Newbie's green pool

[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!

[Watermom]

Run your pump 24/7. Dead algae takes a bit to filter out. Better not to add floc at this point. Post a current set of testing numbers.

[George in Georgia]

I added about 2lb of borax, pH is now 7.5. Cl about 4ppm, NO visible algae! I think I'll hit it tonight with about 8qt of 6% bleach, just on general principles. Now that things seem to be returning to normal, the SWG seems to be operating normally. It had insisted that the salt was off, and that the cell needed inspection/cleaning, even after the HCl acid bath.

Nice to be getting back to normality, thanks to you folks.

[aylad]

Good job!! Isn't it great to see progress?? Just keep the filter running, and clean it as necessary--the chlorine kills the algae, but it's the filter that removes it from the pool.

Happy swimming, hope you're enjoying your 4th!!

Janet

[George in Georgia]

An update.

We lost a little ground, having been away for 2 days. BTW, it turns out that Costco has Chlorox 3 big jugs for $7.35, the best price on any brand that I've found in this area.

pH is 7.5, Cl holding at 5-10 since adding about 3 gal 6% bleach 24 hours ago. Ppm total alkalinity 120, cyanuric acid at about 40. I've added about 12 lb of baking soda, and 4 lbs of borax. I suppose I should raise the cyanuric some given the SWG.

There is no visible algae, but the water is cloudy. I'm filtering 24/7, backwashing generally shows bits of leaves and pine needles from the bottom, which I can't see. Any thoughts? Maybe a flocculant? I know it would be safe to swim in, but not appealing. And as someone (Poolmom?) mentioned, someone in trouble would be hard to see.

The Dolphin is sucking up dead algae - we're switching to disposable bags until things settle down.

Thanks, all!

[aylad]

Hold off on the flocculant for now....with the dead algae that was already clouding the pool, along with the amounts of Borax and Baking soda you've added, just give the filter some time to catch up....if you had a pool full of algae when you started this journey, it's going to take awhile for the filter to get it all out. Remember the POPP!! (Pool owner patience and persistence)

Janet

[George in Georgia]

Thanks, Janet!

I keep in memory the first two years we were in the house, when pool maintenance was so easy, and the ease and pleasure of late afternoons by the crystal clear pool....precious memories.... I intend to give it 2 big bottles of bleach tonight, check the Cl after an hour or so, and then again in the morning before the sun hits the water. At least here near Atlanta we can probably swim til the end of September.

I think I'll try some of the DE equivalent in the filter, 1/2 cup at a time to give a 1 lb pressure rise. What's to lose, only some cellulose fiber....