LoveToSwim
04-25-2006, 06:27 PM
I've browsed this forum over the last few years since we put in a pool and have learned a lot. For background ... we have a 10,000 gallon inground gunite pool with an 8' spillover spa, AquaRite salt chlorinator, 2-speed pump & solar panels.
As of earlier this week, we had our first major problem -- a perfectly green pool. I immediately went out and brushed the entire pool/spa as best as I could and then added liquid bleach (& acid because our pH was high).
During swimming season I monitor the chemical levels frequently, however over the winter months things slipped. I wasn't monitoring the chlorine because I thought that since the temperature was so cold we wouldn't have any problems. We do have a salt chlorinator, but it doesn't generate chlorine when the water temperature drops below a certain level (I think it's around 55 degrees). Over the last few weeks it has started warming up here and the water temperature has been in the low 60's, and I should have been more diligent about checking the pool, but wasn't. So, I assume that's how the green algae started to grow.
Our current readings are:
Chlorine: 15ppm
pH: 7.2
Total Alk: 80
Calcium Hard: 200
CYA: basically 0 (I need to add, but need to get some first)
The chlorine level has been @ 15ppm for two days now and I've been running the pump 24/7. The green algae on the bottom of the pool and walls actually cleared up right away when I added the chlorine. Keeping the chlorine level high has made the algae disappear to my *naked* eye -- but I suspect it's still there.
I've got a couple of concerns ...
1. When I brushed on the 1st day that I noticed the green growth, since the walls are not perfectly straight and there are alot of curves, I couldn't get all of the areas brushed well (or even at all in some places). Is this going to be a problem once I lower the chlorine to the standard level?
2. How long should I maintain chlorine at 15ppm? It's been 2 days so far.
3. From here on out, as long as I maintain the chemicals properly should everything be fine, or will there be some other related problems from this algae outbreak?
Any comments are appreciated - thanks!
As of earlier this week, we had our first major problem -- a perfectly green pool. I immediately went out and brushed the entire pool/spa as best as I could and then added liquid bleach (& acid because our pH was high).
During swimming season I monitor the chemical levels frequently, however over the winter months things slipped. I wasn't monitoring the chlorine because I thought that since the temperature was so cold we wouldn't have any problems. We do have a salt chlorinator, but it doesn't generate chlorine when the water temperature drops below a certain level (I think it's around 55 degrees). Over the last few weeks it has started warming up here and the water temperature has been in the low 60's, and I should have been more diligent about checking the pool, but wasn't. So, I assume that's how the green algae started to grow.
Our current readings are:
Chlorine: 15ppm
pH: 7.2
Total Alk: 80
Calcium Hard: 200
CYA: basically 0 (I need to add, but need to get some first)
The chlorine level has been @ 15ppm for two days now and I've been running the pump 24/7. The green algae on the bottom of the pool and walls actually cleared up right away when I added the chlorine. Keeping the chlorine level high has made the algae disappear to my *naked* eye -- but I suspect it's still there.
I've got a couple of concerns ...
1. When I brushed on the 1st day that I noticed the green growth, since the walls are not perfectly straight and there are alot of curves, I couldn't get all of the areas brushed well (or even at all in some places). Is this going to be a problem once I lower the chlorine to the standard level?
2. How long should I maintain chlorine at 15ppm? It's been 2 days so far.
3. From here on out, as long as I maintain the chemicals properly should everything be fine, or will there be some other related problems from this algae outbreak?
Any comments are appreciated - thanks!