Algae!!!!

We have been using the BBB method ever since I found this forum and it worked the 1st time when our pool was overrun with yukky green. last year we had very very hot weather, (triple digits almost all summer) and the algae got out of control again, we had to replace several parts on the pool which kept us from running the filter system until all the parts came in and were installed.

During this time the algae got worse and worse, we left the pool over last winter figuring to get a good start this year with the BBB again but found out the filter needed new laterals after some broke during a sand change, then after those parts came in we realized the multiport valve was bad and had to order another one of those, we have been battling the algae ever since, gallons of bleach, boxes of Borax and baking soda later we finally emptied the pool and scrubbed it down, filled it back up and found it full of algea again within 1 day!!

I finally broke down and ordered the Taylor K-2006C test kit hoping the forum could help us get our pool back before I take an ax to it!!!

Here are the results we got , (this is a wonderful kit but at the moment I feel overwhelmed and may not be doing it right) PH 8+ Alkalinity 40PPM CYA <30 PPM calcium 50PPM.

Even with these figures we don't know the 1st place to start, please help!!!

Hi Deb,

With your numbers the way they are, you don't need any Borax, because your pH is already high. The alk could come up a bit, but that's not a big deal for now. What you need is chlorine in the pool, and lots of it!!

You have a couple of choices--you can go with bleach for chlorine, but after you get the pool cleared up you'll need to add some stabilizer separately; or you can use dichlor, which is a powdered chlorine that will drive your pH down and will also add your stabilizer. Many forms of dichlor have "mystery goop" in them, so we try to avoid those, but if you have a Sam's available, the PoolBrand dichlor they have is okay to use. Alternately, the KemTek dichlor from Amazon will work, too. Take a few seconds to fill out this form about your pool's info, so we don't waste a lot of time with back-and-forth posts to get the basic info we need, and we'l be happy to help you go from there!

Pool Chart Entry Form
Pool Chart Results

1. Turn your pump on, and keep it on. If you have a 2 speed, run on low.

2. Read the muriatic acid page, linked in Janet's signature above.

3. Lower the pH to 7.6 or below.

4. Add bleach each EVENING to reach 15 - 20 ppm FC. Your PF is 11, so each gallon of PLAIN 6% bleach adds about 6 ppm of chlorine to your pool. Your evening dose is 3 gallons.

5. Continue doing so till the algae turns gray or blue (but cloudy)

6. Let us know what's going on.

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Originally Posted by aylad

Take a few seconds to fill out this form about your pool's info, so we don't waste a lot of time with back-and-forth posts to get the basic info we need, and we'l be happy to help you go from there!

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Thanks for the reply, I did fill out the form last night prior to posting. I hesitate to add anything other than the BBB to the pool because of the damage to the pool and our skin.

that 1st year we used the BBB it cleared up the algae right away and everyone noticed a change in their skin being soft and smooth in stead of dry and itchy but due to the delay in treatment this time it was so out of control that we could not keep ahead of it.

We have the pump running low and will leave it on 24/7, we bought several gallons of bleach at Walmart for $1 each and have stocked up so we can add the 3 gallons at night,(I tried to tell hubby any treatment has to be done at night or the sun will just delete it, I think that was half the problem but he wont listen to me) we did the muriatic acid last night (another mistake we made not adding it when we added water to the pool or when it rained).

My husband now understands that living in Texas like we do we have to add water a lot and recently we have actually had rain that hit the ground so we need to use the muriatic acid more often.

We will do what you said and get back to you and let you know.

Thanks for this forum, you sure are life savers, I need my pool for physical therapy and I sure miss having the convenience of going to my backyard to do that as I have to use a public pool and who knows what germs we are getting on us there!!!

I am a new user this spring of this forum, and I had the same problem when I opened my pool this year. I thought I was putting in enough chlorine to shock the pool but was having no luck.

Then I found this site and followed the advice given TO THE LETTER (including buying the Taylor 2006c Test Kit) and my pool is now crystal clear. It works, it really does, but you first need to raise your FC levels to the numbers in the "best guess chart", and HOLD THEM THERE, NO MATTER WHAT IT TAKES! It's really as simple as that. Once your CC number is 0-0.5 ppm, you can let the chlorine drift down to normal letters. That is all there is to it, as far as clearing up the algae. Once that is done, you can work on those other levels ie: pH, Calcium hardness, etc etc.

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Originally Posted by DEBKNTX

we bought several gallons of bleach at Walmart for $1 each and have stocked up

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Look on the ingredient label. Does it say 6% sodium hypochlorite or some other concentration? I've never seen 6% bleach that cheap at Walmart.

It's even cheaper in Chattanooga -- must be the cost of hauling that bleach up into those powerless and steep W. Virginia mountains. (The drivers may get hazard pay due to all the snakes!) ;)

This week I don't care if they bring cheap bleach up my steep WV mountain or not if they will just BRING THE UTILITY TRUCKS UP MY HILL AND GET MY ELECTRIC RESTORED!!!

Day 7 with no power :( and for the most part, no ice ......... but who's counting!

My parents had their power restored last night so we are hanging out at their house today using the internet and sucking up as much air conditioning as we can in preparation for going back home tonight to my house that is about 95 degrees inside. Outside temps are around 100. Been spending lots of time in my pool. Though dirty (since I have no power to run the pump and vacuum), the water is clean and clear and a place to get some relief from the heat. I just keeping dumping in a jug of bleach each evening. No green pool at my house! And, Mr. Ben, no snakes, either!

Actually it's 2.75%, will tht make a difference in how much to use? WE have put in 3 gallons a night and in 4 days have not seen an increase in the chlorine level.

I wondered if it might be the case when you said it was so cheap. You'll have to use a little more than twice as much as the recommended dose when using 6% bleach.

Yes, instead of 3 gallons, you'd need 7. Surely, you have a Walmart nearby where you can get 6% stuff?

You need to remember that, with algae, if you're not winning, you're losing! When it recovers from your chlorine doses, it's as if you never added them. So essentially, if you don't add enough to kill the algae, you're simply wasting what you do put in.

If you have a Leslies Pools nearby, their Dichlor is pretty good--they don't doctor it. So is their Trichlor tabs. It's pricy but if you cannot get sufficient bleach it's a reasonable alternative.

Please read our stickies on fighting algae. They DO work.

B-B-B is a process of doing what's simple, but what is effective. You CAN do everything with bleach (though I prefer the double-strength Liquid Chlorine--but it's the same thing). However, it doesn't mean you cannot use the other standard chlorine sources: Dichlor powder, Tri-chlor tabs, and Cal-Hypo powder. Just use them wisely.

Thanks so much Watermom for picking up on that, it's true, you get what you pay for!! I thought bleach was bleach, never knew it had a percentage!!! I picked up some real 6% last night at the Dollar General, now I should be seeing some change in the chlorine!!!

Thanks PoolDoc, yes I will get to the Walmart today and stock up on what I had been using before I got dazzled by the $1 price on that other stuff. I've had a lot going on here and my daughter in law had found this cheaper one at Walmart, I never thought to look at the ingredients but began to wonder why this did not work like it did the 1st time we did the bleach method.
Now the 20 Mule Team Borax and regular baking soda are all the same right? lol!!! I get the Borax at Walmart but the baking soda I get in a large bag at Costco's for a good price.

Thanks Carl, The mananger of Leslies is an idiot and I try not to go there when he is working, he messed me up on some parts to my pool by ordering the wrong part (that took the slow boat from China) even though I took the old part in with the part number and tht delayed repairing my pool all last year, so I now order parts online from a company called Aqua-man in Az, I get personal service from the tech, he knows all the parts to my pool , has them in stock and the prices are reasonable, shipping is ultra fast as well, ( at times I got next day delivery at regular price).
I sat down with my husband and went over all the instructions on algae on this site and now we both have a better understanding of what we are dealing with.
Thanks again for the forum and now that I am not going to be spending a fortune on products that don't work I can complete my membership next payday so I don't have to wait for my posts to be moderated, hehe!!

Borax and baking soda are NOT the same thing. Borax is sodium tetraborate and is used to raise pH without affecting alk much. Baking soda is sodium bicarbonate and is used to raise alk.

Watermom, I hope you get your power back soon, I feel so bad for all of you suffering in this heat with no power!!! Ours went out the other day for an hour and we were climbing the walls!! I cant imagine all this time you hav ebeen without, Prayers to you and all affected!!!

Thankfully, it finally came back on after 7 full days of not having power and having 100 degree temps outside. Thank you for your concern. That is very kind of you.

I guess I worded that wrong, I know what borax and baking soda is for, just wanted to make sure there wasn't a particular % I had to use like the clorox needing to be 6% and was using 2.75.

You are right, there are no percentages or strengths that you need to look for in the borax and baking soda--it is what it is! :)

Janet

OK, now we are cooking with gas!! errr, well 6% chlorine at least!! We have a sock of Cyanaric acid hanging under the water return, new readings are this,,,, FC 2PPM, 0.2 Combined, PH 7, Alk 30PPM and Cal 40PPM, we are leaving the pump running low 24/7, just added a bit more water due to evaporation and running the Vac and brushing sides daily.
Water is still green but appears lighter.
Is there anything else we need to do or test?

OK, was without internet for a few and had some struggles with the chlorine levels but things are looking better now, here are the most current readings, FC 9PPM, Alk 70PPM, PH 7 and CYA is 70.
Pool looks more blue, just a little cloudy. With these levels would it be safe to get in to scrub the walls down and vac? We dont have a deck and its easier to clean the pool from inside.

Sure! Those levels are fine for swimming!