Slightly Cloudy

[E2Grunt]

Hey I have an AGP that is about 12,000 gallons. The PH, TA, and CA were reading low. I brought the CA back up. Then added 5lbs of soda ash to help with the PH. It only showed a small increase and the water was just slightly cloudy. After 24hrs I added another 5lbs of soda ash. Now all of the chemicals are reading in the proper ranges but the water is cloudy. What do I need to do? Run the pump some more for longer duration? Vaccum?

Water was clear prior to adding soda ash. It has now been 72 hours since the last treatment and all chemicals are within normal limits and the total chlorine is on the highside.

[chem geek]

Put your numbers into The Pool Calculator and check your saturation index which I suspect is >= 0. When your water is already near saturation with calcium carbonate, adding pH Up will cloud the water, at least temporarily (more permanently if the saturation index is very positive).

If you want to raise the pH with half of the rise in TA and less chance of cloudiness, then use 20 Mule Team Borax. If you want to raise the pH with no change in TA, aerate the water.

[E2Grunt]

Good info for next time. But how do I correct the cloudiness now. I may have missed something in your post...

[chem geek]

Good info for next time. But how do I correct the cloudiness now. I may have missed something in your post...

If the saturation index based on your current numbers is >= 0, then you can add some acid to lower the pH & TA which should clear up the cloudiness. The pH will rise over time with no change in TA. If your TA got way too high, then you lower it by following the procedure described here that requires more acid addition (and aeration, at lower pH).

Without knowing your numbers, specifically pH, TA and CH, it's hard to know if your cloudiness is due to over-saturation with calcium carbonate (i.e. a saturation index > 0).