We opened our pool 8 days ago and it was full of dark green algae. We shocked it and the pool turned to a milky cloudy color after 48 hours (so 6 days ago). Since then, we have shocked 2 more times, replaced the filter, balanced chemicals. The filtration system is working perfectly (tons of movement in the pool) and we had our water tested. pH was absolutely perfect but alkalinity was a bit high. Pool store said to just add more shock and then 24 hours later a clarifier and that should take care of issue. We did that, after 48 hours and no change. We gave it a bit more time, nothing. Yesterday, my husband washed the filter and it had a lot of gunk in it but vacuum was clean. Did more water testing yesterday and there was absolutely no chlorine (not sure why this didn’t show up in earlier water testing) and CYA was below what the test would even read. So, we added more salt, scrubbed the walls (which seems to make the cloudiness a bit darker) and shocked again and added recommended amount of stabilizer. This morning, I checked the water. No change!!! Still super cloudy (can only see about 4-6 inches from top). pH is perfect (7.4), salt levels are a bit high, but chlorine is fine. CYA is a little high (between 80-100, but I’m reading saltwater pools should be between 60-80 so not extremely high and rain is coming so I expect everything will dilute down). But, this cloudiness is the same when CYA was super low. We were hopeful last night thinking the low chlorine levels were the issue, but chlorine was at the low end of normal before we went to bed…but absolutely no change this morning. So, we have done everything, everything I am reading that causes cloud water does not apply to us (bad chemistry…poor filtration, algae, etc).
Also, we had the pool refilled last year so, the water is only a year old. I’m ready to throw in the towel and spend the $1100 on new water. My husband wants to hold out.
Again, there has been zero change in water since algae was killed 6 days ago regardless of the change in chemistry, and salt levels.
So, what are we missing? Thanks in advance!