Dwest Posted March 29, 2021 Report Share Posted March 29, 2021 While trying to balance the chemicals in our pool after it was shut down due an equipment failure the water turned cloudy and light blue. We ran the filter overnight and the filters were clogged with a cyan blue slime. The pool was clear before the incident. Ph was low, below 6.8. Free chlorine was not registering but total chlorine was high. I added Ph up using the recommended dosing. Later the same morning, we added a small dose of shock and that seemed to initiate the problem. Any ideas what happened? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RDspaguy Posted March 30, 2021 Report Share Posted March 30, 2021 Uhhh, @waterbear... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
waterbear Posted March 30, 2021 Report Share Posted March 30, 2021 pH was below 6.8 but you don't know just HOW low. My guess is that your water was VERY acidic You don't give any test results so I really can't comment but I have seen this before when the pH was dangerously low. I noticed the endcaps of your filter are blue. Are they by any chance gummy feeling or slimy feeling? I have seen very low pH 'dissolve' filter endcaps and other parts and I suspect that is what happened. It often occurs when someone puts trichlor tabs, which are extremely acidic, in the skimmer basket, or even more dangerous, into the pump strainer basket. However, without knowing the actual water parameter when it happened it's impossible to really know what happened in your pool but it sure seems like very low pH caused something blue to dissolve. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeffrey W. Posted August 27, 2021 Report Share Posted August 27, 2021 I have experienced the exact same problem and can confirm that my pool pH was NOT dangerously low. I check daily and it is generally around 6.8 or slightly higher. I wish I could figure out what is going on! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
waterbear Posted August 28, 2021 Report Share Posted August 28, 2021 On 8/27/2021 at 8:38 AM, Jeffrey W. said: I have experienced the exact same problem and can confirm that my pool pH was NOT dangerously low. I check daily and it is generally around 6.8 or slightly higher. I wish I could figure out what is going on! Different color of blue. Do you use a copper based algaecide or have an ionizer system by any chance? Also how are you testing pH? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RDspaguy Posted August 28, 2021 Report Share Posted August 28, 2021 Do you use clarifier? Is it blue? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
waterbear Posted August 28, 2021 Report Share Posted August 28, 2021 1 hour ago, RDspaguy said: Do you use clarifier? Is it blue? totally missed that! It could be from clarifier. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EricHei Posted May 1, 2022 Report Share Posted May 1, 2022 (edited) This is 100% the filter end caps with the soft grip “dissolving” from imbalance. Watch out because it doesn’t redesolve with filter cleaner and has to be manually sprayed or scraped off. Also, watch out for clogged lines after this and blocked sensors on pumps and thermometers. And honestly, it’s probably due to a change in material by a Chinese manufacturer. I’ve seen it many times before. Edited May 1, 2022 by EricHei Wanted to add root problem. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dmh Posted July 8, 2022 Report Share Posted July 8, 2022 My pool filter looks exactly the same as DWest filter. I have a mustard algae problem that's almost under control. I used Clorox Xtra blue algaecide, which is a liquid. I'm assuming that's what clogged my filter? But why did it do this? It's a very thick heavy slime completely coating the filter. I only put the algaecide in once but 2 times now my filter has clogged up like this. Water balance is perfect. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
waterbear Posted July 13, 2022 Report Share Posted July 13, 2022 On 7/8/2022 at 6:54 PM, Dmh said: Water balance is perfect. this tell us nothing. We need a full set of test results along with the testing method (strips, liquid or tablet reagents, test disc. Whether the results are read from a color block or with a meter. Is this a home test or dealer test.) pH issues can cause the problem you describe as can. Without further information on your water my best guess is that you shocked the pool very high because you were trying to kill mustard algae and then tested pH without allowing the chlorine to drop below 10 ppm first, which is a no no because of the effect of high sanitizer levels on the pH test. Hgh sanitizer causes the phenol red indicator to convert to chlorophenol red which has the same color changes as phenol red but test a pH range of 4.8 to 6.7 so when the pH indicates that it's 8.0 or higher all you really know is that it's greater than or equal to 6.7 and when you add the acid you are bringing the pH below 6.7 which is low enough to dissolve the rubber end caps on the filter. I suspect you then put in acid because the pH read very high after the shock, even though it was not and brought you pH dangerously low, which caused the end caps on the filter to dissolve and get caught in the filter. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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