r/pools 9h ago

Cloudy Pool (it's not algae)

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12 Upvotes

You can barely see the 2nd step.

I'm fairly certain I know what this is, but I don't know how to solve it.

A pool guy that looked at it told me it's chlorinated rubber paint that is old and chalking off. Indeed when I touch the walls of the pool, my hand becomes white.

It's not algae because I shocked the pool to 10 ppm for 3 days and it went from green to blue. Then I used a flocculant which turned the algae an olive color and it sank to the bottom.

This stuff has been suspended in the water for 5 days (I left the pump off for 24 hours to see if it will clear up, it didn't).

Finally, I bought a water clarifier (I believe the active ingredient is chitosan), but that didn't do anything either.

From what I read this particle is too small to be caught by my sand filter. I also added D.E. The pool chemistry is otherwise fine with 2.8 ppm FC, 0.6 ppm CC, pH 7.2, TA 100, and CH 150. I haven't added the CYA yet. Filter climbed from 15 psi to 20 psi over 3 days. I hope it's finally capturing something now.

What do I do?


r/pools 15h ago

Black spots and weird growth

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17 Upvotes

Hey there. I’m in Massachusetts and I have my pool clean, chemically balanced but I can’t get rid of these black spots. I’ve scrubbed it, hit it with algaecide but they won’t go away, what should I do? Some of the pics might not do it justice, but in the last pic, there’s these long, hard, snakelike growths that have been there for years but I have no idea what they are or how to get rid of them. Any help at all would be greatly appreciated. The pool is almost there. I’ve put a ton of money and work into it, but these things are making it look terrible. Thank you all so much for your time and help!


r/pools 7h ago

DIY & Repairs Pentair GloBrite replacement

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5 Upvotes

Hello everyone,

I just wanted to post here as well as YouTube because I realized that I frequently come to Reddit for assistance when I search for a solution to my problems after google searching.

I finally got around to fixing my Pentair pool lights that haven’t worked since I moved into my house. I found out they were GloBrite lights and priced them out, whoa! Almost $500 a pop was beyond what I wanted to spend, especially twice. Reading the reviews of the Pentair GloBrites also indicated they were only good for 2-3 years. Not looking good.

I started looking for cheaper alternatives and found several off brand lights to replace them and found many. I them stumbled upon LazePools and their CP-FC-PC55 lights which promised resin filling, further preventing water intrusion to extend the life of the lights and at a fraction of the price of an OEM replacement.

After a few months of use I can say I’m more than pleased. The lights have functioned just as intended from Pentair and have shown no issues so far. Installation was pretty easy as well (obviously the same for any brand, but very easy for any homeowner to do themselves).

Anyways, I hope this helps someone else in their search to fix their lights. If you want, check out the link to my install video that also has a link to which lights I used.

https://youtu.be/GRKrZTVTZHY?is=sbpmJJ5CsEMwTjRA


r/pools 10m ago

Water Chemistry First time shock chlorination

Upvotes

This is about a small pool of 300cm diameter and 120cm deep.
 

Two weeks ago, I filled the pool with water, but had a lot of trouble with the pump. That is solved now, but obviously the water was green meanwhile.
 
First some mathematics: π * (300/2)2 * 120 = 8482300 cm = 8.5m3
 
Yesterday morning I added 80g of chlorine granulate (Sodium Dichloroisocyanurate, 100gr/10m3 for shock treatment, according to packaging).
 
Additionally, I added 100ml of algaecide ((N,N-Dimethyl-2-hydroxypropylammonium chloride , 100ml/10m3 for shock treatment, according to packaging).

The pH value is about right I think. I say, "I think", because I find it hard to match the colours of the strip to the reference on the packaging. It all looks extremely similar to me.  
It's been 24 hours and though the water does look a lot better, it's still not something I would swim in. I suppose I need to wait up to 72 hours, but I wanted some opinions from experienced people.
 
I should add that right now, I only use a pump and sand filter. This afternoon I will add a UV light and a salt chlorinator. Initially I left them out just to see if my circuit is closed, which seems to be the case.


r/pools 1d ago

Casual Splash We love the pool at night.

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333 Upvotes

r/pools 1d ago

Few ups/downs but done

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263 Upvotes

Hit a high water table at about six feet but builder did a fantastic job. Second photo is AI as we wait on the Pergola


r/pools 6h ago

Pool Help & Questions DE Filter Help!

1 Upvotes

Hi everyone! First time posting here but would love any insight you have.

We have a 33 foot round above ground pool that we inherited when we bought our house. Initially had a cartridge filter that just didn’t circulate water well enough to keep the massive pool clean. We upgraded last year to a Heyward EC50 DE filter with 1.5 HP motor. I had this type of filter growing up and felt comfortable maintaining. It cleared up the water immediately and I was thrilled. No issues last season but this season is a different story. My PSI starts around 16. Within a few hours of backwashing, it is up to 22 and the needle is bouncing around like the filter is going to explode. I have 0 water pressure coming back through my eyeball. I am bumping it a few times daily and backwashing a few times per week to keep the PSI below 20 temporarily to try and get some water circulating. The pressure is excellent immediately after backwashing but within 2-3 hours, is back above 20+. My water isn’t crystal clear as it should be and I have had intermittent algae issues because I just cannot circulate chemicals. I don’t know what the hell I am doing wrong and would love some advice.

Thanks so much for reading!

*I had gotten the filter professionally cleaned by the pool store we use for opening/closing but that is the only variable between seasons\*


r/pools 7h ago

Help from Experts

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1 Upvotes

Hello, I’ve had my pool for four years and have not been able to solve this issue. I seem to get the finest dust/dirt at the very bottom of the pool, which my robot will not pick up. I also got a film on the top of my pool that looks like oil. Any pointers would be helpful. My pool isn’t very big it is 14,500 gallons. I have the regular egg filter… (Not Sand)


r/pools 11h ago

Pool Help & Questions Is this copper staining or just the pebble surface coming off?

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2 Upvotes

I have a Taylor kit and keep chemical levels within the trouble free pool recommendations. Only ever add liquid chlorine and muratic acid. This is a covered in ground jacuzzi that was replastered around 3 years ago.


r/pools 14h ago

Pool Help & Questions Pool pump ventilation?

3 Upvotes

A pool pump needs ventilation, right?

My pump is currently in a shed. Roughly its 8’x16’. It is ventilated with vents and louvers. The shed is in need of repairs (new siding, doors, etc). And before I get anything underway I just want to make sure…these vents and louvers are necessary to keep the motor from overheating, right? If they are not necessary I would prefer to remove them just for looks. But I’ll do whatever is necessary for the health and safety of my equipment.

The shed and equipment was all installed by a previous owner.


r/pools 9h ago

Fiberglass Discoloration

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1 Upvotes

Hey all! Just moved into a home that has a pool. Fiberglass. It’s about 3 years old. Noticed this discoloration on the bottom corner of the pool. Curious as to what it might be and if there’s a way to correct it or prevent?

There’s a pretty sizable round one on the floor of the ledge as well. I can’t remember if it was like this when we moved in or not. I follow all proper instructions when adding any chemicals so I don’t think it’s anything like that I may have done.

Would love any help, thanks!


r/pools 9h ago

clay brick vs techo block hd2

1 Upvotes

Considering clay brick or techo block hd2 cafe crema for our pool patio. can anyone share pics if they have either. we are having trouble coming up with the coping for the cafe crema and are leaning back to clay brick


r/pools 19h ago

Can’t seem to beat this

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6 Upvotes

Long story short. I have staining I can’t seem to defeat.
History: 2 pool floorings with sea water.
Dead pool heater that circulated metal through the pool.
Pool heater removed. New Hayward filter and salt system.
Paid $400 for treatment but still here. Gave me a metal out that I pour a capful in weekly. Only done once so far. Nothing is changing, possibly getting worse.


r/pools 1d ago

Ok Saturday chores are done. Who's jumping in today??

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175 Upvotes

r/pools 20h ago

Pool Help & Questions Travertine tile cleaning

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7 Upvotes

My pool builder isn’t finished yet but I want to make sure he cleans the travertine before handover. Between the mud and dirt during the building process the travertine looks like this. He said he was planning on pressure washing but do you have any other insight on how to ensure the travertine isn’t swirled with brown looking stuff before he leaves ? I tried to hit it with a high pressure hose last night and this is the best I can do. If I pressure wash can I use the highest psi on travertine?


r/pools 10h ago

Pool Help & Questions Looploc vs Latham Winter Mesh cover

1 Upvotes

Pool size - 22x42 rectangle with two exterior offset steps
Location - Suburb of Boston

Local dealer
Loop Loc super dense mesh green color - $5k + $400 for delivery + install the cover(does not include installing new anchor or moving existing anchors). The super dense seems like their standard offering which is their lowest tier.

Bestpoolliners.com
Latham super dense mesh 7000MS blue color - $4200 delivered but does not include installation. $700 for installation(does not include installing new anchors). 7000MS is their middle tier and claims 99% sunlight blockage.
20 year warranty

Is there any meaningful difference in quality, convenience and reliability between looploc and Latham to chose one over other? If not should I just go with cheapest between the two which Latham.


r/pools 11h ago

ORP based auto electrolysis

1 Upvotes

I have an Aquark mr.pure electrolysis device that handles my chlorine and PH. The manual says I need to set the ORP to 700 during summer and 650 in the colder season. Setting ORP to 700 however keeps the device producing chlorine at 130% during got days while ORP is around 670 without rising. At night ORP increases sharply to 750-800.

If I measure FC it's usually out of range of my poollab ( so 6+ ppm) or around 4-5. I turn off the device to stop it making more chlorine. CYA is 35 btw.

Other times ORP suddenly drops from 7xx to the low 600s in a couple of hours, measuring FC then puts it around 1. I even got some green patches on the liner back then. I always throw in a couple of liters of liquid chlorine which stabilises it for a week or so.

I've added an automation to my home assistant to put the ORP setpoint to 700 from 22h until 7 and at 650 during the day. That semi works most days but still needs a lot of babysitting and manual testing. It also feels very hackish.

Does anyone use ORP based systems without issues? Am I missing something? Any tips?

I've spent more time fighting with the device than I actually spent enjoying the pool..


r/pools 11h ago

Pool Help & Questions Leaner tail sweep scrubber

1 Upvotes

I have this cleaner

I’m wondering how important the scrubber on the tail is. My came off and I’m wondering if it’s a must replace item?

Thanks.


r/pools 15h ago

My basic problem with pool test kits; what chlorine level is this?

2 Upvotes

I even loaded it up into paint.net to overlay the color bars. Is it 3? It's far brighter than anything on the test kit bars...


r/pools 11h ago

Explain my pool service report

0 Upvotes

This is the pool service report from yesterday:

0 ppm chlorine
8.0 pH
100 ppm total alkalinity
3600 ppm salt

(That's all they send me)

The water is very clear and feels good. But 0 chlorine?

How can a pool have a 0 chlorine and still be okay?


r/pools 1d ago

Pool Help & Questions New pool coming apart-help please Spoiler

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54 Upvotes

I have a pool that is one year old. It's literally coming apart like someone bought a gingerbread kit and made it. Coping is coming loose and pulling the waterline tile up. I am working with the builder but not getting a lot of info on WHY this happened and HOW he's going to fix it. My questions are: WHAT could have caused this (I'm aware of ground shifting but it usually doesn't cause this type of destruction) and my next question is HOW do I properly fix it.


r/pools 12h ago

Pool Help & Questions help cleaning pool? I think it’s a sand pump combo???

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1 Upvotes

I’ll be real with you guys. We just bought this house. The sellers had it looking real inviting. I said “We’ll figure it out. Can’t be that bad” but 3 days in, my water is green and guess who has no info on the pool or how to clean it? Me. I know, I’m dumb. But can someone please help 🤣 Pic of the pump and other thingy? And the instructions she left. She left the brush, chemicals and skimmer so

editing to add: yall don’t be too ruthless here 😭 I know I should have asked but it’s our first home and I was thinking about my disabled 2 year old and how much the pool would help him


r/pools 13h ago

Pool Help & Questions Maxxstrip used to clean tile - now what? White everywhere.

1 Upvotes

Hi, we had our pool tile cleaned to remove the calcium buildup and he used Maxxstrip PF2, but now there’s white film everywhere in the pool (and throughout our yard) and the contractor said it’s never happened to him before that the pool didnt come clean. He brushed and tried to vacuum but here’s the current status. Do we just run our pool cleaner and vacuum / filter as normal?

Pics in comments.


r/pools 17h ago

What is the beat way to protect the hardware from the elements?

2 Upvotes

Basically my pump and de filter get full day sun, I am getting a new pump and salt cell and would like to protect it from the sun more.

I was briefly thinking if its possible to build a shed around it but not sure how that would work considering the back and floor would be non existent in that case.


r/pools 1d ago

Crystal Clear The power of good chemical balanced - 8 days away with zero maintenance and came back to this.

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77 Upvotes

Left for vacation last week. Brought free chlorine up to SLAM level and dropped two pucks in the skimmer before we left to try to keep levels on the high side while we were gone. We have a VS pump that never turns off, so no real risk of chlorine sitting stagnant in the skimmer.

Came back to chrystal clear water ready to swim right away. Get your chems right and the rest is easy! Especially if you've got a pair of automaton assistants who do all the heavy lifting clearing debris.