Cloudy Water

[Tillysaint]

I went away for 4 days and came back to a very cloudy pool. I've used the BBB method for years with success. When I left, the pool was perfect. I put in a couple of 3" stablized tablets & algae control to handle the chorine needs, etc.

The only time this pool looked white cloudy like this (several years ago) is when the pool water temperature was over 90 degrees. It apparently was the Calcium.

We did have about an inch of rain while I was away and the skimmer was full of leaves. The chlorine test yielded zero! I attempted to bring it up with 2 gallans of bleach without success. Added another 2 gallons before bedtime and the chlorine test is about zero this morning. The other readings are: PH= 7.5, TA=110, Calcium Hardness 180, CYA=40. I'm going to have the pool water also tested later today at the local pool store.

Thanks for the help.

[mbar]

It sounds like you are battling an algae bloom. It wasn't there long enough to turn the water green, and you got enough chlorine in there to stop it from getting worse. However, the fact that the chlorine is not holding means that it is getting used up fighting something. I suggest you take the chlorine level up to shock, and hold it there until it holds overnight, testing the water as often as possible to bring it back up to shock. The more consistent you are, the faster the water will clear.

[Tillysaint]

Thanks for the advice!

The pool company verified my readings. The pool cleared in 36+ hours after I used 13 gallons of bleach, cleaned the bottom of pool, and thoroughly cleaned the DE filter. It's a 22 gal inground vinyl pool, temp about 85.

It amazes me that while I was only gone just 4 days that the pool got very cloudy to the extent you couldn't see the bottom. I checked the levels before I left, adjusted chlorine to 3+, added algaecide, cleaned the pool, and put in 3" tabs in the chlorinator that I only use when I'm away.

Apparently, we had an inch of rain during the evening of second day I was away and enough strong winds that caused leaves to clog the skimmer. The skimmer was still functioning but the water flow was restricted and the DE filter pressure gauge reading had doubled. When I cleaned the filter, I noticed that the DE was "caked" hard to the filter material & required triple the amount of time to clean.

I provided this info just to inform you folks that even though you're very meticulous in maintaining your pool that a "small" event in a relatively "short" timeframe can cause a "major" problem. Of course, someone could debate the use of the words "small," "short," & "major!"

Assuming the leaves were the catalyst for my woes, I'm now looking for one of those gizmo's that prevent leaves from entering the skimmer!