Cloudy water and foam on surface after adding bleach. Just opening pool for season

[PoolSchoolMN]

My very first year with a pool. Sand filter. 26,xxx gallons. Pool was very green when we took cover off. Since then I bought a Taylor test kit to get dialed in. Initially, before the kit arrived I dumped 8 gallons of liquid chlorine shock which made the pool turn to a cloudy blue. Very low visibility. Sand filter running 24/7. Brushed the side and bottom. Ran the Polaris pool cleaner lots. Vacuumed the bottom. I would say there is no debris in the pool now.

After testing I initially found my CYA to be really high at 180. I partial drained and refilled with city water and found a new CYA of 100.


I am trying to achieve the SLAM process so I Started with 5 gallons of liquid bleach. Then 8 gallons the next day. Now I have a WHITE FOAM covering my pool surface. I checked the sand filter with DE and there were no leaks and I haven't found any leaks elsewhere so far.
My test results after that:
FC 15ppm
CC 1.0
PH 7.9
Alk 275
CH 250
CYA 60.
Yes 60 somehow with no rain or new water. Maybe the fresh water wasn't completely mixed when I tested at 100?

I read some more on here and decided I needed to use Muriatic acid because the high Alkilinity may be causing the foam. I put in 1 gallon last night after work at 9pm.

todays readings at 4:45 AM:
FC 10.8
CC 0.8
PH 7.4
Alk 230
CYA 60

Still the white foam on the entire surface and the water is cloudy blue. I'm at work today but had my wife put in another 2 gallons of bleach around noon today to keep the chlorine up. I hope I've given enough chance for chemicals to mix here. My son got 8 more gallons of chlorine and 4 gallons of Muriotic acid. I would love some advice on how to approach this from here. thank you

 

[AimeeH]

Hello and welcome to TFP

You want to make sure you're following this process Pool School - SLAM - Shock Level And Maintain

Which it sounds like you are. Don't trust the PH test when FC is above 10 which makes TA adjustments iffy with high FC.

My first instinct when you said foam is scented or splash less bleach and not plain unscented bleach. Could that have happened? I've made that mistake on accident myself.

 

[PoolSchoolMN]

Hello and welcome to TFP

You want to make sure you're following this process Pool School - SLAM - Shock Level And Maintain

Which it sounds like you are. Don't trust the PH test when FC is above 10 which makes TA adjustments iffy with high FC.

My first instinct when you said foam is scented or splash less bleach and not plain unscented bleach. Could that have happened? I've made that mistake on accident myself.

I did buy 2 different types of bleaches and after looking the one kind is splash less. I didn't realize that would do it. That's good news then. The foam should go away sooner than later.

I will follow the slam process and stick with the unscented bleach and hopefully I'll have clear water soon. Thank you for the reply.

 

[AimeeH]

I have a SWG so only use bleach when I need to SLAM. I knew not to use anything but plain bleach but bought scented on accident. Didn't even realize it until I saw the foam.

Walmart sells a 10% pool chlorine too which may be more economical depending on your bleach prices.

 

[PoolSchoolMN]

I wanted to post an update today. I followed the advice I got from here and kept up with the SLAM method. My FC level is right around 24ppm which seems right on. Still plenty of foam which should dissipate soon I hope. The water looked more clear this morning before I left. I think science class is almost over and it's time for a swim break. �� I've been back washing the filter daily and brushing the sides. Once the SLAM is over I will work on the Alkilinity levels.

Now, who wants to help me install a new pump on the hot tub that just went out? ��