"What's It All About, Algae?"

Hi,

I wrote this once but think I goofed and it never got sent.

I am under a full algae attack. I have been with this pool for almost 10 years and have never had such a cloudy yellowish green pool.

I have been trying to just zap it with bleach and some shock powder. I think perhaps I am not using enough bleach. I have a 15K pool and have been putting in a gallon a night for three nights now. I just thought to leave the pump run all night a couple of nights ago but I am doing so now. Should I leave it run?

The ph is only 6.8 on the daily tester (should I try to raise this with some Borax?) and the test for chlorine is bright orange rather than yellow as on the test vial. I can't do a Chlorine Drop Count since my powder has turned a dark gray and I guess is unusable.

How can I tell when the algae is dead? Will it all settle? Will the cloudiness clear up? Should I vacuum at all before I totally kill the algae? I have been brushing and vacuuming every morning.

In other words ......... will someone please help me??

Bill

You'll get a lot better advice than mine, but this might help for starters.

First, get your ph up to 7.2 at least, but probably not too high if you have yellow mustard algae. Then, you are not using nearly enough bleach. You need to get it up to shock level, probably 15ppm or higher and maintain it for a couple of days.

Better testing methods are needed to monitor this, and you'll probably need to add bleach more than once a day. And you should test your CYA to really know how much bleach you need to kill it off.

Once you get the chlorine up, you'll know when it is effective. The water will start looking nice again, and your chlorine consumption should go down. Keep brushing and vacuuming, preferably to waste.

It really does work!

Jim

JIM, THAT WAS PERFECT!! advise!!

Bill, please follow it and should you still have problems, please post a full set of chem #s and we will work you through the problem:)

You will have to post a full set of numbers, especially the cya. One gallon a night will do nothing to a bad out break of algae. You have to get your chlorine up to shock level, and keep it there testing two or more times a day adding chlorine to get back to shock level everytime. I'll bet the algae is eating up that one gallon of bleach in an hour! Here is the best guess chart:

Use the info in this chart to help you figure out what levels of chlorine you need to maintain in your pool based on the amount of CYA (cyanuric acid, also called stabilizer) that you have in your pool. (FC = free chlorine)

Stabilizer . . . . . . Min. FC . . . . Max FC . . . 'Shock' FC
=> 0 ppm . . . . . . . 1 ppm . . . . . 3 ppm . . . . 10 ppm
=> 10 - 20 ppm . . . . 2 ppm . . . . . 5 ppm . . . . 12 ppm
=> 30 - 50 ppm . . . . 3 ppm . . . . . 6 ppm . . . . 15 ppm
=> 60 - 90 ppm . . . . 5 ppm . . . . . 10 ppm . . .. 20 ppm
=> 100 - 200 ppm . . . 8 ppm . . . . . 15 ppm . . .. 25 ppm

As you can see by this chart, it is imperative that we know your cya level. You also have to tell us what kind or pool you have- vinyl, gunite or fiberglass. You will also need to be able to test higher than 5ppms of chlorine. So I advise you to get more dpd powder, or you can use the shot glass method. The shot glass method is not as precise as dpd powder, but it will give you a general idea. If you are consistant with testing and adding chlorine, you will have your pool cleared up fast. IF not, you will have a cloudy green pool all summer:( We can help you with advice, but you will have to do the work:D

Quote:

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Originally Posted by jhm

You'll get a lot better advice than mine, but this might help for starters.

First, get your ph up to 7.2 at least, but probably not too high if you have yellow mustard algae. Then, you are not using nearly enough bleach. You need to get it up to shock level, probably 15ppm or higher and maintain it for a couple of days.

Better testing methods are needed to monitor this, and you'll probably need to add bleach more than once a day. And you should test your CYA to really know how much bleach you need to kill it off.

Once you get the chlorine up, you'll know when it is effective. The water will start looking nice again, and your chlorine consumption should go down. Keep brushing and vacuuming, preferably to waste.

It really does work!

Jim

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Thanks, Jim, et al

I really zonked it with the bleach and vacuumed frequently directly to waste. It is now crystal clear and blue once again. It kind of went through some magical transformation almost over night.

I still suppose it is advisable to get the ph up to 7.2. What is the best way to do this? Is the use of Borax advisable? Do I need to continure to run the pump 24 hours a day for awhile?

Thanks, again

Bill

Yes to Borax and to running the pump 24/7. Also, it is probably a good idea for you to post a complete set of numbers for somebody here to better be able to advise you. BTW, check your private messages. I sent you a reply.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by bill_saxon

Thanks, Jim, et al

I really zonked it with the bleach and vacuumed frequently directly to waste. It is now crystal clear and blue once again. It kind of went through some magical transformation almost over night.

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People look at me funny when I call chlorine a wonder chemical, but at least people here get it. :p