Sudsy Film

[jedepo]

After several very hot days (90-100 degrees) with no maintenance, our 30,000 gallon, in-ground liner pool started turning a milkly color. We immediately shocked it with no effect over the next day or so. We added a clarifier and some ph balance. Still no effect, but the pool began to develop suds and had a filmy look (almost oily looking). We shocked it again last night (three days since we last schocked it. When we did, the chlorine powder seems to explode in white clouds, almost like alka seltzer. After several minutes the clouds dissipated, but the sudsy persisteded in large patches. This morning, the whole top of the pool was sudsy.
HELP.

[waterbear]

Did you put in an algaecide? What was the pH when you added the "pH balance" and was that to raise or lower the pH?
Did you test your water before you started adding chemicals to see what chemicals you needed to add? If so please post the test results so we can get an idea what is going on in your pool.

[CarlD]

Yes, we need to see test levels and know what you actually added.

Most of us avoid using anything but bleach/liquid chlorine and the only algaecide we recommend is Polyquat 60% (comes under a plethora of brand names). Other algaecides rely on copper or ammonia--both cause more problems than they cure.