Not crystal clear.. I want it crystal clear.

[chuck9997]

24ft above ground pool

I have pretty much always had a clean, clear pool (last 5 or 6 years). Have always used BBB method. Over winter it gets a bit yucky.. but 2 or 3 days of start up procedure.. and all is well. Not this year.

A couple of weeks ago I raised to shock level and held for a few days.. water turned from dark green to a nice clean looking blueish (normal looking) color. But the water never actually became "clear". I would describe it as clean... but slightly "milky".. I have been in the pool a few times and I am sure its clean.. but I want it to sparkle. I have scrubbed floors and wall.. been filtering water 24/7 for several days.. No change in "milky" appearance. I can see the bottom... but just barely. I can see my hand clearly about 2 feet down (or so).

today:
FC - 6
CC - 0
pH - 7.5
Alk - 90
CYA - 50ppm
temp - 81

testing with drops (T-100 kit)

I have some DE in the pool shed.. but haven't added any. Thinking maybe adding some would filter out tiny particles.. just me guessing.

Any opinions?

[Watermom]

Sure -- try the DE. See what that does for you. You might also try some skimmer socks inside the skimmer to see if that will also grab some of the tiny stuff.

Glad to see you back around the forum this year. BTW --- I like your signature line. I'm with you -- buy both. You only live once!

[chuck9997]

I will put in a little DE right now.

Oh.. and I did buy both. LOL

[Watermom]

Go REALLY slow adding the DE to the skimmer. You only want a 1 psi increase in filter pressure. Sometimes it doesn't register immediately and then you add more and then it turns out to be too much. That is what happened to me the first time I added DE to my sand filter. If that happens, no big deal. Just backwash and try again. Hope it makes a difference in the water clarity for you.

[aylad]

If the DE doesn't do the trick, please post numbers for calcium--and did you by chance use cal-hypo to shock?

Janet

[chuck9997]

I will re-post if the DE doesn't work.. No shock.. just high doses of bleach. Not sure what cal-hypo is. I have used a few of the chlorine pucks from time to time.. very sparingly.

[Watermom]

Cal-hypo is a granular form of chlorine. Is it infamous for clouding water.

Also, don't forget --- try some skimmer socks. They might help catch the really fine stuff.

[chuck9997]

ok.. never used cal-hypo. It seems like th epool is getting a little clearer a few hours after adding the DE to the filter. I should know more tomorrow morning. Nobody locally has skimmer socks.. will anyhthing else work?

[CarlD]

This time of year in NJ the pollen is attrocious. My skimmer socks get a layer of what looks like yellow spackle paste everyday. Until the pollen falls off (and it's just starting to) I run my filter pump on High 24/7 and clear the sock every day. I'm now able to run it on low, but I haven't dared go to a timer schedule. I will, soon, but not quite yet.

If your FC is not holding then you need to shock the pool. If, however, it is holding, you may try adding PolyQuat which is both a preventative algaecide and a clarifier. You can add a few ounces or a full quart, but be forewarned: If you add a lot, like a quart, in 48 hours your FC will drop to 0 and you'll need to boost it again. It's not a problem so don't panic when it happens. You don't want to backwash during that time, either, or your PolyQuat will go down the sewer.

Good Luck!

[Watermom]

Maybe try cutting the foot out of a pair of old pantyhose and see if that will fit. It may be too porous, but maybe not. Won't hurt to try until you can find some skimmer socks somewhere.