Doh! Foam Party In My Pool!

[troykristoffer]

Okay...

So... Of course, I learned the hard way to refer to these forums FIRST. But instead I went ahead....purchased some cheapo algaecide and now Im left with a pool full of opaque white foam on the surface of the water. I dont know if I used too much or what.

I know theres some anti-foam agents out there, but I have decided I don't want to put anything else in my pool before conferring with the pool gods here. I did a search here, and found lots of threads with the same problem, but no definative answer as to what to do now, only "Dont use that algaecide!" lol... too late! :) I now know what type of algaecide I should use, but that wont get rid of my foam now.

Its been a week with only an increase in foam, so Im not sure it will go away with time. I backwashed, I cleaned my filter and changed the DE. The pool levels are all okay according to my test strips. I havent tried skimming the foam yet, as I think it willl just come back, since it is getting sucked into the skimmer anyway, and just comes back then.

Any help is welcome!

[troykristoffer]

Well, it hasnt gone away yet.

I tried a anti-foam that got rid of it temporarily, but its come back again. *sigh*

I really need help. I went and bought a test kit with drops, but it doesnt do CYA and Hardness. (couldnt find one at the store that does, but Im ordering one soon.)

pH was fine, (7.6)
Chlorine has been all over the map (just added shock levels) and has not changed the foam problem.

But Alkalinity is really high at 190.

I'm blaming it on the algaecide that I spoke of above, since thats when the foam came. (Didnt know better then.)

This is my pool right now :( :

http://www.splashent.com/gallery/albums/userpics/P1010002.JPG
http://www.splashent.com/gallery/albums/userpics/P1010003.JPG
http://www.splashent.com/gallery/albums/userpics/P1010006.JPG

Can someone please give me some ideas on how to fix it? I'm desperate. Just missed a great swimming weekend *sigh*

[duraleigh]

Troy,

It's best just to post one thread to get consistent responses. You can delete your posts from here.....You'll get good response in your first thread.
(That foam will clear up...give it some time)

[troykristoffer]

Troy,

It's best just to post one thread to get consistent responses. You can delete your posts from here.....You'll get good response in your first thread.
(That foam will clear up...give it some time)

Yah... I know :) This thread was started about a different problem than the other, and now I have realized the problem is the same.

User error. LOL

[Dr. Spike]

I had a PB open my pool (before I found this site), he used a bunch of algaecide. My pool was foamy for about two weeks, it did go away all on it's own, now my pool is sparkling with the BBB method.

I don't see any reason you can not swim IF the algaecide caused the foam, as long as your other numbers are withing normal operating range. Someone with more knowledge than me can tell you that for sure though. If the foam is caused by something else I personally wouldn't swim until I got what ever the problem was under control.

Patience, it will clear.

Oh yeah, stop adding things you don't need, like an anti-foaming agent, or more algaecide. :)

[troykristoffer]

Yah... I know :) This thread was started about a different problem than the other, and now I have realized the problem is the same.

User error. LOL


Well...now Im not sure at all. I converted to the BBB method, and obtained a good test kit. All of my chem levels are "good" but the foam still looks like it did in th pictures. It's been more than a week, and the pool is safe for swimming of course, but nobody wants to swim in it as it looks very .... well gross.

It sucks too cuz we are having the hottest days of the summer right now this week...

I'll wait another week since the kind gentleman just said it took him 2 weeks for it to go away. We'll see :)

Just needing to vent I guess, since it was 102 yesterday and almost as hot today and have a very unappealing pool hehe.