one that supposedly picks up microscopic things but … anyway I will do the overnight test again tonight.

 

[Mdragger88]

Thanks. I haven’t used the cover at all this summer it’s too hot and I find the water just stays cleaner. I did the slam last night and nothing changed I see nothing new and less “dirt” but I understand this can be invisible. I besides sides this am and am running my dolphin. I just have the bag that came with it not the one that supposedly picks up microscopic things but … anyway I will do the overnight test again tonight.

The SLAM Process is a process.
Not just a one time addition of chlorine.
Keep maintaining slam fc levels as often as you can (3/4 times per day) until you pass all 3 end of slam criteria listed in the article.

 

[jackieRN]

Just tested and FC is 24 and CYA is 50. I really struggle with the cya so I did it multiple times and mostly got 50. Prior to my first post I had drained a little out to try and drop cya and currently I’m refilling (top step was dry) and running vac. I’ll test again a couple more times today. 3, 7 pm?
I did not remeber to drop the oh it was 7.6 will that mess me up?

 

[Texas Splash]

I did not remeber to drop the oh it was 7.6 will that mess me up?

No worries.

 

[jackieRN]

Also- if I test at 3, 7pm and have to add some chlorine to stay at 20-24 I’ll need to retest again about an hour later , record, and see where I am in the morning?

 

[Texas Splash]

if I test at 3, 7pm and have to add some chlorine to stay at 20-24 I’ll need to retest again about an hour later , record, and see where I am in the morning?

You can only do what your schedule allows. Try to stay at/near the required FC SLAM level. No need to go crazy high as that would just be a waste of chemicals. Your water has been relatively clear, so hopefully the FC will hold well for you between testing.

 

[Mdragger88]

For the oclt tests it needs to be dark for both.
If you test at 8/9 pm & you’re close to slam level just record your results and call it good & then again before the rooster crows in the am.

To clarify, based on the schedule you gave-
Test at 3 —> replenish fc to slam level
Test at 7 —> replenish fc to slam level
Test at 8/9 —> record & let it ride

Also, you’re doing fantastic

 

[jackieRN]

Just tested and FC is down to 17 from 24 this am- it’s hot and sunny. Ran the dolphin 3 hours. Bag wasn’t dirty just a few bugs and a little bit of soot but the soot settled on the steps again. I added 1 gallon of 10% and I now have the 12.5 percent I’ll add when I check tonight.
For this last one I should wait till sundown and add what’s needed and then check for loss in the am?