Brown gunk on the bottom of pool

[rox29160]

I just didn't have any of this "brown gunk" on the bottom for about the first two months the pool was open. Then after reading on here, I started maintaining slightly higher FC levels. When I raised the FC, it was almost overnight that the gunk appeared. I had never had algae that I know of so I don't think it is algae. The water has always been sparkling clear, but the brown dusty stuff on the bottom makes the pool look nasty. Vaccuming just seems to stir it up. The pool looks spotless after vacuuming b/c you can't see the brown stuff (it mixes back in with the water) I have no way to vacuum to waste since I have a venturi type vacuum with a debris bag. It goes right through the debris bag. My filter does catch some of it before it settles back out, but no where near all of it. It will start settling again within a day. Maybe you are correct that it is just normal "stuff", it just seems odd that it seems to increase with FC levels. It sounds as though I may just have to vacuum every day to keep it stirred up. Thanks for your help Anna.

[AnnaK]

Maybe you are correct that it is just normal "stuff", it just seems odd that it seems to increase with FC levels. It sounds as though I may just have to vacuum every day to keep it stirred up. Thanks for your help Anna.

Each pool is unique and who knows why that brown stuff invades. You've reported clear and sparkling water and no CCs to speak of. Your pH is a smidge low but that's personal preference. It's 'in range' at any rate.

I know those patches of brown are unsightly and it is frustrating that they come back after vacuuming and/or brushing. In my pool, it only happens during late July/early August. When it's just us here at home, I toss the dogs in to stir things up. When we expect company I might vacuum to make it all look pretty but, more then likely, I'll just let the dogs swim for a while and scoop out the fur before the guests arrive.

Does the bottom of the pool feel squeaky clean? Not slimy? That's one of my hallmarks: a slimy feeling bottom heralds biological invaders and I might dump some extra chlorine in, regardless of what the test says. If the bottom feels clean then I'm going with Occam's Razor: sometimes, a kiss is just a kiss . . . and brown gunk is just part of the pool's life.

[rox29160]

Dave: Thanks, I had actually read somthing similar to that before about using batting and tube socks. I haven't actually tried it yet. I haven't figured out in my mind how to attach it to my vacuum so it works effieciently yet so I haven't tried it yet. I might just tie it on tonight and give it a go and see what it does.

Anna: Every thing has always felt squeaky clean. Mine did show up in late July so maybe it was a coincidence that it was right after I raised my FC levels.

[rox29160]

I made and improvised filter out of four old socks to use in combination with my venturi vacuum and debris bag. I simply put the socks, one inside the other, and tied them around the outside of the debris bag. I vacuumed all the brown stuff up a week ago and it still has not returned. (Previously, it had been coming right back after vacuuming. Most of the time within 12 hours.) The sock on the inside, the first filter if you will, was almost completely brown after vacuuming. The socks got cleaner and cleaner as you worked your way out.

I have added 3 cups of Borax so far and let it mix in for a couple of days each time. It has changed my ph from 7.2 to maybe 7.3. I added another cup or so over the weekend and plan on checking it tonight to see where my ph is now. It seems like I am having to add an awful lot. The Pool Calculator said I only needed like 11 fl oz to raise it to 7.5. I am now at around 16 fl oz. Twelve ounces hardly made it change at all. Maybe I did something wrong on the calculator. Anybody know how much I should have to add?

[BigDave]

Did you get alot of rain while you were trying to raise the pH? Irene maybe? My pH went from 7.5 to 7.2 in Sunday's storm. If it was the storm, yout TA probably dropped too, not that you should adjust it, just what acid does to a pool.

[rox29160]

I didn't get hardly any rain from Irene, but I got about 1-1/2" Monday after she was long gone, which will probably make my PH and TA worse. I had checked the PH before Irene was supposed to hit just to beat the storm. I've been dissolving the Borax in a bucket of water and then dumping it in the pool, so I don't think it is settling to the bottom or anything.

[Watermom]

You don't need to pre-dissolve the Borax. Just pour it slowly into the skimmer breaking up any clumps.