Algae! Oh, and 0 CYA again.

aaaack! I've got two problems. One is "husband-caused" algae (cloudy water, slightly slimy walls and billowy white snotty-looking floaters); the other is consistently non-existent CYA in my pool that remains partly shaded all day.

CYA first...after getting "0" (the water never got cloudy, so dot never disappeared), I added cyanuric acid to a sock in front of the skimmer, squeezing every once in a while. It all dissolved from the sock within 3 days. Of course I could not resist testing at that point - still 0 (yes, I know I should have waited a week, but my Taylor K-2006 is a fairly new toy and I was going to be unavailable for a week or so, so ...LOL).

here were my test results 7/8/13 at 6:30am:
*FC: 3.5
*CC: 0.5
*pH: 7.6
*TA: 150
*CYA: 0

Left hubs with instructions to test Cl & pH every day or so with the teensy walmart kit. He forgot. Apparently, that the pool even existed.

This afternoon, I returned and skipped to the pool in my bathing suit & carrying the little test kit (planning to do a full test when we finished swimming). When I removed the cover, I saw the water conditions I mentioned above. I remember reading about those slimy floaters somewhere in the forum, so I knew it was algae of some sort so I promptly emptied a couple bottles of 8.25% bleach in, turned the pump to recirculate and brushed the walls and floor like a mad woman.

I went inside, cried a little and decided to lose myself in a book for a few minutes. After two hours, I got scared & tested the water with these results:

7/16/13, 6:22pm:
*FC: 30
*CC: 1
*pH: 8+ (darker than the top color)
*TA: 125
*CYA: 0 (zero! 8 days after adding the cyanuric acid! what the hey??)

I know to keep my FC at shock level, but I think it's currently at shock level for if my CYA was 30-50. I also think I know to keep my pump on recirculate with the jet shooting the water slightly up out of water level (not sure how long until I should filter?) and to brush and vac to waste every day until the water's beautiful again. Right? Does that sound like I have a handle on what I need to do to get rid of the algae/cloudiness?

OK, so what could be the problem with CYA level? Should I add more now? Or wait until the water's clear and sparkly again?

And why might my pH have risen? Does that matter?

Thanks in advance for any help/reassurance you can give!

How much CYA did you add?

The pH test is inaccurate with chlorine that high. Mix a sample with half pool water and half distilled water and then rerun your pH test. (Do not multiply by 2 or anything like that. Just read the result.)

Keep at shock level but not as high as you have it now. Reread the Best Guess chart below. You can leave it on recirculate if you want but when the algae is dead, it is your filter that is going to remove it.

Thanks, Watermom! I added 1 lb (1/4 of container), which, according to the directions for my size pool, should have raised it to 20ppm (I did not want to raise it too quickly and end up with CYA higher than intended).

I haven't been out to get distilled water yet, so no pH test, but I was shocked by how clear (not sparkly, but still clear) my pool was this morning. I've been filtering for approx. 15hrs. Test results:

7/17/13 10:30am
*FC: 20.5
*CC: 0.5
*TA: 150
*CYA: 0

Maybe that *wasn't* algae...?

FYI -- the CYA test cannot differentiate levels below 30ppm. So, your reading probably isn't 0. You are going to want to go higher than 20ppm or else you will never be able to keep any chlorine in the pool. Go ahead and add another pound of CYA.

Thanks, Watermom. I actually don't have too much trouble with Cl level usually - maybe b/c there are usually just the boy and me swimming and the pool is mostly shaded all day (never fully sunlit), but I have noticed a real drop after my nephews swim with us. Dirty stinky boys! :) Aaanyway, I put another pound of CYA into the sock and I'm going to keep the Cl level high for several days just in case. The knowledge on this forum and sister site is well worth the subscriber fee, but what's invaluable is the hand-holding and assurances from you moderators!

Thanks for your kind words!

(P.S. I agree about the stinky boys, lol! I can say that; I am the mom to 3 boys myself! ;) )