Newbie's green pool

[George in Georgia]

Many thanks, guys! I'm off to buy bleach. Am I right in assuming that if I go a bit overboard in the dosage - say 11 gal instead of 8.5 - that the only lasting consequence would be a small rise in salt level? I'd think that adding bleach in the evening might be a good idea, to avoid uv.

Here in Georgia, just south of Atlanta, we have a loooong pool season. 'Course our personal season will start a little late, but we should be splashing well after labor day.

Thanks again. I'll keep The Collective Mind posted.

[aylad]

By going overboard in the doseage, you're still okay and won't really notice an appreciable rise in your salt level. 11 gallons would take it up to 26-27 ppm. You just don't want to go too high in a vinyl pool and risk fading your liner.

Adding bleach in the evening is probably when you'll get the best bang for your buck, because it doesn't have to compete with the sun, but the key to clearing up the green is going to be consistency in keeping it above 20 ppm.

Janet

[George in Georgia]

Again, many thanks!

I'm going to hop over to the cleaning machines, where I can perhaps make a contribution on the Diagnostic Dolphin front.

[George in Georgia]

An update. Yesterday evening added about 11 gal of 6% bleach. This morning added another 8 or 9 gal., plus 32 oz 50% algaecide. At about 2pm added 9 gal bleach, plus some more algaecide.

pH is holding about 7.5. There is essentially no free chlorine present just before the next bleach addition. I suppose the algae is using it up. The pool does seem to be clearing a bit, I can see further down into the "lurking murk."

I guess we'll just keep on truckin', unless anyone has a better idea. I think we're getting a rep at Kroger and Publix as "those crazy bleach folks."

[Watermom]

Keep hitting it with bleach as you have been. The only algaecide we recommend is Polyquat 60%. A lot of the other algaecides will cause foaming or have copper in them which is something you do NOT want in your pool. Algaecides are pretty good preventatives but don't really help kill an existing algae bloom much.

[George in Georgia]

I hear and obey, O Great Ones!

The algaecide has no copper in it. I am an inverterate label reader. Is my guess about the reason that the Cl is so low correct, that its being "eaten" by the algae?

Again, many thanks to all for the advice and encouragement.

[PoolDoc]

. . . . I am an inverterate label reader. . . .

Just doing a quick scan through the forum for unanswered threads, and saw your comment, which includes a bit of a misspelling, which I read as

"I am an invertebrate label reader"

My older son does "invertebrate animal husbandry" (ie, he feeds and plays* with the nautiluses and octopuses) at the Tennessee Aquarium, so your post got the "Huh??, better read that again" reaction.

But to your question: Yes, remaining algae can definitely cause high chlorine demand.

PoolDoc



* The official 'PC' term is "enriches", not "plays with".