Another algae question

[jstkiddn]

Always those that ruin it for the rest of us. Thanks spammers. But I understand you gotta do what you gotta do to keep them at bay. :sigh:

I'm just trying to find some info on sediment I can't get rid of in my pool (think it may be dead algea or "algea dust"?) and just wanted to do some reading. I'm sure my question has been answered before, but I can't get there until I do my time? LOL

But just wanted to post that I am a real person! At least I think I am.

[Watermom]

Hey there jstkiddn! If you want to tell us about your pool and give us some current water testing results taken with a drops-based kit, we can see what we can do to help you clear up your pool. Also, tell us what kind of pool, type of filter and size of pump you have.

By the way, if you log out, you can see more of the forums. You can also do a google search. Look for the link in my signature line below.

Welcome to the forum!

[PoolDoc]

Solving apparent algae dust problems depends on the filter type, and what the dust is. For starters, what type of filter do you have?

[jstkiddn]

Hi and thanks!! Will update later with exact water test results. Only have strips but can pick up drop based kit this afternoon. Hopefully can order the good kit online soon, but hoping the locally purchased one can get me started.

For starters:

Approx. 28,000 - 30,000 gallon??? in ground vinyl liner. Can't exactly remember the gallons but it's this pool minus waterfall and spa: http://www.foxpool.com/DesignAndPlan...pageName=Ionic

Salt water pool. Pool Pilot. Sand filter. PENTAIR SUPERFLO 1 1/2 HP SWIMMING POOL PUMP

Took the cover off to find a swamp. Have managed to clear the green with shock and then hubby used some sort of clarifier. I used baking soda to bring PH/Alk into range (according to strips)

Pool is cloudy and milky looking. There appears to be a lot of sediment on the bottom. Some is brownish, but other stuff you really don't even notice until you see it moving around....so it's a lighter color. When I vacuum I have to be VERY careful or it just all gets stirred up into the water. I'm thinking one big mistake so far is that I have been vacuuming to filter intead of to waste. Read something that led be to believe that I may just be putting it right back into the pool.

Frustrated as heck! We've had the pool 6 or 7 years and have NEVER had this much trouble getting it going! My poor daughter looks pretty pitiful playing in the sprinkler while she has a lovely in-ground pool in her back yard. LOL

edit to add: Just spent a bit of time vacuuming to waste. Naturally couldn't do for very long as the water got too low fairly quick. Refilling now, which I'm sure is going to really change the levels of everything in pool. UGH! Will refill, test with WallyWorld kit and post later. I'm sure you guys can lead me in the right direction. I'm about ready to bang my head against a wall.

[jstkiddn]

Bought the Taylor test kit today from Amazon, but in the meantime also bought an HTH kit locally. Results are as follows:

Cl - 1 ppm
pH - somewhere between 7.8 and 8.2. I had a really hard time deciding on this one. At first I thought it matched the 7.8 color pretty close. But the more I looked at it I think it MAY be a bit darker than that....but not as dark as 8.2.
Alk - 10 drops x 10 = 100 ppm
CYA - Another I had a hard time deciding. Approx. 35 ppm.

Pool is some better after vacuuming to waste earlier today, but still cloudy. I can finally see the main drain! That's an improvement!

[Watermom]

Use a little muriatic acid to lower your pH some. Add about a pint slowly in front of a return jet -- gloves, glasses, stay upwind of fumes, pour very close to the water to avoid splashing. After a few hours, retest pH and repeat til you get below 7.8.

You need to shock your pool back up to 15. Also, run the pump 24/7 to let the filter trap the dead algae. Test your cl in the evening after sundown and then again in the morning within 2 hours of sunup and see if you are losing more than 1ppm of cl overnight. If not, your algae is dead and now it is time to be patient and let the filter do its job. (Don't test your pH when the chlorine is high, however, or you'll get a false high reading.)

You might try adding a little DE to your filter. Many of us with sand filters do this to help it filter a little better. More about that here:

http://www.poolforum.com/pf2/showthread.php?t=3742