Milky blue water after Phos-Free

[Electralily]

Thanks Ben. Re timeline: the pool did not cloud with the addition of Phos-free. It was crystal clear when I added the product, and stayed that way for 5 days after. The Phos-free instructions are to run the filter for at least 48 filter hours without cleaning off the product and to keep the chlorine under 5 ppm, so I didn't add chlorine for several days. Then, after cleaning the cartridge filter I added my usual weekly 2 scoops of hth, and the water immediately turned opaque. It's been two-and-a-half days and the water is very slowly clearing. I can make out the bottom of the shallow end. I'm hopeful it will clear eventually without clarifiers. I don't plan to do this again, and I have ordered a Taylor kit.

[PoolDoc]

OK.

That's different. Immediate clouding after adding HTH is almost certainly calcium carbonate precipitation.

1. FIRST, make completely SURE that there is no feeder, mineral device or other chemical or treatment gadget or gizmo anywhere between the skimmer and the filter.

2. SECOND, make SURE that there is NOTHING the skimmer basket.

3. THIRD, add HTH directly to the skimmer, but in 1/4 the normal dose. Watch the pool return, to make sure there's no cloud going back into the pool from the HTH. So long as there's not, add the rest of your doses to the skimmer, 1/4 dose at a time, waiting at least 15 minutes between doses.

4. Watch the Taylor vids: http://pool9.net/tk-guide . When you get the kit, be careful to get an accurate TA and CH test result. Ignore the booklet and blue wheel.

Good luck!

[Electralily]

I just want to close the loop on this case of milky water. In the end, it was confirmed that PhosFree did NOT cause the milky water - it was the dry chlorine - HTH - causing calcium carbonate precipitation, as predicted by PoolDoc / Ben. So, I didn't add any clarifiers, I'm back to liquid chlorine, and have a crystal clear pool again. Thanks so much for sharing your expertise!

[PoolDoc]

Thanks for the follow up!