TheKs
08-13-2012, 02:59 PM
Question: How do we proceed to clear up the algae/cloudiness in our pool and then maintain it?
For two months all was fine with our NEW AG vinyl pool. On 07/20/2012 we developed algae and have been fighting it since. Some improvement, but the pool is white/green cloudy with some (dead?) algae on the bottom.
Earlier I had filled out the Pool Chart form, but not all of it. I wanted to complete it today, but couldn’t figure out how access it to edit it. So, I’ve listed a lot of additional information, below.
TAYLOR TEST KIT IS ON IT'S WAY! I thank you for any help you may be able to offer us! Peggy (TheKs)
POOL HISTORY
Regional Location: Washington, North Carolina (inner coastal region)
Purchased AG Summer Escapes Vinyl Pool 05/01/2012 – 12’ x 36” round – Approx gals: 2,000
Intex 0.5 HP 14” Sand Filter/Pump – Model SF15110 – 1600 GPH
25 LBS Aqua-Chem Pool Filter Sand Plus from Lowes (contains crystalline silica)
All day sun exposure with a nearby tree (we do NOT have problems with excessive leaves)
05/05/2012: Water Fill Levels (City Water)
Free Chlorine: 0
Total Chlorine: 0
Combined Chlorine: 0
PH: 7.6
Hardness: 80 ppm
Alkalinity: 170 ppm
Cyanuric Acid: 0
Copper: 0
Iron: 0
Chemicals used in the pool so far this season
Lowes Safer Muriatic Acid
Aqua Chem PH Down (93.2% sodium bisulphate, 6.8% other ingredients)
Aqua Chem Shock (99% dichlor)
Proteam 3” Pure Tabs (floater tablet): 99% trichlor 1% other
Proteam UV Shield (used once): no ingredients listed on the bottle
Aqua Chem Clarifier (rarely used) – no ingredients listed on the bottle
Proteam Prevent Algaecide: Active ingredients: Alkyl (50% C14, 40% C12, 10% C16), dimethyl benzyl, ammonium chloride – 50%
Other ingredients: 50%
Maintenance up until algae developed 05/07-2012 thru 07/20/2012
Shock, as needed to maintain 1-4 ppm chlorine)
Floater Tablet - every other day to maintain chlorine at 1 – 4 ppm & Cyanuric Acid at 40-50 ppm
PH Down, as needed, to maintain 7.6 – 7.8 PH
Safer Muriatic Acid from Lowes to maintain Alkalinity at approx 120 ppm
Proteam Prevent ˝ oz weekly to prevent algae
Tested chlorine/PH daily with Aqua Chem drop tester and Insta Strips
ALSO Tested weekly at our local Pool Shop
Filter on 4 hours every night
Vacuumed & brushed weekly (Walmart garden hose type vacuum)
Reduced water volume when it increased after using the garden hose vacuum
Monthly Backwash
Husband’s actions (in my absence) following the presence of algae (07/20/2012 thru 08/05/2012)
Home tested daily & twice a week with Pool Shop, same as above
Filter 6 hours nightly
Shock 2-3 times weekly
Floater tablet, left it in the pool all the time
PH decreaser, as needed
8 oz baking soda to boost Alkalinity from 80 ppm to 120 ppm (eventually crept up to 166 ppm)
Safer Muriatic Acid to reduce Alkalinity, in 3 increments with aeration (brought it down to 127 ppm)
1 oz Proteam Prevent to control algae - two times per week
Aqua Chem Clarifier: (husband added it during my 2 week absence and I don’t know how much or how often)
Maintenance since I returned (08/05/2012 – 8/13/2012)
Filter on 24/7
Home testing daily & three times a week with Pool Shop, same as above
2 cups 6% bleach, nightly, to maintain chlorine at approx 10 ppm
Muriatic Acid & aeration to maintain alkalinity at approx 120 ppm
PH Down to decrease PH and maintain at 7.6 – 7.8
Floater tablet removed because it was increasing the Cyanuric Acid level quite rapidly
Vacuuming with new Pool Blaster Catfish & filter vacuums: 3 times daily
Brushing: daily
Backwashing/Rinsing: weekly
Current pool levels (as of 08/13/2012)
Free Chlorine 10.23 ppm
Total Chlorine 10.23 ppm
Combined Chlorine 0
PH 8.6 (added 8ozs PH Decreaser today)
Hardness 58.0 ppm
Alkalinity 127.0 ppm
Cyanuric Acid 58.0 ppm (removed tablet floater from the pool)
Copper 0
Iron 0
For two months all was fine with our NEW AG vinyl pool. On 07/20/2012 we developed algae and have been fighting it since. Some improvement, but the pool is white/green cloudy with some (dead?) algae on the bottom.
Earlier I had filled out the Pool Chart form, but not all of it. I wanted to complete it today, but couldn’t figure out how access it to edit it. So, I’ve listed a lot of additional information, below.
TAYLOR TEST KIT IS ON IT'S WAY! I thank you for any help you may be able to offer us! Peggy (TheKs)
POOL HISTORY
Regional Location: Washington, North Carolina (inner coastal region)
Purchased AG Summer Escapes Vinyl Pool 05/01/2012 – 12’ x 36” round – Approx gals: 2,000
Intex 0.5 HP 14” Sand Filter/Pump – Model SF15110 – 1600 GPH
25 LBS Aqua-Chem Pool Filter Sand Plus from Lowes (contains crystalline silica)
All day sun exposure with a nearby tree (we do NOT have problems with excessive leaves)
05/05/2012: Water Fill Levels (City Water)
Free Chlorine: 0
Total Chlorine: 0
Combined Chlorine: 0
PH: 7.6
Hardness: 80 ppm
Alkalinity: 170 ppm
Cyanuric Acid: 0
Copper: 0
Iron: 0
Chemicals used in the pool so far this season
Lowes Safer Muriatic Acid
Aqua Chem PH Down (93.2% sodium bisulphate, 6.8% other ingredients)
Aqua Chem Shock (99% dichlor)
Proteam 3” Pure Tabs (floater tablet): 99% trichlor 1% other
Proteam UV Shield (used once): no ingredients listed on the bottle
Aqua Chem Clarifier (rarely used) – no ingredients listed on the bottle
Proteam Prevent Algaecide: Active ingredients: Alkyl (50% C14, 40% C12, 10% C16), dimethyl benzyl, ammonium chloride – 50%
Other ingredients: 50%
Maintenance up until algae developed 05/07-2012 thru 07/20/2012
Shock, as needed to maintain 1-4 ppm chlorine)
Floater Tablet - every other day to maintain chlorine at 1 – 4 ppm & Cyanuric Acid at 40-50 ppm
PH Down, as needed, to maintain 7.6 – 7.8 PH
Safer Muriatic Acid from Lowes to maintain Alkalinity at approx 120 ppm
Proteam Prevent ˝ oz weekly to prevent algae
Tested chlorine/PH daily with Aqua Chem drop tester and Insta Strips
ALSO Tested weekly at our local Pool Shop
Filter on 4 hours every night
Vacuumed & brushed weekly (Walmart garden hose type vacuum)
Reduced water volume when it increased after using the garden hose vacuum
Monthly Backwash
Husband’s actions (in my absence) following the presence of algae (07/20/2012 thru 08/05/2012)
Home tested daily & twice a week with Pool Shop, same as above
Filter 6 hours nightly
Shock 2-3 times weekly
Floater tablet, left it in the pool all the time
PH decreaser, as needed
8 oz baking soda to boost Alkalinity from 80 ppm to 120 ppm (eventually crept up to 166 ppm)
Safer Muriatic Acid to reduce Alkalinity, in 3 increments with aeration (brought it down to 127 ppm)
1 oz Proteam Prevent to control algae - two times per week
Aqua Chem Clarifier: (husband added it during my 2 week absence and I don’t know how much or how often)
Maintenance since I returned (08/05/2012 – 8/13/2012)
Filter on 24/7
Home testing daily & three times a week with Pool Shop, same as above
2 cups 6% bleach, nightly, to maintain chlorine at approx 10 ppm
Muriatic Acid & aeration to maintain alkalinity at approx 120 ppm
PH Down to decrease PH and maintain at 7.6 – 7.8
Floater tablet removed because it was increasing the Cyanuric Acid level quite rapidly
Vacuuming with new Pool Blaster Catfish & filter vacuums: 3 times daily
Brushing: daily
Backwashing/Rinsing: weekly
Current pool levels (as of 08/13/2012)
Free Chlorine 10.23 ppm
Total Chlorine 10.23 ppm
Combined Chlorine 0
PH 8.6 (added 8ozs PH Decreaser today)
Hardness 58.0 ppm
Alkalinity 127.0 ppm
Cyanuric Acid 58.0 ppm (removed tablet floater from the pool)
Copper 0
Iron 0