Buildup on top of water, and CYA issue

[joshl]

Two-part question as I'm trying to get rid of my cloudiness. First, what is the gunk in the photos? It's been continuing to form over the last week or so. My pool is not near any trees, flowers etc. It's mainly white, with some dirty brown color when it's clumped together.

Also, I'm working through the SLAM process. I added 4 lb of chlorine stabilizer (twice the recommended amount for my smaller pool) yet my CYA level is still at zero. Is that normal to possibly need more? Other levels are fine, in fact my free chlorine level is a bit high at 20. I don't have one of the recommended test kits, but I did try two different brands of test strips and both add zero readings. I've also been doing a lot of vacuuming, backwashing, etc. Any help would be appreciated! Thanks!

 

[PoolStored]

You cannot successfully and safely perform the SLAM process without a recommended test kit. You are just looking for trouble, and you got it. I'm sorry for that!

You should order a recommended kit today. Add 3ppm of liquid chlorine per day until the test kit arrives. Nothing else.

Kits recommended...Link-->Test Kits Compared

When you get the kit, follow the SLAM process and it will clear the pool. Link-->SLAM Process

 

[Donldson]

but I did try two different brands of test strips and both add zero readings.

If your FC is high it could be bleaching out the CYA reading. Or they could just be junk as we've seen CYA readings on tap water which is always CYA-free. Frankly without good testing it's all just guesses, which is what you are working off of.

We can't diagnose something without good data to work off of, and you can't perform the SLAM Process without good data to work off of. Once you have the ability to get that good data, we can move forward with all of that.