Cloudy Water

[chrisandtim]

Thanks much. I can't see my signature when I am online here. When I go to settings & edit signature it looks okay, although I get an error message that signature is too long.

I may be imagining it but it looks a little clearer. It is still cloudy but I can see the bottom where I couldn't see it before. Looking forward to reading the results of the excess floc & clarifier. I did not use a lot (probably less than was recommended on the package) but yes, I used first a clarifier & then a floc so both are in there.

[PoolDoc]

We're running into a bunch of these problems this spring, and just filtering is taking forever.

I'm trying to work out a new solution, and will post more later. But, do this:

1. Add a full gallon of plain 6% bleach this evening.
2. Then, turn your pool OFF.
3. Tomorrow evening, test the water. If there is ANY sign of algae OR if the chlorine level is below 'dark yellow' (OTO) or 10 ppm (FAS-DPD) add another gallon. Do NOT turn the pump on.
4. Monday morning, take a look, and tell me what it looks like.

Meanwhile, let me know if you have a full manual vacuum system (head, pole, hose) and if you can 'vacuum to waste'.

[chrisandtim]

Sorry - just getting back here today - been busy.

So, I will do this tonight - with the only change being that I do not have 6% bleach on hand but have 12% liquid chlorine. Not sure I'll get an answer from you before I do this - but my guess is to add half a gallon of the 12%. If that's wrong, let me know.
Then I will turn off - and I assume leave off all day tomorrow.
Tomorrow evening I will test. You say to add more chlorine if it is below 10 ppm but not turn pump on.
(But I feel the pump should be on when I add the chlorine & then I will turn off? Please advise.) [ <= YES, pump on - PoolDoc; further response later ]
Will then let you know what it looks like on Wednesday.

======================================

Forgot to answer your last question - yes, I have a full manual vacuum system & I am able to vacuum to waste.

[PoolDoc]

Sounds good.

You may end up wanting some PAC (polyaluminum chloride) floc. Hopefully not, but unfortunately stocks seem to be running low. Here are the only products I've been able to ID as definitely PAC, if you want to order 'just in case', since shipping delays are likely:

GLB Pool & Spa Products 71408 1-Quart Drop n' Vac Pool Water Clarifier @ Amazon
Blue Wave Super Floc 4 x 1 qt. @ Amazon - 4 days to ship
Proteam Superfloc Clarifier (not available at Amazon)

[chrisandtim]

Reporting my results.....pool still is cloudy. Not as cloudy as when I first posted but about the same as after I started with the DE. I can see the bottom but it is not sparkling clear. I will email a photo.

Last night when I tested, the FC was a little over 10 but the CC was at .6 so I added the balance of the gallon of 12.5 liquid chlorine. Let the pool sit overnight without pump running. Here are my readings this morning:

FC. 14.2
CC: .2
PH: 7.2
TA: 120
CYA: ~35 (between the 30 and 40 mark)

CH: non existent - would not turn red. I usually do not test for this with my vinyl pool but it seems odd to me that this has gone down.

Not sure if it matters but it has been rainy the past couple of days.

I ordered the GLB product you linked to above. It is not here yet, will probably arrive in a couple of days. I can keep filtering through the DE, which seemed to help a little, but for now pump is still off until I come back later to read.

As I said, I bought a smaller pump but won't be able to install that for a couple of weeks as my husband is out of town on business and I can't do it alone. I suppose I could add in a valve between pump and filter...but would need to go to pool store to get those items.

[PoolDoc]

I don't think I spelled this out before, but I will now:

+ If the algae & debris doesn't settle after 48 hours with pump off, turn the pump back on -- it's not going to work that way.
+ Do NOT use the PAC (GLB product) until you are (a) able to throttle the flow OR (b) have a way (valve?) to throttle flow now. Do NOT push the PAC floc through the filter; that will make things worse.
+ If and when you have no more green ANYWHERE in the pool, you can let your chlorine levels drop to those matching your CYA level -- see the Best Guess chart in my signature for details.

[chrisandtim]

Okay -

Will turn pump back on and continue on with DE in the filter.
Will let FC go back down to normal level as there is no green anywhere in pool.

As for PAC, can I use it when I have my lower HP pump going and running on low or do I also need an additional way to slow down flow? Here is my new pump info: Pentair Optiflow 1 HP two-speed, model number 340071