Algae problem!!! Can't get rid of green in my pool!! Please help!

I have a Intex 15ft by 4 ft deep pool.

It's the one with the metal poles. We had the same problem last year, so I got a bigger pump. Instead of the 1000 gallon per hour filter/pump, I upgraded to the 1500 gallon per hour pump. Well didn't help. I have put tons of shock in the pool, algecide, I have raised the PH and lowered the PH. (I have test strips). I have tried to vacuum the pool. EVERYTHING!! I've spend TOOOOO much money on chemicals and I don't know what else to do.

I'll shock it one day and the next I'll test the water and it says no free chlorine. HELP PLEASE!!!

15 x 4 -- 3.3 ft water depth => 4,200 gallon or so; PF:29

Ok.

+ Pour in 1/2 gallon of PLAIN Walmart brand household bleach tonight. Do the SAME thing, tomorrow night.
+ Get a test kit (guess-strips do NOT count - info below!)
+ STOP using pool store pool 'goop' --nothing else EXCEPT
+ If your pH is more than 8 or less than 7, adjust that.
+ Run your filter 24/7

More info below. Once you've done the stuff above, and have test results, tell us.

Ben

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+ It's much easier to answer your questions, when we have the details about your pool in one place. We often 'waste' the first few posts back and forth collecting information. So, please complete our new Pool Chart form -- it takes about 30 seconds, but will save much more than that.

Pool Chart Entry Form

+ 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.)

+ Having a good test kit makes pool care easier for EVERYONE, but is an ESSENTIAL tool for pools with problems. A good test kit means a kit that can test chlorine from 0 - 25 ppm, pH, alkalinity, calcium hardness, and stabilizer with reasonable accuracy. Test strips (AKA 'guess-strips' ) do NOT meet this standard. Some pool store testing is accurate; most is not. The ONLY way you'll know whether your pool store is accurate or bogus, is by testing accurately your own self. On the other hand, pool store 'computer' dosing recommendations are NEVER trustworthy -- ignore them. They are designed to sell more chemicals than you need, and WILL cause many pool problems.

+ We recommend the Taylor K-2006 test kit, which meets the requirements above, for many reasons. The HTH 6-way drops kit is a great starter kit, and is compatible with the K2006 (it's made by Taylor). There are a few alternatives; for example Lamotte makes an FAS-DPD kit that's OK -- but it costs 3x as much. But, we're not aware of any test that is better, and since we are all familiar with the K-2006 (and can help you with it) we recommend it exclusively ( Test kit info page )

One caution for the 2012 season: Amazon does not stock the kits directly. So when buying at Amazon, Amato is our current preferred seller. However, they often don't list enough stock to last the whole day, so try order mid-morning. You should expect a delivered cost under $60 for the K2006A and under $95 for the K2006C. If you can't find that, wait a day.

+ Here are links to the kits we recommend (you can check local availability on the HTH kit, using the Walmart link):

HTH 6-Way Test Kit @ Walmart
Taylor K2006A (3/4 oz bottles) @ Amazon
Taylor K2006C (2 oz bottles) @ Amazon

+ The OEM cartridges in Intex / Summer Escapes / etc. filters are not high quality. The Intex manuals recommend replacing them completely every 2 weeks. A BETTER option is to replace them permanently with 2 - 3 Unicel cartridges, and rotating them through a cleaning solution. Properly maintained, the Unicel cartridges will last all season AND will filter better. So even though they cost more per cartridge, they cost less per season! Learn to maintain them, by reading this post, Cleaning-your-Cartridge-Filter-wiithout-Damaging-It!

But, purchasing them is tricky. Amazon does not consistently stock them, and some of the 3rd party sellers are charging high prices and/or high shipping. So, check the Amazon link, but watch out for the prices and shipping costs.

It would be nice if you could just buy them elsewhere, but many of the online pool stores are listing Pleatco or other Asian made low quality filters, as "Unicel C-4607 type" or "fits Unicel C-4607". So shop carefully!

Here are the Amazon links:

Unicel C-4607 Replacement Filter Cartridge (Easy Set Size A or C) @ Amazon
Unicel C-5315 Replacement Filter Cartridge for 15 Square Foot Intex B Filter @ Amazon

Hi, fellow West Virginian and welcome to the Pool Forum!

In addition to the info that Ben gave you, I want to give you a little more details about how to adjust your pH if needed. If it falls below 7.2, you'll want to use a little 20 Mule Team Borax (laundry aisle at Walmart) to raise it. If it goes above 7.8ppm, you'll want to use some muriatic acid to lower it but please read the link in Ben's signature above about using muriatic acid safely.