Why do I have foam/bubbles?

[LeMuttman]

Ok, I am a week into a complete refill and balancing. Everything seems pretty good but I have bubbles. Daughter's birthday pool party next Saturday so I have a week to solve.

CYA -30

(I know/understand I will need to bring this up for Texas summer but wanted to keep it low for SLAM if necessary.

FC -5.2 CC -.0

.8 drop from 6.0 doing OCLT Test

TA - is 80

Down from 130 after over lowering PH twice (using muriatic acid) and bringing it back up using aeration (waterfall- sheer wall)

PH - 7.2

Waterfall is running & Borax added to help bring up PH quicker -

Using t k-2006 test kit and testing twice for consistency and to become more familiar with each process.

Water is crystal clear - picture doesn't show it

 

[Texas Splash]

Any chance you used a bleach that was splashless or scented?

 

[LeMuttman]

Any chance you used a bleach that was splashless or scented?

And perhaps the mystery is solved!

I picked up bleach at Walmart and focused on making sure not to get "scented" or "extra whiting" but didn't know about splashless.

So, splashless bleach means bubbles and the fix for this is?

 

[Texas Splash]

That's a strong possibility. It should resolve itself in a day or so with the pump/filter going. But yes, stay away from those too. Just regular/plain Great Value (Wal-Mart) or Bravo (HEB) bleach.

 

[LeMuttman]

That's a strong possibility. It should resolve itself in a day or so with the pump/filter going. But yes, stay away from those too. Just regular/plain Great Value (Wal-Mart) or Bravo (HEB) bleach.

Thanks for the early morning confidence builder!

Today makes Day Two for a pool full of foam.

I was hopeful to raise PH without adding more borax and let it come up with with aeration but this appears to be catalyst in bubble making.

 

[Mjman15]

And perhaps the mystery is solved!

I picked up bleach at Walmart and focused on making sure not to get "scented" or "extra whiting" but didn't know about splashless.

So, splashless bleach means bubbles and the fix for this is?

There is no fix, it will subside in time.

 

[JoyfulNoise]

Not to be a downer, but I would start scooping the foam out if you can. The thickening agents used in splashless bleaches are designed to be mixed in solution with concentrated sodium hypochlorite and high pH (from the excess lye). This means that when you add it to pool water that has a much lower concentration of chlorine in it, it will last longer than you think.

What is your calcium hardness?

 

[LeMuttman]

Not to be a downer, but I would start scooping the foam out if you can. The thickening agents used in splashless bleaches are designed to be mixed in solution with concentrated sodium hypochlorite and high pH (from the excess lye). This means that when you add it to pool water that has a much lower concentration of chlorine in it, it will last longer than you think.

What is your calcium hardness?

calcium hardness was at 250 -

 

[JoyfulNoise]

That's enough CH, more would not do you any good. I would suggest you take a "SLAM & scoop" approach to this problem. The thickener in the bleach is going to persist for a while and will only breakdown slowly from chlorine exposure. If it gets closer to party time and the foam has not subsided, you can purchase a spa defoaming chemical and use that to keep the foam at bay during the party. The defoamer will break down under chlorine exposure but it will work long enough to make the pool swimmable....or the kids might enjoy swimming in a bubble bath.....

 

[LeMuttman]

Thanks Joufulnoise I will give it throughout today and see where it stands -

 

[LeMuttman]

Added chlorine just under a gallon last night, it rained a good amount and bubbles are gone!

 

[Texas Splash]

Ahhhh rats! No bubble baths for the family. Glad things have worked out for you.

 

[LeMuttman]

Thanks to the great members of this forum. My pool is balanced as of now so on to figuring the daily diet of chlorine.