algae attack Posted May 3, 2010 Report Share Posted May 3, 2010 Please help!!! I have been unsuccessfully fighting algae for over a month. I have a 10,000 gallon above ground, vinyl lining pool with a cartridge filter. My pool was left open in the winter with the pump running for 8 hours everyday and minimal chlorine. After the cold months in preparation for swimming season I brushed the floor & walls of the pool; it immediately turned completely green. Also, I replaced the cartridge in the filter. My water tests results are as follows: April 4, 2010 Free Available Chlorine = 0 Total Available Chlorine = 0 Water PH = 7.2 Total Alkalinity = 100 Cyanuric Acid = 60 Total Dissolved Solids = 1000 Copper = 0 Iron = 0 Phosphates = 700 Pool water was green! Leslies recommended 2 lbs. of Green to Clean, wait 5 min. Then add 1 lb shock. Wait 12 hrs then add another 1 lb. of shock. Wait 12 hrs. Then add another 1 lb of shock. All this while the pump ran 24 hrs. April 8, 2010 Free Available Chlorine = 0 Total Available Chlorine = .0 Water PH = 7.2 Total Alkalinity = 100 Cyanuric Acid = 140 Total Dissolved Solids = 980 Copper = 0 Iron = 0 Phosphates = 350 Pool was green! Leslies recommended again 2lbs. of Green to Clean, wait 5 min. then add 2 lbs shock. Wait 12 hrs. Then add another 2 lbs. of shock. Wait 12 hrs. Then add another 2 lbs. shock. April 16, 2010 Free Available Chlorine = .5 Total Available Chlorine = .7 Water PH = 6.2 Total Alkalinity = 26 Cyanuric Acid = 270 Total Dissolved Solids = 1500 Copper = 0 Iron = 0 Phosphates = not tested Still green! So this test was done at another pool store. They recommended that I drain½ the pool and refill with fresh water, due to the cyanuric acid being so high. Then add 3 lbs. of shock. April 22, 2010 Free Available Chlorine = 0 Total Available Chlorine = .8 Water PH = 6.2 Total Alkalinity = 44 Cyanuric Acid = 242 Total Dissolved Solids = 1500 Copper = 0 Iron = 0 Phosphates = not tested Cyanuric acid still high and water still green! So they recommended draining the water ½ way again and refilling with fresh water. April 24, 2010 Free Available Chlorine = 0 Total Available Chlorine = 0 Water PH = 7.2 Total Alkalinity = 50 Cyanuric Acid = 150 Total Dissolved Solids = 700 Copper = 0 Iron = 0 Phosphates = 0 Back at Leslies and the waters still green! They recommend to add 1½ lbs. soda ash to get the ph up and wait 4 hrs. Then add whole bottle of Ultima algaecide. One bottle treats 20,000 gal. Wait 12 hrs. Then add 2 lbs. of shock. April 26, 2010 Free Available Chlorine = 1 Total Available Chlorine = 1 Water PH = 7.8 Total Alkalinity = 80 Cyanuric Acid = 150 Total Dissolved Solids = 700 Copper = 0 Iron = 0 Phosphates = 0 Still green! Leslies recommended adding recommended amount of Pool First Aid (6capfuls), wait 12 hrs and add 3 lbs. shock. April 28, 2010 Free Available Chlorine = 6 Total Available Chlorine = 6 Water PH = 7.9 Total Alkalinity = 100 Cyanuric Acid = 140 Total Dissolved Solids = 700 Copper = 0 Iron = 0 Phosphates = 150 Still green! Leslies recommended 4 lbs. of Fresh n Clear shock. Wait 12 hrs then add 8 capfuls of Pool First Aid. April 30, 2010 Free Available Chlorine = 1 Total Available Chlorine = 1 Water PH = 7.6 Total Alkalinity = 80 Cyanuric Acid = 150 Total Dissolved Solids = 700 Copper = 0 Iron = 0 Phosphates = 0 Still green! Leslies recommended using Super Floc and try to vacuum algae from pool to waste after it all has settled. This did nothing except stir up the algae again. As you can see I have put a lot of time, money, and effort into trying to get this resolved. I have had zero success. Could this be mustard algae and not green algae? Please Help!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pathfinder Posted May 3, 2010 Report Share Posted May 3, 2010 Wow thats a lot of chems & interesting readings. Here is the procedure we use; - Get PH & ALK readings as close to acceptable 1st (we only go to acceptable low end since Liquid Chlorine will raise ph some what & its easier to increase than decrease) - Prep filter / properly cleaned - Brush the entire pool walls & bottom first with a pool brush - Use 60% polyquat algaecide to pool circulate 6 hours - After 6 hours proper dosage of 12.5% liquid chlorine is added for shocking wait 8 hrs - Start to vac the pool slowly & rinsing the filter every 5 minutes till entire pool has been vac'd - After vac procedure rinse filter & brush entire pool again -Test water & add proper dosage of Liquid chlorine for shock again Repeat procedure until you get a proper chlorine reading Also take out your ladder/stairs or anything else that can come out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
algae attack Posted May 3, 2010 Author Report Share Posted May 3, 2010 Thank you for your response Is there a brand of polyquat algaecide that you recommend? How much liquid chlorine should I add? (Leslies told me I cannot use liquid chlorine because of the liner..is that correct? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pathfinder Posted May 3, 2010 Report Share Posted May 3, 2010 If you can find a name brand that either states 40% or 60% you should be fine. 95% of the pools in our area are vinyl so bleach is fine we usually add it to the return stream that way it get circulated into the pool and doesnt stand. To calculate you bleach try using the pool calculator poolcalc. You need to find what your true CYA level is since if it is 270 as what was stated you need to take out at least 8 inches of water. If you are lucky enough to have a waste feature disregard the the rinse method vac on waste with the hose running usually start the hose 20 mins before you vac so the water level doesnt go below the skimmer. Here are pics of the progression you should see day2 day3 day4 day5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
algae attack Posted May 3, 2010 Author Report Share Posted May 3, 2010 How do I obtain an accurate CYA reading? Did I understand correctly; if the CYA is that high I should drain 8 inches OR Vac to waste? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pathfinder Posted May 3, 2010 Report Share Posted May 3, 2010 If its high you will need to drain the 8 inches. If you are able to vac on waste then do that even if your Cya is good. If it is high then vac on waste to bring it down the 8" then refill. The proper way for CYA to be tested IMO is with the turbidity test. Bring samples to all the pool stores in your area & ask to have your water tested by the person most experienced. If done properly you should have basically the same reading +/- 5ppm IMO go with the company that isnt trying to hawk chems & is ok with using liquid chlorine. Stay away from whoever tries to sell you anything extra Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulR Posted May 4, 2010 Report Share Posted May 4, 2010 The reason some people say vinyl pools should not use bleach is that if it "puddles" on the bottom it can literally bleach the liner. On the other hand... the same is true for any powdered chlorine. If you pour the bleach slowly in front of a return jet with the pump on, the bleach dissipates into the water quick enough that there's no risk to the liner. --paulr Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
algae attack Posted June 16, 2010 Author Report Share Posted June 16, 2010 If you can find a name brand that either states 40% or 60% you should be fine. 95% of the pools in our area are vinyl so bleach is fine we usually add it to the return stream that way it get circulated into the pool and doesnt stand. To calculate you bleach try using the pool calculator poolcalc. You need to find what your true CYA level is since if it is 270 as what was stated you need to take out at least 8 inches of water. If you are lucky enough to have a waste feature disregard the the rinse method vac on waste with the hose running usually start the hose 20 mins before you vac so the water level doesnt go below the skimmer. Here are pics of the progression you should see day2 day3 day4 day5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
algae attack Posted June 16, 2010 Author Report Share Posted June 16, 2010 Dear Spa Guru, I wanted to Thank you for your help in cleaning up our pool. We really appreciate your time and knowledge. We followed your instructions and won the fight against the algae. Thank you again! We truly appreciate it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chem geek Posted June 16, 2010 Report Share Posted June 16, 2010 I suggest you read the Pool School to learn how to maintain an appropriate FC level for your CYA level so that you prevent this problem from occurring in the future. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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