It's not just Newbies Who Open To Algae!

[CarlD]

Well, folks, I'm three weeks late getting my pool up and running, and I'm paying for it!

Three weeks ago the water was still clear and blue, with a lot of winter accumulation on the floor of it, but still easy. That is normally when I try to get the pump and filter running. But this year, due to family conditions (my mom in a sub-acute facility after breaking her leg) and going away during the kids' spring break, it was delayed. Further, I had the Eastern end of the deck extended and the filter is now under the new deck. So I had to move it to a more convenient location. That meant extending the 230v outlet and switch all within a waterproof environment, then moving the 200# sand filter, and, finally re-adjusting all the plumbing to fit. As an added bonus I now backwash directly in to a standpipe--no more backwash hose!.

All this means is my water today looked like disgusting green jello or worse with all kinds of stuff floating around. But, around 1pm, I got the pump started.

I cheated. I immediately grabbed a carboy out of the shed that had about 4 gal in it and unceremoniously opened the spigot into the skimmer. Probably "too much" liquid chlorine, but my liner is old and if it bleaches a little, I don't care. I'm guessing I ran the FC up to 24ppm with 0 CYA.

Around 5:30 it was a little cleaner, and I backwashed and cleaned the skimmer and checked the water. FC down to 1ppm, no CYA.

So I dug out a 5# bottle of dichlor that was mostly full and estimated that this was about what I would need to shock the water and get a minor base of CYA. Then, around 7:15, the water was definitely clearer and cleaner, and FC, was down to 5ppm.

So I poured in a gallon of LC (12.5%) and we'll see where we are in the morning.

But I start by hammering the pool with chlorine, and it doesn't matter what kind.

[PoolDoc]

Take pictures!

Ben

[CarlD]

Take pictures!

Ben

I KNEW there was something I forgot to do!!!!!!

Carl

[Big Mike]

Hey Carl,

When you turned the pump on the first time, did you run it on filter or circulate with the overload of chlorine? I'm opening up to the same thing today and I'm trying to decide if I should filter right off the bat or wait and let the bleach start killing the green jello?

[madwil]

personally, even if not dead the filter can start trapping algae, and the FC will kill it in the filter as well as out; Backwashing still gets rid of whats in the filter!
I would run in filter, unless extended periods resulted in excessive clogging!

[AnnaK]

This happened to me this year as well. The ice was all thawed, there were leaves on the bottom, the water was very cold. The night temperatures were still below freezing and we couldn't possibly connect the equipment. Time passed, the weather stayed cold, and the next thing I know the water has that unmistakable green tinge. Oops! I dumped in 3 gallons of Clorox and swished it around with the brush. That weekend we hooked up the pump and filter, I gave it another jug of bleach, and hey, everybody is happy.

Since then, I brought the test kit up from the basement. FC was good and high, CYA was 0, TA was low. I'm running with trichlor tabs for now until the CYA is where I like it, added some baking soda, put in the steps, and the dogs have been swimming since the beginning of May.

Green water happens.

The pollen this year, though, my goodness! We have honeysuckle and autumn olive and the fluffy stuff they dump is awesome! I've had to stop using the socks for a while because they clog too fast and choke my pump. As it is, I'm having to empty the basket twice a day when I run the pump during the day.

This too shall pass. Soon it'll be warm enough in these parts for me to get in the pool. I can't wait!

[CarlD]

Well,I first had to add sufficient water to get the skimmer properly covered, then I turned it on to filter. The really big junk gets caught in the skimmer anyway, and the rest backwashes out. I'm now ready to put in another dose of DE and a skimmer sock. It was SO full of junk that a skimmer sock would have been clogged in about 7 minutes!

But the key first, last and always is lots and lots of chlorine.

[CarlD]

Today's numbers, 8 days after I opened to green slime.

19,000 gallons, Vinyl, AG, 40'x16' rectangular FantaSea, 200# sand filter, 2spd Hayward SuperPump, 1hp
FC: 4.5
CC: 0
TC: 4.5
pH: 7.4
T/A: 40
CYA: 20
CH: ?
Temp: Cold

My water is crystal clear now.
I used
8 gallons of LC (12.5%),
4lbs of Di-chlor powder (left over from last season)
1 Tri-chlor tab, and (left over)
filled a floater with 1" Tri-chlor tabs twice (left over)
1 box of Borax

Since I still have tri-chlor, which I'm going to use until CYA=30, my plan is:
Watch pH. When it hits 7.0-7.1 (from the Tri-Chlor), I will add a box of Arm&Hammer Washing soda. This will raise my pH and my T/A, which is nominally low.

I put a skimmer sock in today, so I don't have to backwash as much.

From my POV, I consider my pool water essentially perfect. I won't actively make adjustments, but I will passively do so.

Now all I need are a bunch of realistic looking rubber snakes to try to keep the birds from cr@pping in the pool, which they've done more in the last week then they have done in the last 5 years.

Carl

[Watermom]

Now all I need are a bunch of realistic looking rubber snakes to try to keep the birds from cr@pping in the pool, which they've done more in the last week then they have done in the last 5 years.

Carl

And some sun to warm the pool up!!

[CarlD]

WE ARE SWIMMING!!!!!

After weeks of rain, a late opening, more rain, and FINALLY a string of sunny days we officially got in the pool today!

Here are my numbers:
FC: 8.5
CC: 0
pH: 7.6
T/A: 60
CYA: 32 (just a bit over 30)
CH: 60
Temp: 81 deg F
Air temp: HOT!!!!

Water feel: GREAT! Usually I like it warmer but it was just right today!

Now my water's been clear for 2 weeks. I used up all my Di-Chlor, used up my 1" Tri-chlor tabs, which got me the CYA.
pH has been dropping (as expected) so last week a box of Borax went in and 2 days ago a box of Washing Soda.

Now I'm done with Di-Chlor and Tri-Chlor and only LC will go in (I've got 3 carboys full) unless something changers.

[madwil]

perfect timing for the holiday weekend!
I was in the ocean for the weekend, camping about 1 mile from the beach- was glad no pool issues when I got home!
Just had to add bleach, and run the vacuum!

[CarlD]

Water went over 90 yesterday! So I left it uncovered overnight to cool it a bit, and now it's better.

Carl

[KirstenHW]

Hi Carl - I would LOVE to do the 5 gallon carboy chlorine method. Can you recommend locations in the NY/NJ/PA area that will refill them? No pool stores in Orange or Dutchess county NY has ever heard of that - they only sell pool shock by the gallon (4 jugs to a case). I looked at a chemical company online this week and I could buy cases of them prefilled - at a minimum of 36 cases (hmph) for about $1800 plus shipping. Not really what I had in mind!

Any advice you can provide would be great - thanks and have a good evening.