Small particles floating my pool

[Randy698]

Not sure how to add a video but here’s two pictures. Lots of small particles moving towards the skimmer end of the pool. Pool seemed cloudier than usual today. Cleaned my cartridges this morning with comb hose attachment and pressure on gauge went from 12 to 9 psi. Just checked about 12 hours later and psi is at 10.

Not very good flow into the skimmer (might be another topic for a different section) but hoping after a day or two things clear up.

Is this just normal small particles after heavy pool use or algae or something else?

 

[ajw22]

Do a Overnight Chlorine Loss Test

 

[Randy698]

Tested last night at 10:30-
FC: 4.0
CC: .2

This morning at 6:00-
FC: 4.2
CC: .2

Had the pump running for 20 minutes or more before testing in the AM so so tested again after a full 30 and FC was at 4.4. I’m usually pretty accurate with testing so not sure why the discrepancy after 10 more minutes. Made sure the SWG was not on.

Again though my psi jumped back up to 12 when yesterday at 10:00 am it was between 8-9 after cleaning the cartridges.

 

[ajw22]

How does the water look during the day without the pool li?

 

[Randy698]

It hasn’t looked as crystal clear as it usually does. We have had some bad storms here in the Philly area the last couple weeks and we had lots of people in the pool this past weekend if that makes a difference. It just seems a bit hazy but still blue. It hasn’t been a full 24 hours since I cleaned the cartridge filters so I’m hoping it clears up today or tomorrow. Just being cautious as I’m a new pool owner and have never dealt with algae.

 

[ajw22]

Looks like you need filtering and don’t have an algae problem.

How long do you run your pump for each day?

 

[ajw22]

What is your CYA?

 

[Randy698]

Based on recommendations from another thread I just increased my run time from 12 hours to 16 hours because my SWG wasn’t producing enough FC.

I still have a tough time reading the CYA test using a Taylor kit but it’s in the 50-60 range.

 

[SecoSteve]

Randy, you should be keeping your Chlorine levels higher. With a CYA of 60, you should be targeting 5-6ppm, even up to 9ppm Chlorine. Especially, after a heavy bather load, 4ppm will dip below minimum, which is 3ppm. So, you've probably been at or below minimum and didn't realize it. What % is your SWCG set to?
Pool water at night with the light on doesn't look as clear as it does during the day(at least that's my experience)

Here's the CYA/Chlorine chart

 

[Randy698]

SWG is set to 70% which produced 1.9 ppm FC a day. I used pool math to increase the run time to 16 hours at 70% which gives me 3 ppm FC per day. I was using liquid chlorine to supplement FC but hoping now I’ll produce enough with the SWG. I do sometimes use the boost mode (100%) after lots of rain/swimmers.

 

[SecoSteve]

With a Variable Speed pump(you do have a VS pump, right?), why are you not running 24/7 at a low speed? That would give you all the Chlorine you need. What speed are you running 16 hours/day?

Also, it may help if you share your Pool Math logs here.

 

[wireform]

My advice is get the FC level up to 10ppm via liquid chlorine and use the SWCG to maintain the 10. Afterwards all your problems will disappear. Trying to micro manage the FC will always get you in trouble. Get the CYA to 70ppm and just maintain it with FC of 10. You can either run the pump longer hours and or the SWCG at a higher percentage......

 

[Randy698]

Thanks for all the feedback! With the adjustment to run time I programmed yesterday I’m running my pump at 2500rpm from 6am-2pm and 1750rpm from 2pm-10pm.

Yes, it’s a Jandy Flopro VS pump. I guess I figured to not run the pump all the time to extend the life of it and save on electricity. Same with SWG to extend the life of the cell.

Still trying to get everything dialed in so I appreciate the help.

 

[wireform]

If you don't have any reason for the 2500 rpm schedule you should just run it at 1750 all the time.

 

[Randy698]

I have a rectangular pool and one skimmer in the deep end opposite the two returns. I found the higher speed helped push all the pollen towards the skimmer. I guess I could switch it to a lower speed now that the pollen season is over.

 

[SecoSteve]

Thanks for all the feedback! With the adjustment to run time I programmed yesterday I’m running my pump at 2500rpm from 6am-2pm and 1750rpm from 2pm-10pm.

Yes, it’s a Jandy Flopro VS pump. I guess I figured to not run the pump all the time to extend the life of it and save on electricity. Same with SWG to extend the life of the cell.

Still trying to get everything dialed in so I appreciate the help.

I wish I had a Variable speed pump. I found TFP after I signed my contract and the pump was already put on the pad. The builder wanted way too much to swap it out(plumber and electrician charges too).

Running 24/7 would give all the Chlorine needed and save $ on electricity. You will probably find out you can lower the % of your SWCG too. You should find the lowest rpm with a clean filter that turns on your SWCG flow switch, and add 200rpm to compensate for when the filter gets dirty.

 

[Krulligo]

I had small particles after a SLAM. Thinking very fine dead algae dust. Water was clear and blue, however not the crystal clear water I was used to. At night when I would shine a flashlight into the pool, that's when I could actually see the fine particles.

What I had to do is backwash my sand filter, which was dirty from the SLAM, and then run water through the filter for 2-3 more days while brushing every few hours during the day. I also double layered hairnets in the skimmer basket which helped to capture some of these particle.

What I think was happening was that the algae dust that got trapped the sand filter was degrading to even smaller pieces and was making it's way through the filter and being released back into the pool. So I was in a sort of equilibrium with sand capturing the find dust but also releasing as much back into the pool. After the backwash was when it finally helped clear the last bit out to get crystal clear water.

 

[wireform]

I had small particles after a SLAM. Thinking very fine dead algae dust. Water was clear and blue, however not the crystal clear water I was used to. At night when I would shine a flashlight into the pool, that's when I could actually see the fine particles.

What I had to do is backwash my sand filter, which was dirty from the SLAM, and then run water through the filter for 2-3 more days while brushing every few hours during the day. I also double layered hairnets in the skimmer basket which helped to capture some of these particle.

What I think was happening was that the algae dust that got trapped the sand filter was degrading to even smaller pieces and was making it's way through the filter and being released back into the pool. So I was in a sort of equilibrium with sand capturing the find dust but also releasing as much back into the pool. After the backwash was when it finally helped clear the last bit out to get crystal clear water.

That's where adding DE to a sand filter comes into play.

Add DE to a Sand Filter

A clean pool filter will increase the efficiency of your pool! ... your filter are to backwash it, clean the manifolds and grids, and add new DE.

www.troublefreepool.com

 

[The Sarge]

If it's not a chlorine issue, use some D.E. to help filter the small particles. A few rounds should clear up all the fine stuff.

 

[Krulligo]

That's where adding DE to a sand filter comes into play.

Add DE to a Sand Filter

A clean pool filter will increase the efficiency of your pool! ... your filter are to backwash it, clean the manifolds and grids, and add new DE.

www.troublefreepool.com

Yes I was contemplating this but I don't know the state of my sand in the filter and whether there is channeling, etc so I decided not to risk it in case the DE would go through into the pool. I haven't looked inside the filter since we purchased the house 3 years ago but planning on replacing the sand next spring.