New homeowners with GREEN pool :(

[Watermom]

I would not add another box of Borax since you already added two today. In regards to bleach --- check the label. It should say 6% sodium hypochlorite on it.

[mrsbanks]

Gotcha! I'll pick up 2 more boxed just in case I need them later. I'm picking up the Bleach tonight (gotta wait for the pizza to get here) LOL I'll post my readings tomorrow. Thanks again!

[CarlD]

MrsBanks: You are about to discover that even in your situation, pool care is easy.

One more thing, though: If you go to a pool store and tell them what we said, they will tell you we are crazy and try to sell you a million things you don't need for large amounts of money. The latest scam is "Your phosphate level is high. You need phosphate reducer." You don't. Luckily, you haven't been "Pool-Stored" yet. They would, with your numbers, sell you Soda Ash, "shock", Calcium increaser, clarifier, flocculant, algaecide, phosphate remover, stabilizer, and who knows WHAT else. They'd scare you with numbers of "total dissolved solids" and tell you bleach adds them (what it adds is salt, but not nearly as much as needed for a salt-water chlorine generator pool). And all this stuff would give your green goop that will clog your filter, but NOT get rid of your green disgusting water (check the other threads for the people who went to the pool store first, and the mess they have).

Meanwhile, we are telling you to add...borax (and now no more of THAT), and bleach, lots and lots of bleach. And, until it's clear, probably nothing else. Bleach (chlorine) is the broadest spectrum algaecide and killer of bacteria and viruses. It also breaks down oils and all kinds of other stuff. It's still the best stuff you can add, and the liquid form is the best form of chlorine for home pool owners. Follow Ben's advice and it WILL clear.

Welcome!

CarlD

[kelemvor]

Like you, I bought a house with a green pool (last july) and followed the directions on this site. Took only about a week to clear up - you can be confident in that the BBB method works well. Here's a before and after from my pool: http://www.flickr.com/photos/1486580...in/photostream

[mrsbanks]

Update for today:
I added 2 gallons of 6% Bleach last night. Went out and checked the levels at 6:30 this morning. From what I could see, the free chlorine level was still at 0. So I added a quick gallon and ran to take my son to his appointment. I just got back (1:45), noticed the jet wasn't as powerful, so I checked the pressure gauge and it was running a little high, so I backwashed, N-A-S-T-Y!! Checked the levels. Free chlorine is at 6. I added 2 more.

My pool is still VERY green though and all the levels seem to be in the "normal" range. Should I be running the vacuum now, since I'm home and can watch it, or should the filter do the trick. My 8 year old is getting anxious LOL.

The funny thing is, I used to work for a pool company. One of the few VERY honest and reliable pool companies there are. I stopped by just to say hi today and my old boss asked me how things were going with the pool. I said I was about to get rid of the darn thing. LOL She said that above ground pools are the hardest to open. (figures). I told her what y'all were telling me to do with the BBB and she said that's actually what they use a lot of the time (shhhh don't tell the pool owners) LOL. So I was pretty shocked. I know there's a pool company around here that everyone takes their water testings too..but everyone who has told me to take the water also says "they'll try to get you to buy a ton of stuff you don't need" LOL So I am so glad I have y'all to help.

I know I could call my old boss and have him and his crew come out, but we just can't afford that right now. But last resort, I know he'll help me. i just want to do this on my own so I can become educated about my pool.

[mrsbanks]

Like you, I bought a house with a green pool (last july) and followed the directions on this site. Took only about a week to clear up - you can be confident in that the BBB method works well. Here's a before and after from my pool: http://www.flickr.com/photos/1486580...in/photostream

HOLY WOW!!!!!!! that is the exact color my pool was when we moved in 2 weeks ago! I should go take a picture and do that everyday to show the progress. It got to where it was a light sea green, but for some reason, after I added everything, it's back to a nasty green.

[Spensar]

Constant chlorine and patience, it will get clear! Been there, done that, and thank goodness for this forum.

One thing not mentioned, is that after your water clears, you will likely see "dust" on the bottom of the pool, which is dead algae. I like to deal with it by vacumming to waste on the filter. ie. You are taking water out of the pool and putting it straight down the drain instead of trying to filter out all the particles. This is practical in my area where spring rain keeps the water levels up, and city water is reasonable.

[mrsbanks]

Constant chlorine and patience, it will get clear! Been there, done that, and thank goodness for this forum.

One thing not mentioned, is that after your water clears, you will likely see "dust" on the bottom of the pool, which is dead algae. I like to deal with it by vacumming to waste on the filter. ie. You are taking water out of the pool and putting it straight down the drain instead of trying to filter out all the particles. This is practical in my area where spring rain keeps the water levels up, and city water is reasonable.

How do I vacuum to waste? Whenever I turn the waste valve on, the only thing that happens is a ton of water comes out.

[CarlD]

If you have a multivalve on your filter, there should be a "waste" setting. You vacuum by plugging into your skimmer and when the pump is on the water comes out there, full force, which is why you have to have it drain somewhere (that's what rollup backwash hoses are for).

Yeah you lose water but I'd plug my other drains and only use the one the vacuum is in to minimize water loss.