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    rkrgk is offline Subscriber Thread Analyst rkrgk 0
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    Default Re: Fighting Algae for months

    I usually pour bleach walking around the pool, hope thats the right way to do it? Or putting it slowly through the skimmer is better?
    The trichlor that I mentioned (tabs from costco) does not mention any copper in the label.

    My pool looks like this now.
    18x32 kidney 15K gal IG Gunite pool; skimmer tabs; Hayward DE6000 DE filter; Hayward/AO Smith Superflow 1 speed pump; 12 hrs; heat pump, fountain or waterfall; Taylor K2006C ; utility water; summer: none; winter: none; android tablet; PF:8

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    Default Re: Fighting Algae for months

    Most people either pour it in front of a return jet or slowly into the skimmer. I use the skimmer. Another advantage of putting it in the skimmer is that it will kill anything growing in the filter, too.

    Actually, since this is not a vinyl pool, you don't have to be so careful of not taking the chlorine too high. So, you can hammer it with bleach.

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    rkrgk is offline Subscriber Thread Analyst rkrgk 0
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    Default Re: Fighting Algae for months

    Ok, so I added 3 x 1.42 Gallons of 6% bleach and did a chlorine test after 1 hr. The results show somewhere in between 3 and 5ppm. I did the dilution method that you mentioned and got the results to be 5ppm. So I would think its about 4.5ppm currently. Its 104 Degrees hot here in Phoenix, so may be all the chlorine that I put might be evaporating faster than I can pour!
    I brushed the pool a bit. Didnt backwash the filter yet, Did backwash and added DE just two days ago.
    The pool has bit of powdery particles floating on top, Dont know if its due to me brushing the pool and some DE is floating or if its the bleach reacting with Algae. And the fact that my pop up cleaning system is not really popping up and cleaning makes me worry.. Should I be buying a vacuum cleaner? Other than that how will I remove the debris? And how can I make sure my drain is working? I can not see much of water movement at the deep end of the pool. Could it be that my drain is somehow clogged?

    Here is the picture of partcles floating on the top

    18x32 kidney 15K gal IG Gunite pool; skimmer tabs; Hayward DE6000 DE filter; Hayward/AO Smith Superflow 1 speed pump; 12 hrs; heat pump, fountain or waterfall; Taylor K2006C ; utility water; summer: none; winter: none; android tablet; PF:8

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    Default Re: Fighting Algae for months

    I can't help with the popup system question. Hopefully someone else will come along who can. If you can't get it to work, then you will have to buy some other type of vacuum system to use.

    Keep adding bleach. As many times per day as you can, test and take the chlorine back up. The more consistently you can do this, the faster you'll clear the pool.

    Chlorine does not evaporate. The reason your level is low so soon after adding it is because 1) you have a low CYA reading and 2) it is being used up fighting algae which is what you want.

    Bleach, bleach, bleach. Lots of bleach.

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    Default Re: Fighting Algae for months

    In the immortal words (about the only words!) of Keanu Reeves:
    Woah!
    That's some serious algae -- pictures are SO helpful to letting us see just what you are dealing with.

    You've got a concrete pool, and a PF:8. Each gallon of plain 6% bleach will add about 4 ppm of chlorine to your pool. So, Monday evening, add 15 gallons of bleach to your pool -- about 60 ppm, and plan to add 8 more the following evening.

    Don't mess around -- you don't want to wrestle with your algae; you want to kill.

    BUT . . . if at all possible lower your pH tomorrow AM -- try 1/2 gallon of muriatic acid (see guide linked in my blue signature!) and see if that will get your pH below 7.8, before your start dumping all that bleach in.

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    rkrgk is offline Subscriber Thread Analyst rkrgk 0
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    Default Re: Fighting Algae for months

    Yeah We are under total Algae attack!
    I added about 7.1 Gallons of 6% bleach, just checked my Chlorine level (with dilution method) and its only reached to about 6ppm(measured right after sun is down).
    I only have one more jug of bleach, so have to run to Walmart to get more.
    And I added 1/2 gallon muriatic acid earlier before noon and measured the pH awhile ago, it is 7.2, though i tested for pH after adding few gallons of bleach.
    I can add more bleach right away tonight and add the next batch (like you said) tomorrow evening.
    I still have the problem of finding out how I can vacuum the pool, since I dont have a vacuum cleaner and my pop-up cleaning system is all messed up now, does nt seem to pop up and rotate, though I can see water coming out through them especially the ones at the shallow end. May be I should get a manual cleaner to vacuum until I can figure out the pop up issue?
    As you just saw in the picture, pool is very cloudy and green!! But I am ready for the fight I will post regular pictures to show you how things go. Thanks!
    18x32 kidney 15K gal IG Gunite pool; skimmer tabs; Hayward DE6000 DE filter; Hayward/AO Smith Superflow 1 speed pump; 12 hrs; heat pump, fountain or waterfall; Taylor K2006C ; utility water; summer: none; winter: none; android tablet; PF:8

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    Default Re: Fighting Algae for months

    Quote Originally Posted by rkrgk View Post
    I still have the problem of finding out how I can vacuum the pool, since I dont have a vacuum cleaner and my pop-up cleaning system is all messed up now, does nt seem to pop up and rotate, though I can see water coming out through them especially the ones at the shallow end. May be I should get a manual cleaner to vacuum until I can figure out the pop up issue?
    Popup cleaning systems are MASSIVE energy wasters, and not very effective vacuum systems, except where the pool debris consists of a little light dust.

    I would DEFINITELY recommend getting a manual vacuum system, and using it.

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