Salt Water Pool Water Smells Like Must

[Poolsean]

A "smell or odor" is pretty subjective.
However, why are you keeping your chlorine level so high? Your water chems seem to out of balance too. TA is high (should be down between 80 - 120 ppm, with my preference at 80 - 100 ppm). Cya is much higher than even allowable by commercial pool standards. This should be down around 60 - 80 ppm. Calcium Hardness may not factor too much into this as you have a vinyl liner pool, but you should still maintain balanced water conditions (according to the saturation index).

The smell may be resulting from the FC at 14 ppm having some bleaching effects on clothing or your liner...just a guess.

Dilution is the solution to getting the cya, ta, and FC levels down quickly...and would be my first step.

FWIW, I have a Pool Pilot on my pool, without any of the smells you're describing. I do maintain about 75 ppm cya, at 2 ppm. TA is frequently below 100 ppm, and Calcium hardness is around 350 ppm. pH kept at 7.4

[desherer]

Sean,

Thanks for your input. I will dilute and see what happens. I have always had problems getting my TA down. Do you know of any tricks.

Thanks,

Devon

[Watermom]

Info about lowering alk:

http://www.poolsolutions.com/gd/lowe...p-by-step.html

[CarlD]

Almost sounds like you are smelling brine, like at the ocean. I find brine kind of musty smelling, but at the ocean you don't think about it...It's the BEACH!!!!
Is the salt level at the high end for your SWCG?

Carl

[AnnaK]

Well yah, especially in NJ where the "beach" can smell like just about anything

[Watermom]

Well yah, especially in NJ where the "beach" can smell like just about anything

WOW! That sure sounds appealing! Anna, I'm guessing you don't work at the department of tourism for NJ!

[AnnaK]

No ma'm, I don't, but I have written them a letter or two about the interesting variety of items and their associated aromas found on NJ beaches. Because this is a polite and civilized family-oriented forum I won't enumerate. A musty smell is the very least of it.

[CarlD]

Well yah, especially in NJ where the "beach" can smell like just about anything

All those comedians out of work and you're cracking wise? No wonder the state troopers WATCH for PA plates!

Actually, from TV you'd think our beaches were infested with Snooki, whatever that is, and the rest of the state with The Sopranos.

The South shore beaches, near Delaware are much nicer than the Northern ones. However, I haven't been the JERSEY shore in years. In fact, I haven't been on an Atlantic beach north of Florida in years--and the beaches down there smell of brine, too.

Carl

[waterbear]

Actually, from TV you'd think our beaches were infested with Snooki, whatever that is, and the rest of the state with The Sopranos.


Carl

Nah, the Sopranos are just in Short Hills! (Glad that is no longer part of my hometown Millburn!)