Pool has been green all summer!

Algae problems in swimming pool water.
Green (cloudy) water or slimy pool walls.
Black algae. Mustard algae. Pink or white pool mold.
IkeRay
Pool Enthusiast
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Joined: Mon 04 Jun, 2007 13:58

Postby IkeRay » Sat 27 Oct, 2007 01:36

dont waste your money on name brand bleach, just look for the concentration of sodium hypochlorite. i buy walmart brand (ultra bleach) 6% (same as clorox) for $2.28/172 oz (~1.35 gal) compared to clorox $1.60/96 oz (3qts). bleach is bleach is bleach.


chem geek
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Location: San Rafael, California

Postby chem geek » Sat 27 Oct, 2007 03:04

With the CYA level at 70 ppm, you would have had to maintain a minimum Free Chlorine (FC) level of 5.2 ppm to prevent algae so that's probably why you got algae in the first place. If you are using Trichlor pucks/tabs or any Dichlor powder, stop using those as they add to the Cyanuric Acid (CYA) level. Use bleach or chlorinating liquid instead or possibly Cal-Hypo for a while though the Cal-Hypo will add to Calcium Hardness (CYA).

The advice about using bleach is correct if you have algae. To clear an algae bloom or even dead algae in a reasonable time, it takes around 40% of the CYA level to do that so in your case that would be an FC level of 28 ppm. Once the algae goes from green to cloudy, you may need to use a flocculant (OMNI Liquid Floc Plus) and vacuum to waste to remove it unless your pool has a floor drain and good circulation in which case the algae can go to the filter and you can backwash or clean it there.

However, remember you initially said the green got worse after adding the Cal-Hypo? That wouldn't happen if you had algae (at least not with the amount of Cal-Hypo you added). That's why it sounds like you had copper in the pool, probably from a copper-based algaecide. I had already mentioned about lowering the pH and using a metal sequestrant, if the problem is copper.

Richard

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