Water level

Keep the water at mid-skimmer. If it drops too low, the skimmer sucks air and the pump can lose prime; the salts also concentrate and the pH goes off. Top up what evaporates.

Foam

Usually from too much product (foaming algaecides), lotion/oil residue or very soft water.

  • Check the algaecide dose.
  • An anti-foam fixes the symptom; the cause is solved with filtration and balance.

Scale / deposits and "sparkly" water with buildup

Usually high pH and/or hardness (scaling water).

  • Lower the pH into range and watch the hardness.
  • Use a scale sequestrant and brush off the deposits.

Red eyes and chlorine smell

It's almost never "too much chlorine": usually unbalanced pH and chloramines. Fix the pH and shock the pool.