Problem removing algae completely

[nancybram]

Thank you for your quick response!
Store chlorine is 10.5%
I am willing to do both, if it resolves the situation quicker.
I will get it tested at the pool store today when I go get the LC that you tell me I need.
I will also purchase your suggested test kit today from Amazon.
Thanks again,
Nancy

[Watermom]

You won't do both. Pick one or the other.

For now, add 3 gallons of the 10.5% chlorine. That should take your chlorine up to 25. We want you to test as many times per day as you can, and each time add enough chlorine to get back to 25ppm. Glad you ordered the kit. Good decision. But, for now, go to Walmart, or even to the pool store and buy a cheap OTO/Phenol Red kit (yellow and red drops.) It isn't ideal, but is reliable and will do until you get your kit. It will only test chlorine levels to 5ppm but you can force it to go higher by using a dilution method described here: Testing Without a Good Kit

Only use the LC for now. No more pucks, no dichlor shock powder, no cal-hypo. Just LC.

Let us know which option from my earlier post you pick so we can best advise you.

[nancybram]

I added the 3 gal. LC
As far as picking one or the other of the options, am I right in thinking that it is in my best interest (financial and time) to do a partial drain and refill to reduce the CYA level? Otherwise, I will ALWAYS have to keep an extremely high FC level.
Right? I do have a cheap kit to use in the meantime to check the chlorine level until my new one comes in. (I mostly use it for my well) I will be testing the chlorine level using the method you mentioned.
What's next?
Thanks!

[Watermom]

Either way would work. Except -- I now see mention of a well. Would you be refilling from a well? Sometimes that creates another whole host of problems as many wells have metals in them.

Yes, you would have to keep FC higher if you run a high CYA pool, but overall, it might not be that much more bleach because high CYA/ high FC pools don't have to have LC added as often. So, it kind of balances out. Sometimes, CYA goes away over the winter, sometimes it doesn't. You might decide not to do the partial drain and refill and just see what happens with this pool over the winter.

Either way is fine. Just a matter of preference.

If you decide not to partially drain, then continue testing and adding LC to get back to 25ppm as many times per day as you can. You'll continue to do this until you can go from sundown one evening til within 2 hours of sunup the next morning without losing more than 1ppm of cl. At that point, keep the cl high for one additional day for added insurance and then you can let it drift down and then keep it between 8-15 ALL the time so you won't get another algae bloom.

If you decide to go ahead and partially drain, go ahead. No sense wasting LC and thus money that you'll then be throwing out. Once you refill, you'll test the CYA to see where you are with it then, and follow the Best Guess table for shock levels. And, as in the previous paragraph I wrote, you'll test as frequently as you can and add LC to get back to shock level until you can pass the overnight test.

Hope this helps.

[nancybram]

I have room for more fresh water in the pool, so I will at least do that, and retest to see where my levels are.
After reading your last post, I think I might just wait it out and see what happens over the winter.
Yes, I fill from a well. But I use the water after its been filtered. (Drinkable) I tried one time using it from the faucet prior to it going thru the charcoal and there was too much iron coming out. (That was a LONG time ago)
Guess it's just gonna take some time, now that I have a plan.
Should I do anything about the TA being so high?
Thanks!

[Watermom]

A TA of 120 is not high.

[nancybram]

Ok, won't worry about the TA then.
Oh, forgot to ask.... what about running the pump. Just the usual 7-8 hours a day? or longer? And backwashing? Just when it goes up 8-10 lbs?
Thanks,
Nancy