New maintainer with algae on walls

[PoolDoc]

You need to read the Best Guess page linked in my signature, and then make a decision:

+ You can drain 75% of your water, lower your CYA, and then run 'normal' levels of chlorine using tabs, OR
+ You can run CYA=120+, but then raise your FC to 15 ppm, by dosing bleach 1 or 2x per week. You can use a partially filled floater to maintain CYA levels.

1,000s of pools in your area are run that way by service companies who inject chlorine gas 1x per week.

If your filter pressure has not increased, you should not clean it.

[SurfaceDreamer]

PoolDoc - your signature didn't show in your response... may want to check it

As for my options after killing the algae - UGH! I just filled the entire pool less than a year ago and my water rates have increased over 50% since then Very frustrating. I'm going to recheck the CYA before I proceed with draining the pool.

Any suggestions on where I can find the equipment to perform the pool drain? Is there any place that usually rents the pump for example?

Thanks.

[SurfaceDreamer]

I've decided the following... not necessarily in the following order:

1. ditch the *#($^ pucks
2. drain the pool partially and refill
3. use bleach to manage my pool going forward (unless there is another way to manage without raising CYA)
4. Pray my family doesn't mutiny on me and hang me from the pool umbrella for messing up their summer cool off spot

My OTO kit this morning still showed TC over 15 (using the testing without a good kit method - double dilution) and pH at 7.8 however I don't think that will really matter since I'm partially draining the pool and all my chemistry will change from the dilution. That being said can I simply start with the partial drain now or should I wait for more shocking to be completed before I start the partial drain? I just want to make sure I don't make the algae issue any worse. I found a pump rental at a local hardware store and was going to move forward with using that to drain the pool.

Thanks!

[Watermom]

Go ahead and start draining. By the way, the link Ben wanted you to read -- Best Guess Chlorine Chart --- is in my signature below.

[SurfaceDreamer]

Thanks Watermom! I had looked at the link in your signature line and made my determinations there Just wanted Ben to know that his signature line wasn't showing (at least for his response in this thread). I'll start draining the pool in the AM and go from there. Hooray me!!! <--- notice the sarcastic enthusiasm

[Watermom]

When we post, we have the option to show our signature or not. We try not to show it every single time because all those "blue banners" are pretty bold. So, we typically just show the signature occasionally instead of every time we post. On your post, Ben must have just unchecked the box and that is why it didn't show on that particular post of his.

[PoolDoc]

SurfaceDreamer,

I don't want to try to talk you into something you don't want to do. But, if your family is ready to swim, you don't have to drain. So long as you maintain your K-2006, so you can test accurately, there's no real downside to running a high CYA / high chlorine pool . . . especially if you establish a algistatic borate level.

And, by going that route, you can use up your trichlor tabs!

Ok, there are a few downsides:

1. If you take a water sample to a pool store, they will freak out, and tell your your pool is going to sneak into your house, and murder your and your family at night (or something to that effect)!

2. If your buddy comes over, notices how clear your pool is, and asks you how you do it . . . he'll give you a really weird look, if you actually tell him.

3. You won't need to add chlorine but once a week. With all that extra free time, you may do something that gets you in trouble.

The irony is, the same neighbor who thinks you're nuts, may have hired PoolChlor of Arizona to do the VERY SAME THING to his pool . . . using -- OMG! -- chlorine gas!

[SurfaceDreamer]

Ben,

Thank you for following up. I retested the pool at the local store around noon and got the following numbers:

Free Chlorine: 5 (I know it's > 15ppm at this time)
Total Chlorine: 5 (I know it's > 15ppm at this time)
Calcium Hardness: 400
CYA: 120
Total Alkalinity: 150
pH: 8.0
Total Dissolved Solids: 1500

I know the "what would you do" questions are typically subjective to each individual but I'm trying to look long term and determine what is in the best interest of the pool and its maintenance needs going forward. I'm concerned that by finishing out the 70+ lbs of tabs I have that I'll just be compounding my future issues and besides - I can sell the tabs for what I paid for them so I wouldn't be out anything. Couple that with the fact that I have a child who has very sensitive skin; I think it would be best to do a partial drain and get the numbers back down. If I look at this reaslisitcally I'm just whining about doing something that my family is complaininig to me about messing up in the first place... of course I'll never admit that to them - HA!

I'll rent the sump pump tomorrow and get to work. If there is something I'm missing please let me know! Thanks again.

One final question for my own clarification - outside of dilution (and of course rare earth elements that I can't get anyways)... is there any other cost effective way CYA can be lowered in a pool? From my reading I don't believe there is but wanted to ask.

[SurfaceDreamer]

Ok - partial refill completed this morning. Here are the results from my OTO kit (Taylor K2006 kit not here yet) and my local pool stores tests...

OTO test:
Chlorine: 6 (single dilution method)
Alkalinity: 130
pH: 7.8
CYA: < 30 (the tube only went to 30 and I could still see the dot albeit faintly - my best guess is 20-25 CYA)

LPS test:
Free Chlorine: 5
Total Avail Chlorine: 5
Alkalinity: 120
pH: 7.7
CYA: 25
Calcium Hardness: 210
Phosphates: 50

Looks like things are fairly balanced except a slighly low CYA. I'm not quite sure how these numbers are what they are considering the amount of water I drained but both tests (LPS and OTO kit) came up very close. I made sure to get the samples for the tests 6+ inches under the surface of the water. Anything else you can recommend I do prior to opening for a dip?

Also, being I have a lower CYA am I correct in assuming I will need to add bleach/chlorine more often? Thanks again for all your assistance!