Cloudy Water!!!!

[micah]

o.k i'll do that. Yes my filter is rising and I backwash. What do you mean by cal-hypo?

[Watermom]

Cal-hypo is a form of chlorine often sold as bags of "shock." Since your CH (calcium hardness -- I think that is what you meant by CA) is 280, I assume that you have used some.

While you are battling cloudy water, you need to be maintaining your chlorine level at 15 as consistently as you can. And, you need to do so until you have clear water, you are losing no more than 1ppm of chlorine from sundown one evening until within two hours of sunrise the next day and you have a CC reading no higher than 0.5. At that time, I'd suggest keeping the chlorine high for one more day for additional insurance and then you need to make sure that you ALWAYS keep your chlorine level between 3-6 ALL the time. If you let it drop below that, you risk an algae bloom. If you haven't already done so, take a look at the Best Guess Chlorine Chart in my signature below for the connection between CYA levels and needed chlorine levels.

[micah]

sorry, ca was meant to be ch-I haven't used bags of shock. The only things I have used is liquid shock, bleach and a chlorinator but not using chlorinator now. It's clearing up a little but I will maintain FC at shock level and yes I am going by best guess guide. Also when I back flush how much water is suppose to come out? It seems very little and wondering if it's working but I am getting good pressure when it's filtering. Could there be channeling going on?

[Watermom]

Backwash whenever your filter pressure rises 8-10psi over clean filter pressure. I typically backwash for a minute and a half or two minutes. Watch the discharge water; you can tell when it is getting clearer. Then, put it on rinse for about 30 seconds before back to filter. (Always turn the pump off before turning the multiport valve.)

How long have you had your sand filter? Have you ever added any sand? Sand doesn't need to be replaced but sometimes needs to be topped off if it is getting low.

[micah]

what's the correct level of sand in the sand filter? I opened up the filter to take a look and it's over half way to the top.

[Watermom]

Check your manual. What model is it?

[micah]

Thanks I looked it up and the level is fine. Still have cloudy pool. Super shocked it Monday evening after I vacuumed to waste bottom was pretty dirty. I put in 9 bottles of shock and after about 3 hours I took a reading with the Taylor 2006 kit. Reading are FC - 19
CC - .5
TA - 170
CH - 250
PH - 7.2
CYA - 45
since then I been keeping up with the shock. This morning Still at shock level. Still seems to be no improvement. IS there something I'm doing wrong.? Filter running 24/7 back washed once which was yesterday. Is there something else I could try. Seems like there's alot of stuff floating in the water. When I vacuumed on Monday - Alot of white and brown slimey stuff in the strainer. Thanks for your help!!!!

[micah]

i checked and the level is fine. I still have cloudy water. Monday evening I vaccumed the pool to waste was pretty dirty my strainer plugged a few times but cleaned it pretty good. then I refilled and put in 9 gallons of shock tested after 4 hours and my readings were FC - 19.5 CC - .5 ta - 170 Ch - 140 ph 7.2 and cya 45. When i was cleaning the pool the strainer had white stringy and tan stringy stuff plugging the strainer more tan stuff than white. My pool looks like particles are floating in water? my filter is running 24/7 could my filter be messing up? should i try the D.E. filter test? also when I back wash very little water comes out what could be the problem there?