Just added pH up and pool got cloudy

[Mr Bill]

Tests before
TC 3
FC 1
TA 120
CYA 50
pH ~7.0

Added ~2lbs pH up

TC 3
FC 1
TA 120
CYA 50
pH ~7.6-7.8

What's up with the cloudiness?

[Bleach=Chlorine?]

If your testing #s are correct then you have A LOT of combined chlorine that needs to be burned up. You should shock the pool later today and keep it there until the TC-FC < .5 or the CC is less than .5.

[mwsmith2]

Yup, agree on the shocking. Also, what is your Ca level? Sudden increases in pH can precipitate calcium out of solution.

Michael

[ivyleager]

Well, the cloudiness could be due to something trying to grow in the pool water. Your TC is 3, but FC is 1, so that means the CC is 2....(TC=FC+CC). If those numbers are indeed correct, you'll need to bring your chlorine up to shock values and hold there until the CC is 0. Use Bens' best guess guide to determine your shock values based on the CYA level.

Are you using bleach or pucks for chlorinating? Bleach sometimes increases pH, whereas pucks (which are very acidic) will decrease pH.

Good luck.

CaryB
Go 'Canes!
(very tired and dissappointed this am, left the building in 'shock')

[Mr Bill]

My pool clouded as I poured the dilute pH up into the pool. This wasn't algae growing!

My CH is 120 (160 before pool draining). Thats low I know, but I just drained the pool earlier this week to get the CYA down from 135. I also had phospahates greater ~2500. Treated the pool yesterday and brought the phosphates down to ~100.

I thought there might be residual Phos-X in the pool that may have contributed to the cloudiness but didn't mention it since I could still detect some phosphates. I used 12 oz in am (tested PO4 ~1000 ppb) then went with 20 oz to finish treatment at noon. Dosage for decreasing PO4 1000 ppb per bottle directions was 32 oz, and I used just 20 oz in the second treatment. Cloudiness was minor and pool was crystal clear before I added the pH up.

My problem, which I thought I treated correctly was algae.
1. Lowere CYA by draining 1/3 of the pool (20,000 G)
2. FIlled pooled, add alkalinity to ~120 (test strip)
3. pH was 7.4, TC 3 (OTO), FC ~1 (test strip)

This am pool ph was 6.8-7.0 by OTO and test strip, so I added 2 lbs pH up.

So there' sthe complete picture.

[Bleach=Chlorine?]

You need to keep the Cl level up to 15ppm and keep it there until you have zero CC. I would stop using all that other junk and also get a good test kit.

[duraleigh]

Bill,

The other additives may well have contributed to the cloudiness.

My memory is vague but it seems like I remember something that pH up (which I think is soda ash) can contribute cloudiness to a pool under certain conditions. I think I remember also that it is temporary. (Wow! Talk about wild guesses!)

Waterbear, get in here and straighten this out! :)

[mwsmith2]

2. FIlled pooled, add alkalinity to ~120 (test strip)
3. pH was 7.4, TC 3 (OTO), FC ~1 (test strip)

This am pool ph was 6.8-7.0 by OTO and test strip, so I added 2 lbs pH up.


Well, there's your problem. You said test strip.

Michael

[Mr Bill]

Go easy on me. Ijust discovered this forum this week and ordered my test kits on Wednesday. So cut some slack on the test strips!

As for my problem, I am thinking the aburpt pH change probably took the Ca out of solution.

I'm not convinced that I need to get my chlorine to 15 ppm. By OTO it's been at 2-3.

I just shocked with a gallon of liquid shock (12.5% Na hypochloride) before I drained the pool (Monday) and did it again after draining it on Tuesday.

[Bleach=Chlorine?]

You may not have a problem at all if you are using test strips. I would take a sample into the pool store and let them test... hopefully they don't use strips too!!!! An aside, I hate dosing based on pool store recommendations but I would NEVER dose based on my test strips!

[waterbear]

soda ash can cause clouding of the pool because it raises the TA along with the pH. the higher TA and pH can cause the calcium to precipiptate and cloud the water

[CarlD]

Mr. Bill:

I KNOW it's tough to absorb everything. Sometimes, when the pool is cloudy and we are panicking, it's tough to remember that the MOST important thing is to keep our water sanitary.

IF your strips are accurate, a TC of 3 and an FC of 1 means you have a CC of 2--and that ain't good! It means you are fighting some kind of organic, probably algae about to start. If you don't fix that, other problems will seem minor. Since your CYA is 50 (according to the strip) your FC level should ALWAYS be between 3 and 6--preferably 5 or 6. Shock by raising chlorine to 15.

Fix that first--A pH of 7.0 is low but livable--and chlorine is more effective at lower pH levels. A pH of 7.6 is fine, too.

Once the chlorine is fixed and your pool is sanitary, you can concentrate on the other issues. Frequently, fixing the chlorine clears up other issues.

[Mr Bill]

Pool was just alittle cloudy this morning with a with precipitate in some spots. At this point my pool is looking great. I had shocked the pool twice @ 10-15 ppm earlier this week. I am testing with OTO drops for TC and test strip for FC. I ordered the PS234 Test kit on Tuesday. I don't want to superchlorinate again until I have more reliable TC, FC test results.

I mentioned earlier that I'm trying to lower my CYA by draining the pool. Did about 30-40% three days ago and another 6-8 inches this am.

Added one LB bag of CAHypochloride and tests are:

TC 3++ OTO drops
FC ~3-5 Test strip
pH 7.6 OTO & Test strip
ALK ~120 Test strip
CYA ~50 Test strip
CH ~120 Test strip
Can't wait till I get the new test kits!

20,000 gal IG vinyl