Cloudy Pool Water (First Post)

[Papa_Jim]

I have a 27,000 gallon plaster pool and the stabilizer level was 100 and water was dull/hazy looking. Decided to drain 1/2 of water and replace in order to lower the stabilizer level. Water source was from a lake. After filling, the water was, of course, green looking so shocked with 6 gallons of 10% liquid Chlorine. In the morning the water was a much lighter green and two days later the water was crystal clear. It looked great. The stabilizer was now 50. About a week later, the water started looking dull/hazy again. Checked the water and found the PH at 7.8, TA=130, Hardness=250, Free Chlorine=2 (a little low), Combined Chlorine=0, Stabilizer=50. Added 3 gallon of liquid (10% Chlorine) right away to to shock in case the hazy/dull look was due to start of algae. Decided to lower the PH using liquid acid. Added 16 oz and checked level about 5 hours later. PH was 7.6 and Total Alkalinity was 120. Added 8 more oz. and checked next day; PH was now 7.4 and Total Alkalinity=110. Chlorine was above 10 PPM. Water was still dull/hazy looking. Let DE filter run for about two more days but water wasn't looking any better or worse. The water level had become low so filled with well water which I have used in the past without problems). Came out in the morning and water was now very cloudy (not green, just cloudy and can't see bottom in 8.5 ft deep end). Chlorine had dropped from 7 PPM to 1 PPM overnight. Ph=7.2, TA=110, Hardness=250, CYA=50. It appears that adding the well water really exasperated the hazy/dull looking water and my Chlorine level dropped a lot overnight (i.e., 7 down to 1 PPM). I just added 5 gallons of 10% liquid Chlorine and the DE filter is running fine. I don't see any DE sitting on the bottom of the pool like when I've had an issue with a damaged filter grid before. Looking for some guidance on what I might do to clear up the cloudy water now (is the cloudy water (not green) some type of algae or has something precipitated out of the water to make it cloudy. Thank you.

[Watermom]

If you are losing 6ppm of chlorine overnight, then your chlorine loss is from fighting something in the water. Continue to keep the chlorine at shock level until you can go from sundown one evening to within an hour of sunrise the next morning without losing more than 1ppm of chlorine.

What test kit are you using, by the way? (Test strips don't count. We call them 'guess strips.')

Welcome to the Pool Forum!

[Papa_Jim]

Thank for the reply. I am using a Taylor k-2005 test kit. I thought the same about there being something in the water that is costuming the chlorine. I always thought algae would look green but I guess not or maybe it's something else. Per your recommendation, I kept the chlorine at shock level and this morning it looked much better. Of course a big storm just blew in with lots of leaves and tree limbs blown in the pool and now it's more cloudy again (go figure). I will have to start over now. Thank you for your help/recommendation which definitely helped.

[Watermom]

Are you sure that you don't have a K2006 kit instead of a K2005? How are you testing chlorine readings past 5ppm with a K2005 kit?

A K2005 kit cannot measure high chlorine levels. In fact, it will bleach out at high levels and appear that there is no chlorine sometimes when the chlorine might actually be very high. If that really is what you have, you can order an add on kit -- Taylor K1515, and it will give the test that your kit is missing that the K2006 that we recommend has. It allows you to read much higher chlorine levels. You probably won't be able to find it locally, but can get it through this link:> http://pool9.net/tk/

Continue to keep your chlorine high. And, run the pump 24/7 while you are working to clear the pool.

(Until your registration is completed, you won't be able to follow links or see the rest of the forum while you are logged in. So, copy that link and paste it into a browser window after you first log out.)

[Papa_Jim]

Just checked my test kit and it is a Taylor K-2005. Purchased it online. According to instructions, you can get an approximate high chlorine level by filling with pool water to only the 1.8 ml mark and then filling to the 9 mm with distilled water before adding the two sets of drops. You then multiply your reading by five. You can measure up to 25 PPM (approximate) that way. I'll look into the Taylor K1515 add-on kit. I removed all the leaves and have continued to keep the chlorine high and will keep the filter running. The water is clearing again. Also, what do I have to do to complete my registration? I thought I filled everything out but maybe I missed something. I've never used a forum before other than just reading other peoples posts. Thanks again for your help.

[Watermom]

You've done all that you need to do. Now, Ben has to do his part. It takes time for him to verify all the information (or lack there of) that people give when they join. Sometimes, it gets kind of stacked up in this 'Getting Started' section but he'll get it done. It will be worth the wait, I promise you that!

In the meantime, feel free to ask questions here if you need to. Also, do a lot of reading here on the forum and also over on our sister website www.poolsolutions.com. Lots of great info there as well.

Again, welcome and glad you found us.

(Until your registration is completed, you'll have to log out first to be able to see the rest of the forum.)

[Papa_Jim]

OK, thanks for letting me know. I'll be patient. I have been reading posts for a couple of years and have always found answers to issues I was having but this time I couldn't figure out what was going on. This forum is a great source of information. Thanks again for your help.

[Watermom]

You are welcome!