Pollen in pool?

[Dj4709]

Hello everyone, I was wondering if anyone can help me try to stop this problem. I have never owned a pool before last year and the previous owners of our house didn't take great care of it, in my opinion. But we have some trees on lot and our neighbors tree are very close to where the pool is. Last year after a frustrating experience opening the pool, I kept finding what I would describe as powdery dirt on the bottom of the pool, and along the seams in the liner. If I vacuumed one day it would be back the next. Our pool store said it is probably pollen among other things and eventually suggested a skimmer "sock" to reduce it and it really has not helped. After lurking on this forum, I have read some posts similar to my problem and people suggest that it may algae, and that is very difficult to get rid of. So after a long winded explanation of my issue, Is there any way I can tell which is which?

Thanks,
DJ

[Watermom]

Post a complete set of current water testing results taken with a drops based kit for us to look at.

I kind of have the same problem with vacuuming one day and the lines of dirt being back the next day, but in my pool, I know it is not algae. It is just dust and dirt. The pad under my liner was taped together and this dust/dirt just wants to settle in those lines. That may be the same thing that is happening with your pool, but if you post your readings, that may also help us determine if it could be algae. Also, tell us the volume of the pool and type of filter and size of pump. Welcome to the forum!

[Dj4709]

Sorry I forgot to post the numbers. Here are the test results from earlier today. The only thing I can test is CYA, I used the last of the reagent earlier this week and none and had to order some more. I post the last results for that.

We have a approximately 30K inground pool with a vinyl liner. Our filter is a Aquatools sand filter, but last year a pool service we dealt with suggested we change the filter media to Zeobest and we have a Pentair 1HP pump.

FC: 3.8
CC: 0 ( Don't get a result, following Taylor instructions)
ph: 7.4
Akal: 140
CA: 340 (again didn't really get a result, stopped after 34 drops. Never turned blue)

Thanks,
DJ

[CarlD]

Until you get your reagent, what was your last CYA amount?

Had I been in your place, once I saw 34 drops I would have continued. After 40 drops (400ppm) I'd be nervous. If you reached 50 drops (500ppm) you'd be close to getting cloudiness from calcium. Clearly you have a lot of calcium and should NOT use Cal-Hypo for chlorination or for shocking.

Carl

[madwil]

If your FC stays constant overnight, it is not algae; algae eats a lot of chlorine, and it will show on the overnight test.
in the meantime, you need to assume your last CYA test (if since any addition or refill) is the same now, and maintain FC according to that CYA number...
I get a lot of dust/pollen in my pool, just means I have to vacuum...

[Watermom]

If you get a CC reading of 0, that is good. Zero is ideally what you want.

[Dj4709]

My CYA a few days ago was 35.

Regarding the calcium. I wasn't sure if the test was right. It really didn't turn red on the first part. Only a light pink and then no blue on the second part. So I figured I did something wrong. That is good info on the Cal Hypo. I will test again tomorrow and see what I come up with.

I was concerned about the CC, I am using the reagents from last year and kept them in the basement. I'm not sure what shelf life they have, I have read to use new ones every year, but because I didn't get the kit until late last year, I didn't really use them that much

Thanks,
DJ

[Watermom]

Your test reagents should still be fine.

[CarlD]

So far, it just sounds like you, like all of us are getting lots of pollen but your water is still generally OK. FC=4, CC=0, pH=7.4 and CYA=35.
Since CYA may be higher, I'd bump FC up to 6 for now (the high end of the FC range rather than the lower part), and if you need to shock it, raise it to 15.

For now, leave Tot Alk and Calcium alone. You may well not need to do anything once the pollen season passes.

Carl

[Dj4709]

Thanks for all the info. I have received more help in the last few days than I did from the pool store all last year. Thanks again. I'm sure I will be posting some more to pick your brains for some more help.

DJ

[Watermom]

We'll be here. Glad you are finding the forum so beneficial!

[waterbear]

My CYA a few days ago was 35.

Regarding the calcium. I wasn't sure if the test was right. It really didn't turn red on the first part. Only a light pink and then no blue on the second part. So I figured I did something wrong.
Nope, it turns from pink to sky blue.
If your calcium is high and you have a Taylor kit then read the small print at the bottom of the calcium test section on the lid where it tell you how to do the test with a 10 ml sample so each drop of titrant equals 25 ppm calcium hardness. It does not have as much precision but if your calcium is around 400 ppm or higher it's all the precision you really need.
Just to make it esier (even though these instructions are printed inside the lid of the blue box) use
10 ML sample of pool water (instead of 25 ml)
10 drops of R-0010 (instead of 20)
3 drops of R-0011 (instead of 5)
then every drop of R-0012 equals 25 ppm of calcium hardness (instead of 10 ppm)

This page on the Taylor website (http://www.taylortechnologies.com/products_choose_slideshow.asp) has a lot of educational videos on how to do the various tests. You might find it useful.

[Dj4709]

Ok. I think I figured out the calcium test results, with everyone's help. The reading I have is 100 going with filling the compactor to the 10 ml mark.

I think I'm starting to get the hang of this. Thanks to this forum!