My wife sent me here!

While I was gone, the pool was overcome with algae. My wife came here for help but didn't get any cooperation from the local pool supply store for the CYA number. First they asked her if she was there to buy something and then only told her that the CYA was "fine". I went over myself and was told that with a high chlorine ppm that the CYA was "masked". They recommended that I lower it to 3-5 ppm and now the water is an even lovelier shade of green. We have run the filter for 10 days, kept the FC above 10 ppm the entire time and are getting no results. I think if I had the numbers that I could get on top of it. Is there another way to get the CYA or can you recommend a tougher approach. This is an above ground vinyl, 10,000 gals., and the dealer has made us squeamish about the high FC levels ruining the liner. Are we just paranoid? How high can I make the FC? What should I do next? Thanks!

What have you been using to chlorinate with? Any other pool stores that you can ask to test it for you or does the pool store sell a kit that will test CYA and then you can do it yourself? We really do need that CYA reading to really know what to advise you, but in the meantime, go ahead and take the chlorine to 12 and try and hold it there. Test 3x a day and each time, take the chlorine back up to 12. If you tell me that you've been chlorinating with trichlor tabs, then I'm gonna say that you can take it up to 15 because my guess would be that your CYA is probably pretty high. Try and see if you can get that reading for us.

By the way, your wife is pretty smart for sending you here!

We are using unscented laundry bleach. We converted to that about a month ago. Can you recommend the test kit by name so I know what to look for? There are no other pool stores in our area at this time, but I am certainly willing to drive a ways in order to get on top of the algae problem, or I can order something online. Also, we quit wasting our time with the Aquabug sweeper and would appreciate a recommendation on what to replace it with. Are the extra leaves in the pool adding to the algae? Thanks for the quick response.

What did you use to chlorinate with prior to the switch to bleach? If you were using trichlor, then it's a pretty good bet that your CYA is way high. There are several kits out there that test for CYA (aka stabilizer). You can pick up a Taylor kit at most pool stores. Or, if your local WalMart still has pool stuff out, they have a 5-way drop-based kit for around $15 that will test for CYA.

And yes, the extra leaves in the pool can add to the algae problem....indirectly. The available chlorine is being used up "sanitizing" the leaves, and not the live algae that it needs to fight.

Watermom's given you good advice. Try to get the Chlorine level up to 12 and hold it there, and in the meantime get a kit and test the CYa yourself. With a test result, we should be able to help you get it cleared up.

Janet

You want the Taylor K-2006 kit. CarlD has others to recommend but they are all similar. This place
http://www.spspools-spas.com/
has the K-2006 for $49 and looks like the most shipping you'll pay is $10 for an order. While at it get extra CYA reagent and DPD powder, and reagent. Since you probably have a CYA problem you'll use what's in the kit up pretty quickly.
I'd recommend the following additions to the kit:
R-0871C reagent
R-0870i powder
R-0013E CYA reagent
The last letter is just a quantity designator.

These are all listed on page-3 in the Test Kit section.
When I ordered bulk reagents a couple years ago they came directly from Taylor and delivery was less than a week.

Al (ajs-1)

BTW: Check this thread too
http://www.poolforum.com/pf2/showthread.php?t=6340

Hello - Just had my testkit delivered today. The pool is still green, so hopefully you can help me now that I have the numbers. The CYA is at 100. I am holding the chlorine at 10-12. Should I be concerned with any other numbers at this time? And what do I do next? Thanks, Bob

Another quick question - the return line to the pool has a directional adjustment. Is there a preference as to which way it is pointing? I have it pointing mostly upward, because we like the noise it makes. Thanks, Bob

You're going to have to take the chlorine much higher to kill the algae with a cya reading of 100. For now, aim to keep the chlorine level at 20. Test at least twice, and 3 times a day is better if you can do it and each time, add enough bleach to take the cl back to 20. The key to killing algae is to sustain the high cl reading instead of letting it yo-yo up and down. (If that doesn't clear it, we may suggest taking it to 25. See the chart at the following link.)

http://www.poolforum.com/pf2/showthread.php?t=365



Regarding the eyeball - typically, if I need to skim the debris off the surface, I aim it upward. Otherwise, I think it circulates the water better if you aim it downward. For now, aim it downward. Also, run your pump 24/7 while you are trying to clear the water.

What are your other readings?

I will do that. In the meantime, is there a way to start lowering the cya number? I did my pH test with 50% distilled water and it still looks very high. I think I did all of that correctly, but my test kit book says that I may be bleaching out one of the reagents, which makes sense because I was getting a reading of 15 or 16. I don't know how to compensate for that. My total alkalinity is at 140. I hope I don't need to worry about the other numbers right now!? I am beginning to see the bottom of the pool! It's starting to work. Thank you, thank you.

Sorry to bother you again! How long do you want me to cycle in the new bleach before I re-survey the water? Thanks again, Bob

The only way to lower cya is to do a partial drain. Concern yourself with that after you get the algae problem zapped. You aren't going to be able to get a good ph reading while your chlorine is so high. Your pool will clear in a couple of days hopefully and you can get one then. As far as how often to dose it with bleach ---- if you can, run a chlorine test in the morning, afternoon and evening. Each time, add enough bleach to raise the cl back up to 20. Having said that, let me also say that you can test as often as you want and each time raise it back up to 20. You won't hurt a thing if you do it more than 3 times a day. Sustaining the high cl reading is the key. The more consistenly you can do that, the quicker the algae will die. Keep us posted how things are going.

I'm going to be even MORE radical and suggest you keep the FC OVER 20--but no more than 25 ppm.

If your pH is high and being masked by the high FC, then even more so should you be at 25.

The WORST that will happen is you will bleach your liner somewhat.

Don't worry about total alk at 140--in a vinyl pool that's just fine (no matter what the shills at the pool store tell you).

You've gotten good advice. You need to kill algae first. You CAN drain and refill your pool partially in the meantime to lower CYA, but you MUST keep your FC levels up or you are wasting time and money.

Getting the good test kit quickly was wise--Poconos gave you great advice on that. Yeah, there are other test kit options, but no better than what you got.

Thanks for all of the support- even through the holidays! We survived 50 mph winds last week in So. Cal. and we ended up with so much garbage in the pool that we had to shut down for 2 days. The algae bloom was a little frustrating but a couple of hours with the net (about 40 lbs of wet leaves and pine needles) and the vacuum got us back on track. We are at 20+ ppm on the FC as we speak and monitoring the cl level only. I want to make sure that I am doing the test correctly-1/4 pool water and 3/4 distilled in the cylinder before proceeding with the reagents and a reading of 5 equals 20? Thanks again for all of the support! Have a good New Year's Eve and a good new year too!

Yes, you are correct. Keep us posted on how things are going.

Hello again. The pool is 98% blue. The FC has been steadily 20-25 and I haven't checked any of the other numbers in awhile. At this point the water is still fairly cloudy, but the algae is "gone". What steps would you like me to take to lower the CYA and clarify the water, and how do I arrange for the pH test. I can't believe the great results! Thanks, Bob

Good work. I'd keep the chlorine high for a few more days just to be sure that the algae is indeed dead. It probably is, but it doesn't hurt to be sure. Probably what you are seeing with the cloudy water is just the dead algae which you'll just have to patiently let your filter handle. Keep running the pump/filter 24/7 and backwash if the pressure rises 8-10psi. You're going to have to wait until you let your chlorine drop before doing the ph test.

As far as lowering cya, the only way to do that is to do a partial drain. Where do you live? Do you keep the pool open all winter? If you drain half your water, that should take your cya down to about 50 which is a much better level.

Bob,
I looked thru your posts and didn't see what kind of filter you have. Maybe I just missed it. The cloudiness could be like Watermom said, dead algae, but you said in one of the posts you had a bunch of leaves etc dumped in the pool. If you have a sand filter you could just have a bunch of particles too small to trap. Some of us have added a small bit of DE powder to our sand filters to catch the finer stuff. If you do have sand and want to try it, start by adding about 1/2 cup of DE slowly to the skimmer mixing it in a 5 gal pail of water first. After about 15-30 minutes check the pressure and add more DE until the pressure rises about 1 psi. Goal is with clean water you want to get a 1 psi rise in pressure. With a lot of crud in the pool keep a close eye on the pressure because it may rise rapidly and plug.
Al