Newbie's green pool

[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".

[Spensar]

When I told the pool store that I was investigating household bleach they were incredulous

When I get the pool store to do a test, I tell them I use sodium hypochloride, or liquid chlorine.

[aylad]

The algaecide itself can also be eating up your chlorine. Better to skip the algaecide and stick with bleach.

Janet

[George in Georgia]

I think we're almost there! There is no visible algae. Cl is about 4ppm via the SWG; no bleach added since yesterday morning, 24 hours ago. pH is about 7.2, I'll probably pick up some borax to raise that a bit.

The water is cloudy. Could that be dead, bleached out algae particles? Any suggestions for clearing that up? I've seen various flocculants at pool stores but I'd like to hear from you experts?

Pool Doc, my regards to your son at the Tennessee Aquarium. It's a great place. I like it better that the aquarium in Atlanta.

Many thanks!