Recovering from algae!

Hi, I'm a one month Intex pool owner. I just discovered this forum. I spent two hours vacuuming algae from the bottom of my pool today. I used the flocking treatment green to blue from Lowes. Up to this point, I've been guided by Leslie's local pool store. I have used Chlor-Brite every week, along with phos free, and 3" chlorine tabs. However, I had not been checking the ph until I started reading through various forums. My pool is not sparkling, it is rather slightly blue green in color as of 3 hours after vacuuming today. I put in 1 lb of Chlor-Brite again, because I just have no idea how to proceed from here. And Leslis is stroking my check book.

When I filled the pool, I was instructed (Leslie's) to add a conditioner, a shock treatment, and chlorine tabs. And i've been using baking soda to elevate ph. Today it was between 6.8 &7.2. I added 4 lbs baking soda. Every time I try to test the chlorine, it is bright orange, I'm thinking that means it's through the roof.

I have read so far here, the intex guide, and the necessity of the test kit.

What next. I don't want to vacuum algae again!

H.E.L.P.

You can use this chart to help decipher those off the chart chlorine levels:> http://pool9.net/oto-chart/

You would do yourself a big favor if you would go ahead and get the Taylor K2006 or 2006C (better buy) kit. Link is here:> http://pool9.net/tk/

Do you have any idea what your CYA level is? Call your Leslie's store and ask if they use the 'disappearing black dot' CYA test. If they do, let them test it for you but don't let them talk you into buying a bunch of stuff while you are there!

Instead of using baking soda to raise pH, use 20 Mule Team Borax instead (laundry aisle at Walmart).

Post some current numbers and someone here will advise you of next steps. Also give us the volume of the pool. Look at the ingredients on the products you have used and see if any of them have any copper in them. If so, we need to know that, too. Lastly, tell us if you fill from a well or city water.

Welcome to the Pool Forum!

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My Leslie's test as of this morning
FAC 8
TAC 8
CH 300
CYA 90
TA 120
PH 7.2
Iron 0
Copper 0
Phos 100

I have not added anything today.

I used city water, which had no metals. According to Leslie's. The capacity is 10,750 gallons. Houston, Tx. Intex 22x52.

Let's go ahead and have you shock the pool back up to see if we can clear up the water. With a CYA of 90ppm, your shock level is going to be 20ppm. You can see our chart that shows the relationship between CYA and chlorine here:> http://pool9.net/cl-cya/

In a pool this size, each quart of plain, unscented 8.25% bleach (generic Walmart is fine) will add about 2ppm of chlorine and each of the 121-oz jugs will add about 7.3. You can use those numbers as a reference to help you figure out how much to add.

With a CYA of 90, you're going to need the K2006 kit I mentioned previously so that you'll be able to measure the high chlorine levels that you are going to have to run to keep algae away. In the meantime you can use that color chart I linked up in my previous post that can help you deciper what the high chlorine levels look like on your OTO kit.

You'll want to keep your chlorine high until you can go from sundown one evening to within an hour or so of sunrise the next morning without losing more than 1ppm of chlorine AND you have a CC reading that is no higher than 0.5ppm AND your water is clear. (The K2006 can measure CC. Your kit cannot.)

I'm assuming that the Leslie's shock is dichlor which adds CYA. The trichlor tabs also add CYA. Honestly, your CYA is already too high. Don't use any more shock powder, just use plain bleach. Whether or not to use more of the trichlor tabs is a little more tricky. How many do you have left? Are they wrapped or unwrapped? If you log out and go to the top of the section of the forum called "Pool Chemicals and Pool Water Problems," there is a stickied thread that talks about what to do with leftover pool chemicals that you should read.

Keep an eye on your pH. You're ok at 7.2 but if it goes any lower, use some Borax to bump it up. By the way, it is the dichlor and trichlor that are causing it to be so low as they are both very acidic.

Run your pump 24/7 while you are trying to clear the pool, cleaning your filter as needed.

I'm assuming you have the cheap Intex cartridges. You'll have better luck if you replace those with some better ones. In our page that has our simple start-up recipe (which won't work for you, by the way), if you scroll down, it gives some info about replacing the cartridges with some other ones that are better. http://pool9.net/ssr/

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Hope this helps. Come back if you have more questions and we'll try to help.

I have an Intex sf60110 sand system. .95h with 16" filter 120lb capacity
Is there a table referencing how much borax to use?
Thanks for you help!

I would do a cup or two at a time. You can add Borax slowly to the skimmer while the pump is running, breaking up any clumps. Then after a few hours, retest and redose as needed.