Little green on stairs

[dansdad]

My pool looks clean, I sanitize with 12% chlorine weekly 1.5 gallons, but I still get some green on my stairs. Do I need to brush more often? add more chlorine? Its not bather load as we haven't used the pool at all as we have been away. Not a lot of trees either. Thanks Dave

[Watermom]

What is your CYA level and are you keeping your chlorine in range per the Best Guess Chlorine Chart?

[dansdad]

thanks Wmom I did not check I will now

[dansdad]

just got back Watermom, No chlorine at all 3 dippers and nothing. Today is the day I normally sanitize. I put in 2 gallons and tomorrow I will check and get back. Again thanks

[Watermom]

How often are you testing and adding chlorine. Sounds like not often enough.

[dansdad]

Just once a week. Maybe I will test every other day. What do you think? Thx Dave

[Watermom]

With testing and adding chlorine only once per week, it is no wonder you are getting algae. We recommend testing chlorine and pH daily. Especially while you are learning how your pool behaves. Doesn't take more than 5 minutes tops.

[dansdad]

ok ...understood will test daily till further notice. Thanks Watermom

[dansdad]

ok Watermom, I'm at 2.1 on my chlorine and 40 on stab. or cya. Im afraid all my ch burned off and if I add more it will go also, until I do something about stabilization

[Watermom]

A CYA of 40 is a good reading. We typically recommend 40-50 for most pools. If you want to bump it up to 50, that would be fine.

Since you dropped below the recommended minimum of 3ppm and you have a little algae on the stairs, then you should shock your pool to kill it and clear it up. Also, brush the pool especially where you see the algae. Run your pump 24/7 while you are clearing it up.

Once you get the green cleared up, then the testing process for your pool will be this. When you test your chlorine each evening, add enough to take your chlorine level back up to around 6ppm. For reference, using a quart of 12% will add about 2.3ppm of chlorine to your pool. By the next evening, if you find that your chlorine level has dipped below 3ppm, then take it up to 7ppm. You want to take it high enough that you never drop below 3ppm by the following evening.

Hope this helps.

[dansdad]

Thanks again Watermom, on my way to sweep, add 1 Quart, and run the pump 24 hrs Dave

[Watermom]

Instead of only adding a quart, take it up to shock level. If you are not sure about that, take a look at the Best Guess Chlorine Chart in my signature.

[dansdad]

Im sure it will many thanks, Dave

[dansdad]

BTW Watermom are those little pups Goldens?

[Watermom]

Yes, they are goldens although they are now 2 years old, both little girls. We also have a 9 yr old golden, also a female, but not the mother to the young ones. Maybe I'll post a more recent picture of them one day when I get a minute.

[dansdad]

Well Watermom, last night was war! clorine 2.1, ph 7.8, cya 30.......so Added stabilizer, muriatic acid and 1 pack of shock. All things according to pool calculator. I know "shock" is a verb not a noun, but I added diclor. I'll recheck and get back tonight

[dansdad]

Watermom, ok today I'm up to 3.1 ch. 7.4 ph 100 ta, I ran out of my titrant for cya. I will do that tomorrow. Pool Calc said 1 qt. 12% to get to 6 on my ch. level

[Watermom]

Chlorine of 2 or 3ppm won't kill algae. With a CYA of 30, you need to be taking the chlorine up to 15 to be at shock level.

[dansdad]

will just 12% chlorine do it or do I need to start a shock program like a bag a day until its ch.12 or better?

[dansdad]

Ok Watermom, I got the titrant and the cya is so bad I can still see the black dot on my 2006. Looks like maybe 25. pool calculator says about 4 cups stabilizer then chlorine. My chlorine is down to 2.3 I have some bags of shock maybe 2 bags, more stabilizer. BTW how would you add stabilizer? I was told use a sock

[Watermom]

What are the ingredients on the bags of shock?

[dansdad]

BTW how long does it take for granular stabilizer to show a difference. I cannot even tell if I have any

[dansdad]

calcium hypochlorite 73%
other ingredients 27%
minimum 70% available chlorine

If you think I need another type I will get it

[Watermom]

If your CYA is less than 30, it won't be detected.

How much total CYA have you added to the pool?

Have you used any dichlor shock or any trichlor tabs?

[dansdad]

Total as of yesterday 4 cups granular stabilizer, have not used dichlor nor trichlor. I have in the past and can get more pronto

The shock I used before is Trichloro-s-trianzinetrione 67%
other ingredients 33%
total100%
Available Chlorine 60.3%

as I have a fiberglass pool does it matter which one? or is the Trichloro better?

[dansdad]

what about 2 bags ( 20 oz) of triclo and 6 cups of stabilizer. Should that slow down the process and then keep cl at 5

[Watermom]

By weight, do you know how much granular CYA you have added?

[dansdad]

I would say at least 16-20 oz. I did it by volume 4 cups last night, but that is approx. 20 oz.

[dansdad]

Watermom, its hard to tell weight as my conditioned didn't come in a bag, just a tub. But looking back if I were to put the 4# in bag form it would probably be 3 bags, hence 3 #

[dansdad]

Well Watermom, another reason for me to look at what I'm doing. My pool man sold me what I was told was stabilizer, ( I've had this stuff for 3 months) started reading closely...94% calcium chloride!!!!!!! This stuff is for calcium, NOT stabilizer. my readings are not bad luckily its been unseasonably cool here but in the morning I'm heading to get 2 items.
1. Stabilizer. 2. Shock that is Trichloro. Wish me luck. Learning the hard way

[stma]

DansDad: Let me jump in here since I've been having some stabilizer issues as well.... Once you're pool guy sells you the "correct" stabilizing product, perhaps dose as if you have a CYA reading of -Zero- Most stabilizers read 1 lb of stabilizer in 3000 gallons gives you a CYA level of 40ppm...Based on that math, you would need 4 lbs.
Following the direction on the FORUM and NOT on the container label, place the stabilizer in a tied off sock, and place the sock in front of your pools return...(( You probably will not be able to get 4 lbs of granules in one sock ))... Give the sock a "squeeze" every so often to hurry the process...
After the stabilizer has dissolved into the water, you really need to wait a good 5-7 days prior to testing for CYA to get an accurate read, for it takes that long for the CYA to "enter" the water.
FYI: only ingredient you should see on the Stabilizer container is: Cyanuric Acid: 100%

[Watermom]

DansDad,
I doubt you'll be able to buy trichlor shock. Most shock is dichlor or cal-hypo. Why don't you just buy some plain, unscented bleach to use to shock the pool and then just add some CYA separately.

[dansdad]

That I can and.WILL DO thanks much

[dansdad]

stabilizer is in socks and in pool. bleach too, but I found trichloro to use if needed gotta wait till cya kicks in. And STMA Chime in anytime you wish. if it were not for this site I would be a MESS. waiting now hopefully it wont get blistering hot and I can control the pool

[stma]

Watermom has a great point (As Always) ... Tri-Chlor is now adding additional CYA that you "may not" need at this point... especially if you now have "socks" of stabilizer in the pool.... the straight unscented, "cheapest you can find" 8.25% bleach is Calcium Hypo (chlorine) no additives, no inert material etc.. That IS THE BEST way to sanitize your water as it gives you total control of what you're actually putting into your water...

[dansdad]

I'm looking for 8% have to settle for bleach probably 5%

[dansdad]

Got lucky went to WM and they had 8 .25% bleach 3.00 not great but not bad either. Got 4 gallons. SSHHH! please don't anyone I went there

[dansdad]

Tested the beast today all is good but I want cl higher its at 3.0
thanks to all of you I am winning, but I'm going to keep ahead if it lots of chlorine, and bleach.