Flocculation, Reflocculation and Overflocculation

[richardpooldone]

So I recently had my first green algae bloom after my two large live oaks dropped their pollen this spring. So I added a dose of Diclor, filtrated for two hours to mix then added a flocculant and mixed for two hours. The next morning the dichlor and floc had done a fantastic job. The algae was dead as a door nail and flocced and dropped to the bottom of the pool.

Now came the hard part, getting the dead algae out of the pool.

I vacuumed most of it out but in the process (about a week long) I ended up stirring up the flocculated dead algae. So while the pool looks much better it still has a cloudy hew to it. I've let it sit and the flocced algae still creeps to the bottom and I'll vacuum again when it seems appropriate.

My questions for the forum are this:

1. Should I/could I add more flocculant now that it's been a week to makes sure all the suspend dead algae is clumped and dropped to the bottom of the floor? Or just be patient with the dosage I've already used?
2. Overflucculation. Is there such a thing and what could/would the dangers be?

This is my first post so thanks for your replies in advance!

Happy Swimming!

Richard!

[Denniswiseman]

Hi Richard
Flocculant is not generally considered good and when used should be vacuumed to waste, also Dichlor adds CYA to the water making your chlorine ineffective. Liquid chlorine (bleach) is best
For every 10 ppm Free Chlorine (FC) added by Trichlor, it also increases Cyanuric Acid (CYA) by 6 ppm.
For every 10 ppm FC added by Dichlor, it also increases CYA by 9 ppm.
For every 10 ppm FC added by Cal-Hypo, it also increases Calcium Hardness (CH) by at least 7 ppm
To defeat algae you need to Slam
These other links will help you keep your pool in pristine condition
Chlorine / CYA Chart
Pool Levels
Pool Maths
You really need to get a decent test kit (TF100 or Taylor K2006C) to get accurate pool levels as pool stores and strips are widely inacurate

[raidermike]

I have a blue cloudy pool after killing all the algae. I have been vaccuming and running pump. Backwashing once a day. But after this morning shock still cloudy. Will floc solve my problem? I have 6600 gal. Above ground pool. Will 5oz. Of floc will be enough? Should i just continue to shock and vaccum? When should i add my cyanuric acid? My Ph looks good arou d 7.2-7.4, F/C is around 5ppm. What next?

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[Denniswiseman]

Read my post above it still applies
You say "When should I add my cyanuric acid?" How have you been chlorinating
Let's have your numbers
FC:
TC:
pH:
TA:
CH:
CYA:

[raidermike]

Read my post above it still applies
You say "When should I add my cyanuric acid?" How have you been chlorinating
Let's have your numbers
FC:
TC:
pH:
TA:
CH:
CYA:

I'll run a complete test in the afternoon and get back with those numbers. I added 1 cup of muratic acid an hour ago to bring ph down some more.

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[Denniswiseman]

Why did you bring down, your pH 7.2 to 7.4 is pretty good, did you mean to bring your TA down?
If so you will need to aerate to bring your pH up again

[raidermike]

Why did you bring down, your pH 7.2 to 7.4 is pretty good, did you mean to bring your TA down?
If so you will need to aerate to bring your pH up again

FC- .00
PH- 7.5
TA-100
TCH-150
CYA- 0
I just shocked again. No chlorine. Still cloudy but can see the botton through the clouds.

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[raidermike]

I have the above ground vinyl pool so tch is actually pretty good.

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[Denniswiseman]

Yes most of those figures are OK except for FC and CYA
Get some CYA up to the 40-50 level and your FC up to 7 and test
Shock is just a high level of chlorine and with the rightlevel you don't need to shock