+ Reply to Thread
Results 1 to 10 of 22

Thread: Cloudy water is it my filter?

Hybrid View

  1. #1
    PoolDoc's Avatar
    PoolDoc is offline Administrator Quark Inspector PoolDoc 5 stars PoolDoc 5 stars PoolDoc 5 stars PoolDoc 5 stars PoolDoc 5 stars PoolDoc 5 stars PoolDoc 5 stars
    Join Date
    Jan 2005
    Location
    Georgia
    Posts
    11,386

    Default Re: Cloudy water is it my filter?

    Just thought of 2 other things:

    1. With borates = 30 ppm, you might want to go ahead and add the additional borax and acid to reach the 60 ppm level that is helpful in preventing algae. This is especially worthwhile if you're planning to go on vacation and leave the pool untended. On your pool, 12 boxes of borax (72 oz) and 4 gallons of 21 degree 31% muriatic acid should do it. If you do this, read the muriatic acid page, http://pool9.net/ma/ and add the 4th gallon slowly, testing in between additions. Given your stains, you probably want to add acid first -- directly to the pool -- followed immediately by borax added directly to the skimmers. (Do NOT choke the skimmer pipe -- borax can 'freeze' into a solid lump that will take forever to dissolve!) High pH can drop metals out, as stains.

    2. If you want to just remove the stains and see if they stay gone, you can try that. Do the Vitamin C test. If that removes the stain, do all the following:
    1. add polyquat algaecide http://pool9.net/polyquat/
    2. let your chlorine level drop below 1 ppm
    3. dump ascorbic acid on the stains (http://pool9.net/ascorbic/)
    4. add HEDP (to keep the metal in the water)* [/B]
    5. do your borax treatment at this time (optional)
    6. re-chlorinate

    The polyquat keeps your pool from turning green as the chlorine drops. The HEDP keeps the metal in the water (temporarily -- it gradually breaks down!) once you re-chlorinate. Doing it in this order will prevent new staining from the pH spike if you add borax.

    If you'd like a relatively trouble-free, but not completely effective way to actually remove the metals from your water, you can use the CuLator packs. Contrary to the maker's literature, these are NOT 'worn out' after a month. The remain good until they are all gummed up from pool goo OR heavily colored from absorbing metals. You can put one in each skimmer, and hang them in front of the returns. If you put them in the skimmer, use a skimmer sock to prevent 'pool goo' from ruining them. -- They work but VERY slowly -- Using 6 at once, for 6 months, is better than using 1 at at a time, replacing them every month for 6 months.
    http://pool9.net/culator/
    http://pool9.net/skim-sock/


    * HEDP is not sold directly under that name. "Jacks Magic Pink Stuff" is the highest concentration HEDP we've able to find, that is usually available. Amazon doesn't sell it directly, but usually there are 1 or 2 3rd party sellers on Amazon who do sell it.

  2. #2
    Join Date
    May 2014
    Location
    Ontario, Canada
    Posts
    18

    Default Re: Cloudy water is it my filter?

    The stains are only dirt stain from last year as I lost the pool at the end of the season.
    Im rubbing a chloring puck on it and brush and it helps to remove it.

    As for the copper level, its my fault as I use some copper sulphate earlier this season. I always used some the last 3-4 years to control algua before I read on it that its not very good to use. I have plenty here at the feedmill and its cheap. I have stop using it and the copper level will go down in time when I remove some water this fall to close the pool.

    I have zero stains from the copper or metal. No green hair neither.
    Water is crystal clear and my CHL level is more like 5 ppm when I test it with my k2006 tester. I think the pool store does not test higher than 3.

    Liner as a rough texture now, before it was more slippery??
    20x40 IG liner pool, Pentair 1.5 hp pump, 30" Ranger sand filter.
    Taylor K-2006 kit, Dolphin M4 Supreme cleaner.

  3. #3
    PoolDoc's Avatar
    PoolDoc is offline Administrator Quark Inspector PoolDoc 5 stars PoolDoc 5 stars PoolDoc 5 stars PoolDoc 5 stars PoolDoc 5 stars PoolDoc 5 stars PoolDoc 5 stars
    Join Date
    Jan 2005
    Location
    Georgia
    Posts
    11,386

    Default Re: Cloudy water is it my filter?

    + The most common cause I've seen for a rough liner is what I've called "sand algae". Under certain conditions, some forms of algae and slime will either secrete tiny calcium domes that adhere to the pool surfaces. You can see some extreme examples here: http://pool9.net/algae-sand/

    + Do NOT rub a trichlor puck on your liner; they are VERY acidic, and low pH will do serious damage to a liner. If you have stains that respond to high chlorine, dose your pool with bleach at night, and let the stains gradually disappear.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    May 2014
    Location
    Ontario, Canada
    Posts
    18

    Default Re: Cloudy water is it my filter?

    No slime but just a rough texture.
    20x40 IG liner pool, Pentair 1.5 hp pump, 30" Ranger sand filter.
    Taylor K-2006 kit, Dolphin M4 Supreme cleaner.

  5. #5
    PoolDoc's Avatar
    PoolDoc is offline Administrator Quark Inspector PoolDoc 5 stars PoolDoc 5 stars PoolDoc 5 stars PoolDoc 5 stars PoolDoc 5 stars PoolDoc 5 stars PoolDoc 5 stars
    Join Date
    Jan 2005
    Location
    Georgia
    Posts
    11,386

    Default Re: Cloudy water is it my filter?

    Look at the pictures of the white or sand colored bumps -- those are the end point residue left after the algae is gone.

  6. #6
    Join Date
    May 2014
    Location
    Ontario, Canada
    Posts
    18

    Default Re: Cloudy water is it my filter?

    My k2006 test this am,
    FC 2.5
    CC 0
    PH 7.2
    TA 90
    CH 90

    I added more chlorine and 1 box of borax.
    Water is crystal clear.
    20x40 IG liner pool, Pentair 1.5 hp pump, 30" Ranger sand filter.
    Taylor K-2006 kit, Dolphin M4 Supreme cleaner.

  7. #7
    PoolDoc's Avatar
    PoolDoc is offline Administrator Quark Inspector PoolDoc 5 stars PoolDoc 5 stars PoolDoc 5 stars PoolDoc 5 stars PoolDoc 5 stars PoolDoc 5 stars PoolDoc 5 stars
    Join Date
    Jan 2005
    Location
    Georgia
    Posts
    11,386

    Default Re: Cloudy water is it my filter?

    Looking good.

    But if the roughness on your liner is calcium scale it would be better to keep your pH near 7.0, till the roughness is gone.

+ Reply to Thread

Similar Threads

  1. Clogged filter, cloudy water.
    By timo14 in forum Pool Chemicals & Pool Water Problems
    Replies: 1
    Last Post: 05-20-2013, 11:41 PM
  2. cloudy water with a new sand filter
    By franky2011 in forum Pool Chemicals & Pool Water Problems
    Replies: 2
    Last Post: 08-02-2011, 02:57 PM
  3. DE filter/cloudy water
    By dsimpson in forum Pool Equipment & Operations
    Replies: 1
    Last Post: 05-17-2011, 07:56 PM
  4. Cloudy water & filter on-off time
    By RobDHW in forum Pool Chemicals & Pool Water Problems
    Replies: 6
    Last Post: 08-10-2010, 12:34 AM
  5. Cloudy water- Cartridge Filter
    By johnnyf0614 in forum Using Chlorine and Chlorinating Chemicals
    Replies: 29
    Last Post: 06-11-2009, 09:47 PM

Tags for this Thread

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts