Green pool

Here's the sand algae page:

http://www.poolforum.com/pf2/showthr...111-Sand-Algae

Sorry for the delay in responding but our Polaris was not working. I think we are back on track now.

I looked at the pictures posted on the "sand algae" topic and the picture of the "eye" looks like what we have. While working on the Polaris, I rubbed it with vinegar and it did do the trick - with a little elbow grease. It is the color of dull mustard and feels like sandpaper.

It has been a week since signing on with the BBB method and I realize how much there is to learn. The pool is greatly improved. It is light green in color and cloudy. The ring I spoke of still exists but it appears to be lighter in the shallow end.

FC 10, CC .5, Ph 7.5, TA 150, CH 140, CYA 30 What next?

Thank you for your input.

Read this page: http://www.poolsolutions.com/gd/lowe...p-by-step.html

and, then lower your alkalinity to around 60 - 80 ppm, while holding the pH 7.0 - 7.2.

Continue to keep the chlorine at 5+ till all the green is gone. Brush the pool every few days. It may take 2 weeks or more to dissolve the calcium capsules, but you don't want to go faster, since really low pH can damage the fiberglass.

Pool is looking better every day. It is still light green but we can see the bottom of the pool . . . finally! The water is still a bit cloudy. The debris picked up by the polaris is like light yellow sand . . very gritty. I am adding acid in small amounts every day. The filter is still showing a higher psi than usual after backwashing. Plan to clean the filter Wednesday.

My question for today is about CH. What should those values be?

Never thought we would be able to think about getting into a pool that looked like ours did only a week ago. We have become BBB believers!

Thanks!

Today's readings: FC 5, CC .5, Ph 7.2, TA 150, CH 130, CYA 30

CH is not very important in vinyl or fiberglass pools, because the calcium in the water is to prevent it from eroding morter, grout, plaster, and concrete. Generally lower is better in vinyl and FG pools, but anything below 400ppm should be fine, so don't worry.

THE WATER IS GREEN NO MORE!!! Not only that but the water is clear. We have been trying to lower the TA s l o w l y. The green band that was all the way around the pool has turned brown and seems to have disappeared in the shallow end. There is a residue in the pool around the edge mostly and is most evident first thing in the morning before the pumps come on. The DE filter has been cleaned and recharged. Is what I am seeing the residue from the sand algae? Or could the filter be leaking DE into the pool?

Today's readings: FC 4.5, CC .5, TA 120, CH 120, CYA 35, Ph 7.2

DE leaking into the pool will usually appear as a tan to light brown dust accumulating in corners or crevices. If you collect a bit with a dropper, it will feel slight like DE, not sand, and it will NOT dissolve in vinegar.

Sand algae residue can be tan to darker brown, and if it comes off as particles, will (a) feel like sand between your fingers and (b) WILL dissolve in vinegar.