Algae Problem with Cloudy Water

[BigDave]

You won't know FC and CC (FC+CC=TC) until you get the FAS-DPD test (in the K-2006).
Stick with the OTO, keep it in the Dark Yellow - Orange range. Ignore the Guess-strips.
You've got the green on the run but you won't know your endpoint until you get the K-2006.

[bmlocal175]

Alright its 2:20 pm on Sat and just got done vacuuming. Pool looks a lot better than yesterday. Checked TC again and was very Orange. I did add 3 gallons this morning just to be safe so I think its holding somewhat. I will check this evening and if still orange I will not add any but if it dropped into the yellow again I will dump another 8 gallons in for the night and check in the morning.

I emailed the company who made my pool to ask them the gallons it holds so hopefully hear back. I called the local pool store who installed the pool to see and he checked a book and told me it was 24,400. Its a 22x44 Mountain lake, picture on previous page. So I hope the higher estimates of 35,000 gallons by PoolDoc won't throw this whole project off to bad.

[bmlocal175]

Quick question.. Can we swim in the pool today or is the chlorine just to high? I'm not even sure the exact number but I'm guessing 15 or higher.

[Watermom]

It won't hurt people to swim in a pool with chlorine level of 15 and a CYA of 50 but you might want to wear old swimsuits. Also, if it is cloudy, keep a constant head count. Don't want any tragedies from someone having a problem in the pool and not being able to be seen due to the cloudiness of the water.

[bmlocal175]

I'm still showing orange on my test, so it seems to be holding. I checked the cya and it seems to be 55-60. So for now I take it I can not add any for tonight and check it in the morning?

I swam today and the water seems clear until you go under water and visibility is not that far. Hopefully be better tomorrow.

[Watermom]

Yes, you can skip the evening dose.

Be sure you are running your pump 24/7 while trying to clear the water and backwash the filter when the pressure rises 8-10 psi over your clean filter pressure. Is the pressure rising by the way?

[bmlocal175]

Not really. My system usually runs around 20 psi and its still right there. I didn't have a real bad case of algae just enough though where I couldn't get rid of it permanently because I did not shock right. Pool is looking a TONS better. So if I'm orange in the morning go ahead and just run the SWCG like normal and wait for my kit to post full test results? If I'm not orange that means the chlorine was still fighting something and continue to maintain the orange throughout the day again?

[Watermom]

Keep the SWCG off while you are clearing up the pool. Using it to superchlorinate to shock level will greatly decrease your cell life. Wait until everything is clear and then turn it on for maintenance doses of chlorine.

You want to keep the chlorine high until the water clears. Has anybody talked to you about doing an overnight chlorine loss test? (This thread is getting long and I don't want to take the time to re-read the whole thing right now to find out.) If so, how long ago did you do it and what were the results?