My pool looks like a swamp

[vanman2501]

I have a severe case of algae. When I opened my pool over a month ago it looked like a swamp. I brought my chemicals up to normal then started shocking it after two weeks and no improvement I started shocking very heavy. My chlorine is off the charts high and has been that way for over two weeks and the pool still looks the same. I have vacuumed everyday. I have spent a more money on chlorine and shock over the past 6 weeks then I normally spend in a year. I have been think about giving up and draining the pool cleaning it and starting over. In the 10 years I have had this pool I have never had this problem.

vanman2501

[Watermom]

Welcome back to the forum. Sorry to hear that you are having problems, but we can help you get it fixed.

Can you please post a current set of water testing numbers taken with a drops-based kit (no test strips, please) and let us have a look at them. Also, please tell us what type of pool you have and the volume. We also need to know exactly what all you have put in the pool -- meanining ingredients, not just "shock."

Then somebody here can better advise you.

[CarlD]

In this very section read the stickied thread "Green, Cloudy, Disgusting Pool? You have ALGAE!!!"

EVERYTHING you need to know is there.

[Chris1]

Just a suggestion...IF you have tried everything else found on this site, AND you have a cartridge filter, you may want to check your cartridges.

I had a similar problem about 8 years ago when I opened to a swamp--it was my filter cartridges. They just couldn't keep up with the enormous algae bloom I had that year. Of course, I probably helped destroy them with the amount of chlorine I had to use, along with the number of times I had to clean them--even after vacuuming to waste. We're talking SWAMP! The pool cleared very quickly after changing them.

A serious algae bloom is difficult to deal with, even if you don't have a cartridge filter. Mine originated from having a mesh safety cover. I love the fact that it's light weight and I don't have to pump water off of it in the winter, but the mesh lets in light and algae grows quickly here in the spring before opening. To alleviate this problem, I purchased a 'mesh mate' cover that floats on the pool water's surface--under the mesh safety cover. Since it's black, it blocks out the sunlight and eliminates algae growth. I open to a clean pool every spring now.

Hope this helps

[vanman2501]

I have an above ground pool. It is 24' round and has 52" walls water level about 48". It holds around 18000 gallons of water if my calculations are correct.
I have a sand filter.
I have been using bleach and super shock.
I use baking soda and borax.
My readings are
FC 15 now it's much much higher
ph 7.5
TA 90
cya 50

[aylad]

With a CYA of 50, you want to maintain your chlorine between 15 and 20 ppm for "shock" level. If you let it yo-yo up and down, it will take a much longer time to clear than if you consistently have it at or above 15, so testing and adding extra chlorine to bump it back up several times a day will help you get through this faster. Your TA and pH are good for right now. Take a look at your "super shock" ingredients--is it dichlor or cal-hypo? If it's dichlor, then I would stop using it for shocking and use bleach instead (keeping in mind that "shock" is something you do TO your pool, not what you do it WITH) so that your CYA doesn't rise anymore. There are certain situations in which higher CYA is beneficial but on the average, you need to keep it between 20-40 ppm because the higher the CYA gets, the higher baseline chlorine level you need to maintain to compensate and keep your pool algae-free. With a CYA of 50, you already are going to have to maintain at least 3 ppm chlorine at all times, and the higher your CYA gets, the higher that chlorine minimum goes as well.

If you'll keep it shocked, and keep your pump running, the pool WILL clear--just be patient and try to remember that it didn't get that way overnight, so fixing the problem takes time too. Before long it'll be crystal!

Janet

[Watermom]

A few questions for you:

What ingredient is in your super shock?
How often are you testing and adding chlorine?

Your numbers look good. If you are maintaining that high of a chlorine level and not letting it drift down before you shock it back up, it is gonna kill algae. If you let it yo-yo up and down, it isn't gonna work and that is why many people can't get rid of algae.

TA, PH, and CYA levels are good.
Re-post with answers to the questions, and we'll go from there.

[vanman2501]

I don't know what the ingredients in the shock was I bought two bottles to see if it would help but I used it and tossed out the containers. I went back to bleach since then. I have been testing and shocking it once a day. The chlorine seems to be holding well. I was surprised at that since in the past I always had trouble holding shock level when I had a bad algae problem. I just checked it and it looks the same as it did 6 weeks ago. I will be going out to do my nightly duty of vacuuming and shocking. I have to go out of town so it's on it's on for a few days. I will put a couple of chlorine tablets in the floater and open it all the way to hopefully hold the chlorine level until I return.

vanman2501

[Watermom]

You really need to test at least twice a day to see how much the chlorine is dropping between bleach additions. When you are testing each day, what chlorine reading are you getting before you add bleach? Are you running the pump 24/7? Is there any debris on the bottom that you can scoop out? If so, that will speed up this process.

[vanman2501]

The lowest my chlorine has gone is 10 but most of the time it was around 15. I don't know what is at the bottom since I can only see down maybe an inch or so. I have gotten some leaves out from vacuuming but not a lot.

vanman2501

[Watermom]

If you can consistently keep it around 15, it will clear. Try and take a net and see if you can scoop any debris out. It would be great if you could get someone to add some bleach twice a day, but if not, then just hit it hard when you return. It really is important to hit it at least twice a day with bleach. It will clear if you can maintain this sustained high cl level.

Have you taken a look at the thread right above this one called "Skeptical that Bleach will Kill Algae?" If not, take a look. The pictures are pretty awesome.

[terpanther]

My pool looked like a swamp when I opened it this year too. The cover leaked and it was full of pollen. I scooped tons of it off the bottom and it stained the water and looked like an algae problem, but has filtered out after tons of vacuuming and filtering.

[vanman2501]

Well I returned today and when I tested my chlorine it was down to 15 so I was happy with that. The water is a lighter shade of green and I can now see down about 12". I vacuumed again and added more chlorine. I was encouraged by the new green color so hopefully I will see it turn milky white soon. Where do you get DE to add to your filter? and how do you add it?

vanman2501

[AnnaK]

I have an above ground pool. It is 24' round and has 52" walls water level about 48". It holds around 18000 gallons of water if my calculations are correct.



I get 13,500 gallons. Not meaning to split hairs but when you get to the point of fine tuning the water balance, the difference in volume will make a difference in the amounts you add.

[Watermom]

You may have to get DE at a pool store. I'm not sure if places like Lowe's or Home Depot sell it in their pool supply section or not. It is added in the skimmer. Buy the smallest container of it that you can find which may be around 10 lbs. But, I wouldn't add the DE just yet. Since your water is still green, you've still got algae to kill and will most likely be backwashing frequently and will just end up throwing the DE out with the backwash. Kill the algae and then if your filter is having trouble filtering out everything, then that is the time to try adding a little DE.

[vanman2501]

I usually have trouble removing the white dead algae so I was going to give it a try when the time comes. I would guess it comes out of the filter when you backwash. I read somewhere here to add a handful. Wold hat be correct.

vanman2501

[Watermom]

Yes, it does come out of the filter when you backwash.

You want to add enough to raise the pressure on your filter by no more than 1psi. When I add it to my sand filter, I have found that the rise is not immediate like you would expect. The first few times I added it, since I didn't see the immediate rise, I assumed I hadn't added enough so I added more. And, then it was too much and my pressure went too high and I had to backwash it out and start again. I tell you that so you will know to go slow with the DE additions and then wait several minutes to see how it will affect your pressure before you add any more.

[aylad]

I saw small bags of DE at WalMart in the garden section when I was there last week.

Janet

[vanman2501]

Update
Well using my pool for memorial day is out. I am still shocking and vacuuming and my pool is still green. It has lighted a few shades. When I saw it stating to get lighter I thought I was on my way to a clear pool I am now hoping to have a pool full of dead algae in an other week or so. I am about worn out since we are now at about 8 weeks of shocking. I ramped up my chlorine even higher hoping to speed this up.

vanman2501

[Watermom]

This process should NEVER take 8 weeks. Have you been hitting it at least 2 and hopefully 3 times every day with bleach up to shock level? I think you were out of town for a few days? How long? And, did your pool have anything done to it in that time? Can you give current water testing results?

[vanman2501]

I was out of town but it was just over night I shocked it heavy before I Left and then when I returned. I put a few chlorine tabs in the floater before I left also. My chlorine level was still up when I returned. I will say to my surprise my pool was cloudy blue this morning. that's a big change from where it was. I just don't know why it is taking so long this isn't the first time I ever had to deal with algae. I looked back on what I spent on chlorine and shock since opening the pool this year it it is just under $300.00. It does look like I have had a big improvement with the way it looks now. When I vacuum I don't seem to be picking up anything. My chlorine level has held very constant considering the amount of algae in the pool. Usually it drops like a rock when I have and algae problem.

vanman2501

[Watermom]

Can you post current water testing results?

[vanman2501]

I tested this morning before shocking or doing anything to the pool.

FC 15
PH 7.5
TA 80
CYA 40

[Watermom]

And how does the water look today?

[Watermom]

Test it 2 or better yet 3 times today and each time, add enough bleach to get back to a cl level of 15. Keep doing this until your pool clears up and you do not lose more than 1 ppm of chlorine overnight. (Test it in the morning before the sun gets on the pool.) When you reach that point, I would suggest holding it at shock level for one addtional day just for good measure and then you can begin to let the cl level drift back down. Then, to keep from having this happen again, never let your chlorine level drop below 3. Always keep it between 3-6. (Unless your cya level changes. If it does, check the "Best Guess CYA Chart for the required chlorine levels you'll need to keep.)

Actually, you can test more than 3 times per day. The more often you test it and redose it with bleach the faster it will clear up.

[vanman2501]

The pool looks blue and very cloudy. I can see abut a third of the way down.

vanman2501

[aylad]

You're getting there! Keep the pump running, backwash it as your pressure indicates.

Janet

[vanman2501]

I picked up some DE and added it yesterday. Watermom you were correct about adding it slowly. I added a little waited a few minutes add more and so on until my pressure went up about a pound. I put the DE away and went back to the pool and as you predicted my pressure was very high so I had to start over. This morning you could see a big difference in clarity. I fond the DE at Lowe's I think it was about $18.00 for a life time supply with the small amount needed. It looks like I will have to do a backwash tomorrow since I noticed the pressure up a bit tonight.

vanman250

[Watermom]

Yep. Same thing happened to me the first time I added DE. I'm actually glad it did, though, because now I know to advise people that this might happen if you add too much too soon. Experience is the best teacher.

[vanman2501]

I can see the bottom of the pool today. The water is still a little cloudy but much better then it was. I have been adding the DE every time I backwash. I hope to see clear water soon.

vanman2501

[Watermom]

Glad to hear progress. Hopefully soon it will be perfectly clear.

[vanman2501]

Well my pool is finally clear. I never had it take this long or be this hard to get my pool clear. Hopefully it will be clear sailing for the rest of the summer. I grew to hate my pool it became a battle an the pool was stating to win. Thanks for all the help and support.

vanman2501

[Watermom]

Yay!!!! Finally you win. Now it is time to enjoy it.

BTW --- the pool NEVER gets to win. Patience and time always makes the pool owner win.

[AnnaK]

BTW --- the pool NEVER gets to win. Patience and time always makes the pool owner win.



I really like this comment!

It can be a lot of work to heal a sick pool but commitment and perseverance always achieve that goal.

Good work, vanman!