What have I done?

[MarleneK]

Hi all,

I opened my pool three days ago. Nasty green algae everywhere! I used what we call Javex 12, not regular bleach, but the really strong stuff. Algae started to die. The water was clearing, but still cloudy, but no longer green. I swept, yesterday. Today I vaccumed. That was around 3 this afternoon. When I was done, I could still see bottom. At 5, I can't see half way down the pool!! What did I do? What do I do next? My pool is an 18x33 AG with approx 12,000 gallons. I don't have any real numbers to give you, but before anyone flogs me, I have a Taylor test kit coming any day now. I've never had a problem with algae in the spring before so this is new to me. I'm not sure of my water temp, but it's probably in the high 50's. Is that part of my problem? My chlorine levels are where they should be. Would it help to put my solar blanket on?
Thanks for any help or suggestions,
Marlene

[timmie]

Hi, I have the same problem.......and I have a 17 x33 pool . I was told that it was 70, 000 gallons or litres! I cant remember. I was told to turn my pump off overnight by a pool store and let the algae settle and then vacumn to waste in the morning or evening. If you vacumn like you normally do, you dont get rid of the algae it goes into the filter?? Dont take my word, as I have a post on here and am waiting a reply also.
My chlorine level is very high in the pool. and I am not sure if this in itself will get rid of the algae without vacumning it up.

[wollypog6]

Hi folks. Just thought I would chime in here and try to help out a couple fellow Canucks. Keep your filters running 24hrs/day. Dont put on your solar blanket. Keep vacumming your pools like normal and backwashing when needed. You absolutely have to get some real numbers for people to work with. Even if it means having to go to a pool store to get it done. Just dont buy or add anything to your pools that they recommend. You can even go to Canadian Tire and get the cheap 2 way test kit which is pretty cheap. It will give you a pretty decent idea of chlorine levels, which will be one of the most important things right now. Get down to your local grocery store and pick up a bunch of UNSCENTED bleach and get ready to add it to your pool!

[aylad]

Hi, I have the same problem.......and I have a 17 x33 pool . I was told that it was 70, 000 gallons or litres! I cant remember. I was told to turn my pump off overnight by a pool store and let the algae settle and then vacumn to waste in the morning or evening. If you vacumn like you normally do, you dont get rid of the algae it goes into the filter?? Dont take my word, as I have a post on here and am waiting a reply also.
My chlorine level is very high in the pool. and I am not sure if this in itself will get rid of the algae without vacumning it up.

The chlorine will kill the algae, but will not remove it. Your filter will do that, eventually, but it's faster to vacuum it out.

Janet

[MarleneK]

The reason I'm saying I have 12,000 gallons is because when we had the pool installed, the company put 12,000 in it for us, and I have it filled to the same level that they did. I could put much more in it.
I'm home from work now, and I added the borax. I'll wait a while before I put the bleach in.

[poolbuoy]

I had a green pool also, well let me start by saying. When I pulled my winter cover off, I realized my skimmer plate fell off and no plug so I lost water down to the bottom of skimmer in my 18x33 AG. We had 10 " of rain so I pumped it out of my perimeter drain into a 55 gal. barrel then into the pool. I used a slime bag to filter it. got the pool filled and adde metal out because I knew it would turn brown. about a day later after backwashing my DE filter it cleared up. I was reading the forum here and one thread told me to add Polyqaut algecide and keep your PH low. Slowly bring up your Cl each day then adjust PH up. Did that but left solar cover on and had a HUGE Algae bloom. So I added about 5 gallons of Shock 12% and a 1/2 qt or super algaecide. next morning CLEAR. I vacuumed up the dead algae and put 1 bag of Cal.Hyp. in pool . SPARKLING!
Fc=5
tc=1
cc=4
Alk=130
PH=7.3
CYA=30

[timmie]

Janet, thanks, I have turned my pump off as i noticed that on the site that seems to be the consensus.

[MarleneK]

Good morning!

My ph this morning is up to 7.2-ish. I added more borax. I can vaguely see the bottom of the pool. Unfortunately, it will have to wait until after work tonight to get a vaccum!
Thanks again, I'm feeling much better about this!
Mar

[ivyleager]

Janet, thanks, I have turned my pump off as i noticed that on the site that seems to be the consensus.

Hmmmm, not really. The consensus is to continuously run the filter 24/7 to circulate the chlorine, and allow the filter to capture the algae. Putting a skimmer sock or old panty hose over the skimmer will capture more algae, also. Need to rinse that off several times a day, as it WILL get very gunked up. Backwashing filter will clean out the dead algae, too.

It was my experience that if I tried to 'vacuum to waste' the dead algae off the bottom of the pool, I stirred up quite a bit, AND lost water in the process. I ended up just running the filter and backwashing. Cleared in about 5 days.

Good luck.

CaryB
Go 'Canes!!

[timmie]

where did you buy your borax?? I am not sure we have it in Winnipeg..............