Cloudy - shock????

First year with a pool in a LOOOONNGG time - first time with BBB

11,550 gal oval 15x30 AG
CYA 40
TC 12.5
CC 0
pH 7.2
water TEMP 88
(temps around here have been up around 95-100 for the last couple of weeks)

had a heavier than average bathing load this weekend BUT for me that was just 3 boys (6-10years) - Will bringing the TC up to 15 for a couple of days (per Ben's best guess CYA chart) help with the cloudiness? I realize my pH is at the bottom of optimal but so far I haven't had to mess with it much to keep it there.

Thanks for any suggestions.

What are your calcium hardness and total alkalinity levels?

Is the cloud white or green?

sorry - I haven't been testing my Ca since the first time as I "assumed" it was unnecessary with a vinyl liner and I have no excuse as to why I didn't do the TA. I will do those tests this evening when I get home. I checked the chlorine this a.m. again with the "blue box" drops test and it still read 10+ so I'm not losing a lot of chlorine at night anyway.

I'll repeat all tests this evening. I am running the filter 24/7 (since Saturday)
We're expecting another 100 degree day today.

thanks for the response. Robin

cloudy - white

TA - 60
Calcium Hardness - 110

Although TC is still over 10, I added an additional quart last night to "guarantee" maintaining that today with the 100+ temps.

Are you chlorinating with Cal-Hypo? If so, the usual answer is to add a dose of Muriatic acid and that should clear it. But you pH is low so you have to be careful with that, then add Borax to immediately raise it again.

Just a guess, but there might be a problem with the filtration/circulation. Your numbers do not indicate cloudiness from the TA/CH/pH combo. Carl is right that adding either calcium to your pool (as with Cal-Hypo) or adding soda ash (sodium carbonate) to raise pH will often cloud the pool, but normally this goes away relatively quickly, especially in your situation with your pool water balance.

If you've got suspended particles causing the cloudy water, then your filter should normally clear that out which is why I brought up your checking your sand filter to make sure it's operating properly. I don't have a sand filter so don't know how to see if it's working correctly, needs backwashing, etc. so others will have to help on that front.

Richard

adding regular Clorox bleach 6% since mid-July. I backwashed the filter last Friday - actually the day before the cloudiness appeared. Pool/filter is only 2+ months old - water went into pool Memorial weekend. Got fairly "cursory" backwash instructions from the install guys but they are local so I could have them come back out. I do have the manual and as best I can tell I am following instructions correctly.

Is it possible I'm not running the backwash long enough - I'm waiting until the water clears and then rinsing for 30 seconds after. Any other suggestions. I did use the 3" Wal-Mart brand pucks in an autochlorinator until mid-July - just until my CYA got up to the 40-50 range. The autochlorinator is hard-plumbed in. I still have it "open" with no pucks in - should I set it to 0 (i'm guessing this really doesn't matter since there are no pucks in the chamber) I know my sand filter is a Sta-rite with a 1.5hp pump but couldn't tell you the size etc.

When I vacuum (automatic Lil' Shark) I've been vacuuming to "filter" - should I vacuum to waste??

Try getting some skimmer socks from Wal-Mart - or just cut the ends off some old nylons and put it on the skimmer basket.

Also - how long are you running your pump/filter a day? You need to make sure that you are circulating double the volume of water everyday.

Another thing you can do is purchase some DE and put some (I think a 1/2-1 pound) in your skimmer. This will go directly onto your sand filter and help filter out smaller particles. Be aware that when you backwash - all of the DE will wash out - so I would try this last.

thanks for the suggestion - I'll try the "skimmer socks" - I've already been doing the old nylons thing whenever I cut the grass around the pool.

For the last week I've been running the filter 24/7. Last night I vacuumed the pool (definitely some green on the bottom which has me puzzled as the chlorine has checked as low as 2 over the last 3 weeks but never lower) and then backwashed for a full 5 minutes/rinsed a full minute. Added water overnight as well as an additional 3/4 gal of bleach per the bleach calc - chlorine was 12.5 when I got home - that got it up to 18.
Checked this a.m. and it was 17.

Filter still going - will vaccum again this evening. Still kinda' waiting to hear if I need to add BS to get the TA up.

It wouldn't hurt--I'd get it up to the 80-90 range and see how that does for you.

Janet