New Pool Owner Pool Has Been GREEN for a Month

[Guest]

I'm not dumping at random.

I was told to add the algaecide last week. It's the same that I've been putting in all along. It stains your liner if you put in too much??

And, I haven't put in ANY kind of PH chems in over a month. Therefore, it was low, according to my sticks. What will happen if you have too much PH, just out of curiosity.

I've got to get a 'real' test kit. They have those BIG bottles of sticks at the pool store, that have all the chemicals on them. Will that be better than what I've got? They're only about $20.

My Chlorine was low, too, of course. It's NEVER been higher than 'white' on my sticks, since we got the house. Except of course, when the chems first go in.

And that's adding two 3' tabs every week, and 4lbs of Shock. I've got to figure out if the BBB is better $$ wise.

I'm doing the backwash/refill because that's what ya'll told me to do!! It's the only thing I haven't done.

I still don't know how many times I need to do that. Does Anyone?

ALSO...will the chlorine tabs help me? I've got a lot of them, and as I said, I put two in for tonight. I was thinking about putting four, but didn't know if I would just be wasting them.

See...I'm new! I just don't know a lot about this stuff. But, I'm trying to learn.


I've got to get a 'real' test kit. They have those BIG bottles of sticks at the pool store, that have all the chemicals on them. Will that be better than what I've got? They're only about $20


Thanks!

[Guest]

Check your CYA level. Since you've been draining and filling, we'd like to know where you are in that reguard...

Post what all your readings are in the morning and let's see where it stands.

Not treating pH regularly, or atleast keeping it in check will cause chlorine to become ineffient and not do it's job. These bodies of water can get sick and turn on you within hours, not days. (Trust me I know! Oneday I went to work with a clear pool and when I got home, it was so cloudy! We're talking 8 hours later!!! Atleast it wasn't green!) I'm concerned that your PA or something simple is *off* and that maybe what's holding you up. Your CYA might even be low now but I'm only speculating.

Sometimes, it just takes a little while and if you post #'s, we'll be of better assistance than just guessing... That's your homework!

[Guest]

I'll be back to post my readings in a bit..but here's some news.

I have Phosphates! I was told that this was why I cannot hold chlorine!

We've never been able to hold it, so I figure they've been in the whole time.

I don't know why, we don't fertilize or live near anyone who does.

[bamamelena]

Ok, here's my numbers from yesterday. Notice that the CYA level is down a lot!

HAR-118.95

TC-.92

FC-.75

BR-.90

ALK-134.76

CYA-69.86

BOR-14.55

PH-8.00

Therefore, I feel like I'm doing something right. But, finding out that I do have Phosphates in my pool, answered some questions.

We've NEVER been able to hold chlorine in our pool, since moving here in April.

Therefore, I think this may be the root of all my problems. I wouldn't have algae this bad if I had been able to hold chlorine.

Of course, I feel like I've wasted everything I've put in there, especially the chlorine.

But, lesson learned. If it starts not holding it again, I'll know to have it tested.

It looks like if you go into a pool store and say 'My pool is not holding chlorine' they would say 'Here, let me test it for phosphates.'

But, nope. Not my old store. I just kept spending buckets of money.

Anyway, I think I'm going to go out and put some off brand chlorine in this evening, and see if it holds.

At least I've learned from this experience, anyway.

Thanks again guys!

[Backglass]

You don't need phosphate out. You don't need algaecide. What you need is chlorine. Your pool wont hold because the chlorine demand is so high, it's being eaten as fast as you put it in. Again, the key is to put in the correct amount of chlorine. Your pool has approximately 14,000 gallons. With a CYA of 60, you need a minimum of 23.7ppm to shock your pool. Thats 5.5 gallons of 6% chlorine, add a gallon for 5%. Anything less wont do you any good.

You should go to Walmart and buy 10 gallons of chlorine. Put 5.5 in tonight after sundown, not during the day. Be sure the pump runs all night. Every day check your chlorine and add more to keep it UP. Run your pump and filter 24-7. Brush a lot. Watch your pressure and backwash frequently. If you do this, within a week your pool will clear AND be holding chlorine.

I know you are low on cash, but if you can't do ALL these things (big initial dose, daily additions, scrub a lot, filter 24/7), you won't clear your pool and you will have wasted your time and money.

It's like only taking half of your antibiotics. You can't do it halfway or it wont work.

[Guest]

Well, the pool has never held chlorine for more than four hours at a time, that is, never tested 'purple' for that long.

Tonight, it's tested purple for almost 12 hours.

I put in three gallons of chlorine, and more phosphate remover. Also, I put in more clarifier, to see if the algae would 'drop'.

I must be doing something right, because for the first time in over a month, my pool is clearing. You can actually see the bottom. It's cloudy, but that will go too.

I honestly feel that the phosphates did have something to do with it. Otherwise, why would my pool NEVER hold chlorine, no matter how much we put in, and then all of a sudden start?

Thanks to everyone that has helped me. I hope that this crisis is over...I know that I still have a way to go..but I can actually see progress..and it's progress, not perfection!

Thanks again!

[Guest]

The only thing I haven't been doing is running my pump 24/7. However, it is on tonight.

We've been turning it off for about six or seven hours each night..then running it the rest of the day.

[Backglass]

Well, the pool has never held chlorine for more than four hours at a time, that is, never tested 'purple' for that long.

Tonight, it's tested purple for almost 12 hours.

I put in three gallons of chlorine, and more phosphate remover. Also, I put in more clarifier, to see if the algae would 'drop'.

I must be doing something right, because for the first time in over a month, my pool is clearing. You can actually see the bottom. It's cloudy, but that will go too.

I honestly feel that the phosphates did have something to do with it. Otherwise, why would my pool NEVER hold chlorine, no matter how much we put in, and then all of a sudden start?

Thanks to everyone that has helped me. I hope that this crisis is over...I know that I still have a way to go..but I can actually see progress..and it's progress, not perfection!

Thanks again!

I'm talking to a brick wall. I'm done.

Good luck with your pool.

[Guest]

I'm sorry that you feel that way.

I have taken and tried a lot of the things that were told to me here.

We've done the drain/fill

I've ran my pump now for two days

I've used regular granulated Chlorine

I got my CYA levels down.

I have brushed every day, twice a day.

And, maybe, some of that helped.

However, before doing anything about the phosphates, I could put any amount of chlorine, any kind, and it WOULD NOT hold, no longer than two hours.

Now, my chlorine levels have been the bright 'purple' for almost 24 hours. Also, there is no more visible green.

Therefore, I feel that the phosphates did have something to do with it, since it is holding chlorine, and it is clearing.

Maybe it was some of the other things I did, as well. But, none of the others things allowed it to hold chlorine.

I was told that my chlorine levels had to be up in order to rid the algae. I couldn't get them up at that time. Now I can.

Again, I appreciate all the help that was offered to me here. I did most everything that was suggested.

Hopefully, as I said, I'm on the other side of this, coming out.

Thanks again, and have a great weekend!

[Guest]

Another thing..

Backglass, I know you think I'm not taking your advice, however, I am.

We've run the pump for two days.

I put in three gallons of chlorine last night. More will go this evening..

I'm brushing every day, twice a day.

I'm backwashing every day.

I'm doing all the things you told me to do, however, a few weeks ago, I dumped in TEN gallons of chlorine. It was gone in two hours.

I've never held chlorine for more than five hours, as long as we've owned this house. I knew that was strange, but didn't know to test for phosphates.

Just wanted to add that I am doing as Backglass said!

[Guest]

I think you're doing GREAT! Just stay away from the pool stores! All you need is Bleach, Baking soda and Borax after you get this thing under control.

The key is staying on top of it.

Algae is horrible and with the amount you say you had (&have), the amount of chlorine you're putting in was being ate up because you never had enough to begin with. However, I can't add anything to phosphates. I'll have to read up on it now.

If your water is clearer now that you added this phos stuff (whatever you added), MORE POWER TO IT!

This has taken awhile for you because of a few things.
Your CYA was up. There was absolutely no chlorine in the pool. It twas green and not reading.

You did drain refills, atleast 3 right? and look at those numbers... If you do another drain refill after your pool is clear, you might even be able to get the chlorine intake down a bit more and save a pinch more in money. (Aleast that's what I'd do.)

This is your first year. You'll be a pro next year if you stick around and read the boards here. Learn why testing daily or every other day is important in water balance. They'll get sick so quick!

I have to add clorine bleach every other day at the most. I'm cutting it close and will be in danger if I go beyond that but I love my pool and don't mind taking the time to care for it. I even enjoy sweeping it! I don't own an automatic anything.

Can ya find 30 bucks?
Go to WalMart and stock up on the 174 oz Great Value Bleach.
If your up to the let's say 20 ppm to electricute this bloom, sit on that deck and check it every 4 hours to make sure the FC doesn't go down A BIT! You will have to add more bleach if that deep color purple fades in your case. (Those are test strips) Add more bleach over your return. let it circulate 24/7. I know your DH doesn't like this but if his ass would complain about how hot it was, I'd give him a swift push in that yucky pool your fighting with! I run my filter 24/7 just because I have too. (dog)

And another thing. It helps to have just one person in the pool room. I don't let anyone treat my pool and you should tell DH that you can do this but he has to trust you and once you learn, you can teach him if he wants to learn. You have to work together or you'll be defeating your purpose.

RUN PUMP 24/7.
ADD BLEACH EVERY 4-6 HOURS AS NEEDED.
HOLD 15-20ppm FOR 24 HOURS.
NO IF, AND, OR BUTS ABOUT IT.

Is your water clearing?

[bamamelena]

It looks much better today! I can actually see the outline of the drain!

I'm still backwashing at least once a day.

I also added four more gallons of bleach today. I had to swap test strips, and in doing so, figured out they're not all the same.

So, I went back to my trusty kit. You dunk it underwater, then add drops of yellow to one side, and drops of red to another. My chlorine was up, up , up!

I have dead algae!!! Finally!

I'm going to vacuum tomorrow. I can't see well enough in the deep in yet, but can in the shallow end. I could actually see the outline of the algae in the deep end, though.

I'm still getting green when I backwash, though not as green. I know there's still some in there from that.

But, it's holding chlorine, killing the algae, and clearing. I haven't been able to get it to do any of that for over a month!

We've had the pump on for a few days. I think DH sees that it's helping.

The funny thing is, I have been around more pools than he has, and he's still insisting on being a part. Yet, when we first bought it, the pool was 'Your responsibility.' Now, if I say something about it, he's 'just helping'.

Anyway, thanks. And I have learned from this.

When we first started, we were testing and adding chems once a week. That may be ok for April and May, but not for June, July, and August. Especially not here, where we have 90 degree days from end of May through end of September.

Thanks again!

[pool tech]

Just wanted to say that you will spend boo coo bucks on chlorine if you don't get your CYA down. It's extremely high considering a normal reading is 30-50. To do that, you have to do a partial drain of your pool until it comes down to 30-50.

With high CYA levels (yours being 117), your chlorine cannot work and I suspect this is why you have a HUGE algae bloom.

My suggestion to you and only my opinion...
Your pool couldn't possibly get any worse. Work on partial draining 1st and when your numbers come down, SHOCK THE HELL OUT OF IT!

Your alkilinity looks a tad high and maybe a drain will bring that down too but I'm not sure.

I'm putting my money on CYA being SKY HIGH.

Good Luck with it and keep us posted.

You are backwards sir I'm a proffesional and your CYA should be between 80 & 100 ppm & it really doesn't matter how high the cya is but if its below 60 raise it ASAP. Now there can really be only 3 problems most likely causing the problem. #1 have your pool tested for phosphates, it's going to be the most likely cause of algea if you have chlorine always in the pool and quit using chlorox, you might need 2 bottles of phosphate remover if the levels are really high. #2 make sure you clean your filter every few days until pool is clear and get a new cartridge if need be. #3 If the pool water is old (same water in pool for 8-10 years) do a half drain and refill then do it again.

[pool tech]

to save all you people money heres some advice. If your pool turns green first shock the pool get the free cl2 up to 10ppm for 4 hours,and run your cleaned filter for 24 hours. If that doesn't work the next step is test the cya, you want at least 80ppm trust me I've serviced hundreds of pools and there is no such thing as to high of cya level unless your dealing with the county at a public pool which I do and they want it under 100ppm, also check your phosphate level at this time. Not many people know but phosphates are a leading cause of algea grows, it's their food so if your phosphates are high it won't matter how much chlorine you put in. If those 2 things check out and your equiptment is working properly and your filter cartridges are in good shape and your running your pool 6-8 hours a day than you probaably have old water (TDS) and would need to drain and refill your pool. I guaruntee this advise will clear your pool.

[Guest]

I'll continue to use BBB. It works for me along with a CYA level of 30-50.

If my CYA get's any higher than that then I'll do a drain/refill as I suggested to bamamelena. She's even holding chlorine now and shouldn't have to add boo coo bucks to her pool in chlorine just to get the FC up.

Like I said before, I don't know much about phosphates in pool water but MORE POWER TO HER POOL if that's what helped when she added it.

I'll still hit a 30-50 on *my* CYA no matter what you say. That my friend is what's been recommened by more than one person on a few sites.

Oh yeah, I thought water was water?
If it's balanced, it won't turn to sludge... even if it is ten years old.

Someone correct me if I'm wrong,,,
Backglass???