15'x4' Intex with algae--help!

We have had this pool for 4 years and have done pretty well with just the Intex salt water thing (SWCG) and manual vacuuming with a Catfish pool vac. The original pump died this year and we replaced it with a 1000 gal/hr Intex pump. We use a solar cover and the pool gets nice and warm as soon as the first heat wave hits!

We are having a lot of trouble with algae. I have been reading the forums a bit and it's clear that we need to get a real test kit and get on top of the chemistry.

I'm looking for any advice about combating algae with the least amount of chemicals and advice about which automatic pool vac is best for our little pool. Neither the Catfish nor the plain ol' mesh skimmer catch these little particles...they stir up when I vacuum and then settle right back down. SIGH.

Thanks--

You are right that you need to get a good test kit. The one we recommend is the Taylor K-2006 or 2006C which you can get through the test kit page in my signature below. Go ahead and order one (only available online) but you'll need something to use in the meantime. Get a cheap OTO (yellow drops) / phenol test kit, or if available at YOUR Walmart (check availability), get the HTH 6-way DROPS test kit, which is compatible with the Taylor K2006. Test the pool as soon and you can, and post the results. If you get the 6-way kit, ALSO test the water you FILL the pool with, especially if it's a well, and post THOSE results as well. (The HTH is the best available kit you're likely to find locally, but it's not the K-2006. It can only provide rough measurements chlorine levels above 5 ppm, and it measures "TOTAL" hardness, rather than "CALCIUM" hardness, which is not ideal.)

Also, please fill out our pool chart with information about your pool which makes it easier for us to help.

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Tell us what all products you have used and their ingredients. Once we have testing numbers and the other information I requested, somebody here can better advise you.

Regarding the vacuum question, I'll have to let someone else answer that part as I am not familiar with the vacs for these little pools. You might try buying some skimmer socks to see if they will help trap some of the finer particles.

Welcome to the Pool Forum!

Only your pool filter will catch fine particles from dead algae. Getting a vacuum set that allows you to vacuum directly to the filter will work.