Help me get my pool back! Green with algae or ?

[Josh_U]

Really appreciate the responses. I do notice little bits of stuff coming back thru the return jets. It's actually 4 very large cartridges and I'm scared to find out how much replacement is going to cost. On draining, will I need a submersible pump to get the water out?

[aylad]

I think so, unless you have a bottom drain.

Janet

[PoolDoc]

The sheet drain method is tricky -- I need to get with Al and work up a guide to doing that, step by step. Do it wrong, and you can end up wasting a lot of water. Meanwhile:

#1 - Get a FAS-DPD testkit, if you don't have one, ASAP. Amazon link in my sig (wait a day, if the Amazon seller isn't "Amato Ind", other sellers sometimes ship the wrong kit.)

#2 - Buy some sodium bromide pool treatment:
http://www.intheswim.com/Pool-Chemic...ems-Algaecide/
and add a dose -- that will quickly create a free bromine residual that will kill algae. But it will increase your chlorine consumption, because bromine cannot be stabilized. Add 1/2 label dose, and wait 24 hours. Finish the does if the 1/2 dose is not enough.

#3 - Get a CHEAP OTO & phenol red test kit, and maintain DARK YELLOW chlorine levels.

#4 - Once you get the Taylor kit, maintain 10 ppm + the bromide.

. . . more later.

Ben

[Josh_U]

Yeah, the plastic sheet method sounds like a nightmare (appreciate the idea though).
Right now I only have the FAS DPD powder/ titrating reagent for checking and keeping the cl at 30. Are you saying once I add the bromine, to let the cl drop to 10?
This is the worst the pool has ever been in 7 years of ownership. Could part of it be that our filters are simply old and no longer performing even though they've recently been cleaned?

[Josh_U]

I've maintained my cl at 25-30 and added a full dose of the no mor problems algaecide suggested by Ben. Still not seeing any difference in water quality and wondering what my next step should be. Filter cartridges are 10+ years old and this is the worst our pool has ever been. Should I replace them or play with partially draining to lower my cya next? We've been fighting this for more than 2 months now.

[PoolDoc]

Arg-gh! I may have missed something.

=> Do you have a heater, or have you been using chlorine that has copper in it?
=> Is your water clear, but green?
=> If you pour bleach on the steps -- slowly -- so it contacts the green dust, does it bleach it out?
=> When you clean your filters, what color is the 'goo'?
=> How have you been adding chlorine to your pool?

Ben

[Josh_U]

Pool is just about all cleared up now. Chlorine, a little algaecide and a lot patience is all it took! Just one more question though. When/ how do I know it's ok to get in the pool and when can I let the cl come down from shock level? Thanks!