I'm a Rookie with a Cloudy Pool...

[BogeyGolfer]

......after I killed off a bunch of mustard algae. I have a 32,000 gallon in-ground vinyl pool. This is my fourth summer with the pool and until now I have never any problems despite my gross ignorance of pool maintenance. I have a SWG (Aqua Rite) that has been great. I went on vacation a few weeks ago and returned to a cloudy, yellow mess. A neighbor helped me diagnose mustard algae. I poured in the "shock" treatment....no help. I started doing some research and this site has helped tremendously. I have ordered Ben's test kit, but right now I am relying on pool store readings with a test strip. I eventually used "Algecide Plus" from Wally World (aka Walmart). This killed the algae, but the pool water is still cloudy, somewhat milky. Any ideas? My readings today are:

CYA 40
TC 3.4
FC 3.4
pH 7.6
TA 130
TDS (salt?) 1200

It has been two weeks since I killed the algae and the pool seems to be a little clearer. Do ineed to have some POP? Thanks.

BogeyGolfer

[duraleigh]

What are you chlorinating with now? I believe a TDS result normally includes salt......If so, yours is w-a-a-a-y too low. Let us know if you have enough salt in the pool.

[BogeyGolfer]

You may be right about the salt. My LED starting showing "Low Salt." I added a bag today. I also backwashed the sand filter and the waste water looked like skim milk. How long does it take for Ben's kit to come in? I will retest the water later today.

[BogeyGolfer]

The water seems to be clearing up. Except for adding salt, I haven't done anything to the water. What do you think is causing it to improve? Pool Owner Patience?

[BogeyGolfer]

Yesterday my copper reading came back high at 0.3. I used something called "COP OUT". The next day my water was dramatically clearer.

Was this a coincidence, or can high copper cause cloudiness?