Cloudy water after shocking pool

[mpapworth]

I shocked my pool last evening and the water immediately became cloudy, like it was a chemical reaction.
A similar thing happened when I opened the pool a week ago, although it was not as noticeable. In both cases, the water was crystal clear before shocking it.
In over 20 years, I've never seen this before.
Any ideas?
Thanks,
Joe

 

[PoolStored]

Welcome to TFP from a fellow Ohioan!!!

Can you post a picture of the product that you used? Or, at least the complete brand and name?

A couple resources that can help...

Pool Care Basics Archives

Your one-stop shop for all things TFP to include: ABCs of Water Chemistry, Recommended Chemicals/Levels, Test Kits, Troubleshooting, and much more!

www.troublefreepool.com

Recommended Pool Chemicals

Which should I buy? TFP's recommended pool chemicals are cheap, easy, and won't unbalance your pool water.

www.troublefreepool.com

Non-Recommended Pool Chemicals

These pool chemicals should not be added to your pool. Save your money and frustration and avoid these chemicals!

www.troublefreepool.com

 

[mpapworth]

Hope you can read the label.
Thanks,
Joe

 

[PoolStored]

What is your TA and pH?

Cloudiness is from scaling that is typical with cal hypo because it can strongly raise pH. It may be that your TA is too high.

You may need to lower TA and pH to use cal-hypo and I would suggest pre-dilution in a 5 gallon bucket and then broadcasting it around the pool perimeter or pouring in front of a fast moving return.

It is a common problem with cal hypo to have water cloudiness for 24 hours after application.

 

[mpapworth]

What is your TA and pH?

Cloudiness is from scaling that is typical with cal hypo because it can strongly raise pH. It may be that your TA is too high.

You may need to lower TA and pH to use cal-hypo and I would suggest pre-dilution in a 5 gallon bucket and then broadcasting it around the pool perimeter or pouring in front of a fast moving return.

It is a common problem with cal hypo to have water cloudiness for 24 hours after application.

Thanks. I bought the In The Swim shock last summer. I wasn't impressed with it, mostly because it was hard to keep the chlorine level up. I didn't have a cloudiness problem.
I should mention that I have a PoolRX device in the pump basket. I've been using them for several years.
I'll double-check my levels as you suggested.
Thanks

 

[PoolStored]

I should mention that I have a PoolRX device in the pump basket. I've been using them for several years.

If you lookup the MSDS for PoolRx you would find it contains 35%-50% Copper Sulfate. Copper can stain the pool. Sulfates accumulate in the water and can can cause damage:

• Sulfates can damage concrete & plaster
• Excess sulfates in water increases the likelihood of corrosion on metal parts
• Excess sulfates in splash out water leads to degradation of any concrete surfaces
• Sulfates degrade the coatings on SWG plates
• At high enough concentrations, sulfates can react with calcium to form spindly, needle-like crystals of calcium sulfate (gypsum)
• While sulfates in vinyl pools is typically not as problematic as in plaster pools, scaling of gypsum crystals can increase the risk of liner puncture.

I'd remove the Pool RX.

I'd read through these:

Recommended Pool Chemicals

Which should I buy? TFP's recommended pool chemicals are cheap, easy, and won't unbalance your pool water.

www.troublefreepool.com

Non-Recommended Pool Chemicals

These pool chemicals should not be added to your pool. Save your money and frustration and avoid these chemicals!

www.troublefreepool.com

 

[mpapworth]

If you lookup the MSDS for PoolRx you would find it contains 35%-50% Copper Sulfate. Copper can stain the pool. Sulfates accumulate in the water and can can cause damage:

• Sulfates can damage concrete & plaster
• Excess sulfates in water increases the likelihood of corrosion on metal parts
• Excess sulfates in splash out water leads to degradation of any concrete surfaces
• Sulfates degrade the coatings on SWG plates
• At high enough concentrations, sulfates can react with calcium to form spindly, needle-like crystals of calcium sulfate (gypsum)
• While sulfates in vinyl pools is typically not as problematic as in plaster pools, scaling of gypsum crystals can increase the risk of liner puncture.

I'd remove the Pool RX.

I'd read through these:

Recommended Pool Chemicals

Which should I buy? TFP's recommended pool chemicals are cheap, easy, and won't unbalance your pool water.

www.troublefreepool.com

Non-Recommended Pool Chemicals

These pool chemicals should not be added to your pool. Save your money and frustration and avoid these chemicals!

www.troublefreepool.com

I read through the Not recommended chems earlier and saw the Nature2 mentioned. Knowing that a Nature2 and a PoolRX operate in a similar manner is what prompted me to mention the PoolRX.
Since I haven't seen any problems with the PoolRX, at this point, I'm hesitant to remove it.
Thanks, Joe

 

[JJ_Tex]

I read through the Not recommended chems earlier and saw the Nature2 mentioned. Knowing that a Nature2 and a PoolRX operate in a similar manner is what prompted me to mention the PoolRX.
Since I haven't seen any problems with the PoolRX, at this point, I'm hesitant to remove it.
Thanks, Joe

Copper isnt a problem, until it is. Check out this post for a few weeks ago with some serious copper stains on a 2 year old pool.

Two-Year-Old Pool Major Discoloration and Bleaching

Hi, Everyone! New to the forum and to pools in general. Closed on a house with my first pool! Yay! Although it's only two years old it has major discoloration (light and dark spots). General home inspector thought it was algae but the water is so clear. Here is what the prior owners...

www.troublefreepool.com

 

[PoolStored]

Since I haven't seen any problems with the PoolRX, at this point, I'm hesitant to remove it.

All the more reason to remove it...before it causes damage...

Google search results

www.troublefreepool.com

 

[mpapworth]

The chlorine level was high. Yesterday it showed "None". That corresponds with what you said earlier. We have bright sunshine today so it should dissipate some.
The TA and pH were low so I added about 3 lbs of baking soda.
The bad news is that the filter's back pressure won't stay down. I'm guessing that's from filtering whatever clouded the water.
I'll probably have to dump the DE powder but I'll wait until more of the cloudiness is filtered out.

Joe

 

[PoolStored]

My guess is that you have some algae.

I’d run this test tonight…Link—>
Overnight Chlorine Loss Test

 

[mpapworth]

My guess is that you have some algae.

I’d run this test tonight…Link—>
Overnight Chlorine Loss Test

Thanks.
Let me review the history to see if it causes you any second thoughts:
1) Yesterday, the water was crystal clear but the FC level was very low.
2) I put 2 lbs of granular shock in last evening. The water immediately turned cloudy. I ran the pump all night. Sometime overnight, the back pressure built up to the point that the flow from the return outlet was very slow. The water was still cloudy but not as bad.
3) I bumped the filter which lowered the back pressure but it has been creeping back up slowly.
4) This morning, the FC was very high. TA and pH were low. I added baking soda and I'll check it again later this afternoon.
Regarding the presence of algae, I put an opening dose of algaecide in last week when I opened the pool, plus the water has been very cold which I think should retard algae growth.
I'll let the pump run again tonight and check it out tomorrow.
Thanks,
Joe

 

[mpapworth]

Thanks.
Let me review the history to see if it causes you any second thoughts:
1) Yesterday, the water was crystal clear but the FC level was very low.
2) I put 2 lbs of granular shock in last evening. The water immediately turned cloudy. I ran the pump all night. Sometime overnight, the back pressure built up to the point that the flow from the return outlet was very slow. The water was still cloudy but not as bad.
3) I bumped the filter which lowered the back pressure but it has been creeping back up slowly.
4) This morning, the FC was very high. TA and pH were low. I added baking soda and I'll check it again later this afternoon.
Regarding the presence of algae, I put an opening dose of algaecide in last week when I opened the pool, plus the water has been very cold which I think should retard algae growth.
I'll let the pump run again tonight and check it out tomorrow.
Thanks,
Joe

PS If I don't make progress, I'll look at the OCLT test.

 

[an1vrsy]

Welcome to TFP! I may have missed it, how are you testing your pool water chemistry? How do you normally chlorinate, tablets or liquid chlorine/bleach?

 

[JJ_Tex]

4) This morning, the FC was very high. TA and pH were low. I added baking soda and I'll check it again later this afternoon.
Regarding the presence of algae, I put an opening dose of algaecide in last week when I opened the pool, plus the water has been very cold which I think should retard algae growth.

Can you tell us exactly what your "very high" FC was, and how you tested that number?

Do you know your CYA/stabilizer number?

Please hold off on adding any more algaecide. Chlorine kills algae, without many of the side effects of algaecide.

 

[mpapworth]

Can you tell us exactly what your "very high" FC was, and how you tested that number?

Do you know your CYA/stabilizer number?

Please hold off on adding any more algaecide. Chlorine kills algae, without many of the side effects of algaecide.

Man, I feel dumb. I think the cloudiness was excessive pollen in the water. When I went to check levels this evening, there was a yellow ring all around the liner, right at the water level.
I had erroneously assumed the cloudiness was the result of shocking the pool. I forgot I had removed the solar cover just prior to that. There was water and pollen on the cover and I must have let some of it run into the pool.
Thanks guys for weighing in. Apparently I led you on a wild goose chase. Sorry.

Later, Joe

 

[PoolStored]

I shocked my pool last evening and the water immediately became cloudy, like it was a chemical reaction.

I think the cloudiness was excessive pollen in the water.

Pollen does not lead to water becoming cloudy when shocking the pool. Insight and advice stands...

 

[mpapworth]

Pollen does not lead to water becoming cloudy when shocking the pool. Insight and advice stands...

I don't think shocking it had anything to do with it. It was just coincidental timing.
Once the stuff is filtered out, (It's almost there now), I'll dump the powder and go from there.
I'll know in a day or two.

Thanks, Joe