Old Pool to a New Owner

[TonyIsSocial]

Hello all,

I just bought a house in Clearwater, FL in January that was built in the '70s. I had a pool service change the pool from green to blue back in February and wanted to gradually get myself to maintain it.

I'm exploring the forums and first thing I've learned so far is I need a test kit. The 2 recommended on Amazon are $60 and $120. I'll start off with the $60 kit.

Some details I'm assuming are relevant:
The pool gets full sun all day.
There's an evergreen tree that drops needles in it.
Only chemicals I've been adding since I started taking full control (2-3 weeks ago) are chlorine (Shock Plus from Costco) and muriatic acid from Leslie's. Doses based on Leslie's recommendation.
Bought a new Zodiac MX-8 about a month ago.
New filter also about a month ago.

The problem that brings me here:
Lots of algae on filter clogging flow, increasing PSI to ~30
I spray the algae off the filter every 2 days or else the pool water isn't circulating and no pressure to move the vacuum around. I tried soaking the filter in a half bag of shock chlorine and it still went green within 24-48 hours. Here is a link to pictures and a video on Dropbox: http://db.tt/G3O5IvoV

I think my problem is chemically based and I'm completely ignorant.

Please help,
Tony

[PoolDoc]

Pics:

[PoolDoc]

You've got mustard algae growing. You need higher chlorine. Without a K2006's test results, I can't tell how high. Pool store results are PARTICULARLY inaccurate on CYA levels, which is critical in this case.

1. Order a K2006 ASAP

2. Get an OTO/phenol red (yellow / red) drops, and adjust your chlorine level to the orange-ish yellow level (not on scale)

3. Post your pump make / model AND your filter make / model. Your filter cartridge has collapsed pleats, and is probably too small for your pump, making your problems worse in multiple ways.

[TonyIsSocial]

I ordered K2006 and got the delivery notification already. I'm hoping your step 2 will make sense when I receive it...

I just went out and put another bag of Shock Plus in and turned the pump on for an hour.

All that is legible on the pump housing is WaterAce Listed 96R5. The rest is decayed and not legible.

On the cartridge housing is this label:


I took that to Leslie's and they sold me a Pleatco and I'm not sure the model but it has several number/measurements on it like PA175. I could probably dig up the receipt or call them.

I understand you're busy and extremely grateful for your time.

[PoolDoc]

http://www.waterace.com/manuals.html

Work your way through that page, and see if you can find your pump. If not, call them at "If you have a Water Ace product and are looking for assistance, please call 1-800-942-3343."

[TonyIsSocial]

Ok, I got the K2006 Thursday and just got around to doing the chlorine test. I got 1.2ppm free chlorine and 0 combined (I think anyway). I did a 25ml sample in an area out of the flow of water at 18" deep. 2 scoops of the powder turned it a dark pink and 6 drops made it clear. 5 drops of the other and it was still clear.

Looking at Table B will tell me how much chlorine to add for 30ppm to kill the algae based on %available chlorine and volume of pool, however, I'm not sure how to calculate %available. I'll be using Aqua Chem's Shock PLUS (Sodium dichloro-s-triazinetrione 58.2%) - 1LB.

I haven't gotten around to calling WaterAce yet as they have the same work hours as me but I'll get to it this week. Meanwhile, if I keep the filter cartridge sprayed off, the pressure is between 5-20 and plenty of circulation around the pool for about 48 hours.

btw, I was joking around on Facebook about buying this kit, and my cousin Bryan (who I went to first for help before here because he has "been in the biz for 20 years") made these comments (image below). He didn't reply to my initial call for help so I tried to sound smart just to troll him...