Another year of Algae, Please say it isn't so!

[RedwingT]

Hello again fellow pool lovers!

I have a slight algae problem again this year that I can't seem to get rid of.

My CYA from Dichlor is 50 and I have been keeping the chlorine level at at least 30. I run my pump 24/7. I added bleach last night and got a reading of 36 after about an hour (forgot about the bleach being concentrated and 8.25%) which is actually higher than I needed to go. This morning my reading was
FC 28
CC of 0-0.5
So I lost 8 ppm chl overnight.

It did rain last night so I am sure that is where some of the loss went. I also have a layer of flying ants for the 2nd time now on top of water. I can visually see algae albeit not much but it is there. I stir and brush my pool every time I add bleach or dichlor and it has helped tremendously but it will not totally leave just like last year. I use the good filters and switch them out, sometimes 2x a day. They have been less brown/green as the days go on. I also upgraded my pump and truly believe w/out it I would be in way worse shape.

I have been going thru this since the day my pool was totally filled, 6 days ago. I followed the start up plan for intex pools but my pool is in the direct sun all day and I guess the CYA didn't raise fast enough to hold the chlorine and here we go again with the algae bloom. My first reading I had FC 0 and CC 0 so I added one lb. of Dichlor and 1 gal of bleach before I left for the hospital hoping to stop this before it got out of hand again. You know, MORE is better type attitude which I believed would be the right attitude in this situation. When I arrived back several hours later I had
FC 14.5
CC 0
pH 8.0 Added 2 cups Borax and 4 cups of bleach. Brushed and stirred. Thinking that would be the end of Algae! HA!
The next morning my reading was:
FC 7
CC 1
pH 7.4
I did have a layer of flying ants, a ton of em. Don't know if that affected the chl or just the lack of CYA/Chl so I added 1 lb of Dichlor and 12 cups of bleach. Stirred and brushed pool.

I have kept chl at shock level since the day 2. It hasn't been below 21 ppm at any time since, but I am very busy lately with my Disabled Dad who is in a hospital an hour away and just don't have the time anymore to keep fighting this the BBB way. Can I just get some Polyquat 60% use it and be done with this? Crossing fingers for an easier answer from the pool gods...

Oh forgot to mention my pH has been reading a steady 7.4. The last test I did however I left sitting on the table after recording my reading and went the Ladies room (didn't find any ladies in there either, haha) and when I came back the test was bright purple! Scared me for a minute but then I remembered PoolDoc posting that if the test isn't read within 15 seconds with chl this hgh that it isn't a reliable reading. Is that the case? I have so much going thru this old brain of mine that I really can't rely on my memory at this time.

[RedwingT]

I am going out now to skim all the flying ants, add more bleach, stir and brush. Thinking 8 cups which give me 6 more ppm's for the day while I am not home. THat should be approx 34 ppm for the day. I don't want to add anymore Dichlor as I don't want my CYA any higher than it is at 50. It is partly sunny today with more storms coming after 2 pm. Debating on covering the pool or not but don't know that I will have time for that as I have to get on the road.

[Watermom]

I wouldn't cover the pool with chlorine at shock level. I also would just stick with bleach since your CYA is already at 50. Sounds like you are doing all the right things. Keeping my fingers crossed that it won't be much longer for you!