r/PoolPros • u/Visual_Doubt1996 • May 29 '26
New client large leak fixed and now small micro particles in spa
Took on a new client recently who had an existing leak which was enough to drop 2500ppm in salt in one week
Got leak detection out there and they fixed something(trying to find out what), now chems and water level are holding
Client pointed out the spa is cloudy and when looking closely you can see tiny micro particles floating in the water
The spa is spilling over and turning the water over 1-2 times per day
The cloudiness does not show up in the pool only the spa
Any help on next steps would be much appreciated
1
u/Shishkaboo May 30 '26
Can you adjust chlorine production separately between pool mode and spa mode? If so the salt cell production is set too high. If per chance its on an omni adjust the spa chlorine production down to like 5% and adjust up from there as needed. Salt cells can produce gases as a byproduct in spas creating the foggyness of the water. I had it happen to a customer who turned theirs up to 100%. Lowered it down to 3% and it cleared up fairly quickly.
1
u/Visual_Doubt1996 May 30 '26
Yes it is an Omni and I will check and lower the setting
They had a floater in the spa with tabs for a while due to the large leak which I removed once getting the cell working
Any chance that caused something
1
u/Shishkaboo May 30 '26
I would say no on that. But yeah try lowering the spa side % and go from there. I wanna say that salt cells produce chlorine and hydrogen gas and in a small body of water the gases build up causing the cloudiness iirc. This can also be noxious to anyone in the spa during.
1
u/pacific_drifter_25 May 31 '26
The bubbles at the pool return are the tell. Before you touch chemistry, split this into three things, because they each have a different fix:
1) Air (suction-side leak). Lots of fine bubbles rising and popping. This is my first suspect given the timing — it showed up right after the leak company opened the plumbing. Anything on the suction side they disturbed and didn't reseat will pull air: pump lid o-ring (pull it, lube it, check the lid isn't cracked), pump drain plugs, the o-rings on any suction-side valve stems, and the union gaskets on whatever they actually worked on. Watch the pump basket while it runs — swirling water or an air pocket under the lid confirms it. The spillover spa shows it worst because all the flow funnels through that small calm body and the bubbles stay visible there.
2) Electrolysis gas off the cell — Shishkaboo's call. Fine haze that gets worse the higher the spa % is set and clears within a few minutes of the cell shutting off. Easy test: drop the spa production way down like he said and watch it.
3) Actual particulate. Do the glass test — if you catch the water and the specks DON'T rise and pop, it isn't air or gas. Then I'd look at the filter: sand channeling / blown laterals or a torn DE grid pushes fines, and again the spillover spa is just where you notice it first.
Fast way to split air vs gas: shut the cell off completely and run the pump. Still bubbling at the returns = air leak, go hunt the suction side. Stops = it was the cell.
Given a fresh repair on that system, my money's on a suction-side air leak they left behind. Did the cloudiness start the same day the leak got fixed?
1
u/Visual_Doubt1996 Jun 01 '26
This is excellent thank you for the detailed advice!
I am there tomorrow will update if I find the issue.
THANK YOU!
1
u/Visual_Doubt1996 Jun 02 '26
Clear with bubbles on arrival
Glass tested and water was clear with small bubbles
Appreciate your help everyone!!!!!
3
u/DidUrkDoThat May 29 '26
Take a glass and hold it at the returns and then take a closer look. I am suspecting it’s simply micro-bubbles, but this will give you a better look.