Here is my long story...... My pool water is like a yellow-colored solution -- it actually looks like lemon-lime gatorade! About a week ago my water temperature hit 90 degrees for several straight days, and in the past, I always had minor algae problems when the water was this warm, so I added some algaecide as preventive maintenance. I think this caused my problem!! For general sanitizing etc. I use Chlor-Free. I've been using it without any problems for the past 7 years, other than the occasional green algae as noted above. I have read elsewhere that Chlor-Free's makers made false statements about what it does, but I have had good luck with it for years.
Anyway, about 3 days after I used the algaecide, I noticed a greenish tint in the pool so I added a 2nd dose. The next day, the water was a medium green color. I thought I had an algae bloom, so I added some more algaecide, along with some clarifier, and hoped my vacuum would suck up whatever dropped to the bottom and restore my clear water. Well, the water stayed green and even looked brownish after running my Aquabug vacuum overnight, so the next day I took a water sample to the local pool store. After their check, they said I needed PH Minus because I had an 8.7 reading. So I added Dry Acid and brought the PH down. The water changed from medium green to a lighter yellow color. Also during this several day period, I backwashed and replaced my diatomaceous earth twice. The DE looked like a creamy brown color and some came out in soft chunks. And my filter pressure was increasing much faster than normal after each backwashing from these chunks clogging it up.
Then after another trip to the pool store with another sample, I was advised to add a half-gallon of non-chlorine Baquicil Algaecide. (*Could my problem have been originally caused by using regular algaecide? I never knew there was such a thing as non-chlorine algaecide for use with products such as Chlor-Free, Baquicil, etc.) Well, this actually made my yellow colored water a little lighter, it was a plus. And my filter is running better now and not losing pressure. Today I added some clarifier hoping that would help, but tomorrow I'm afraid I will still have yellow water, unless I'm really lucky.
I personally swam in the pool today and there is NO algae anywhere and NO particles on the bottom or suspended in the water. And it feels just fine (no bottom scum, etc.) and has no smell. The water is simply a YELLOW-COLORED SOLUTION. And bubbles are staying on top for several minutes before breaking up after any kind of agitation. I think that's from so many chemicals dumped into it over the past week. Needless to say, I'm baffled. But interesting enough......the pool store employee also said my Chlor-Free might be "locked" by the other chemicals. Is this possible?? It almost makes sense. All my numbers like PH, etc. test mid-range while my Chlor-Free is at the high end. He also advised my Calcium level tested OK but didn't have tests for other metals like Magnesium. I had added a double dose just before my first algaecide treatment last week, so maybe it is indeed "locked" in. Maybe that's why my water is staying bubbly also??? HELP.....PLEASE
Does anyone have any ideas??? Thanks in advance!!! GT
Above-ground 24' Round
Approx. 12K Gallons
