I've used HTH algaecide - do I need to drain my pool?

[Whattf]

Hello,

I'm new to the forum. I bought a house with a pool last year. After battling the pool chemistry for a year I enlisted help from a pool chemical service company (as I know how to clean out my cartridge filters, pump, and polaris 360, and skimmer baskets). I had been using HTH chlorine and algaecide yet I was still battling algae. After having him arrive for the first time this week he mentioned that the HTH algaecide is horrible for pool chemistry and recommended that I should drain my entire pool and start over. I'm looking for some recommendations to counter-act the negative affects of using their product.

Thanks!

[PoolDoc]

I don't know of any algaecides that are so bad you need to drain your pool. If you'll give me the exact algaecide name, I can verify that.

Do NOT drain your pool if it is vinyl or fiberglass; do NOT drain it if its concrete if the ground in your area is saturated with water from heavy rains.

DO consider checking with another pool service -- I can't be sure, till you give me the exact algaecide name, but this sounds like a scam to run up the bill on a new customer, before dumping them. HTH currently makes products that I'd never recommend . . . but I'm pretty doubtful that you need to drain the pool.

[Whattf]

It's HTH 3x concentrate Algae Guard. He mentioned that as a result of using it I had a lot of combined chlorine and no free chlorine. As a result he said that adding additional chlorine probably wouldn't be any use, also that it may take a month or so for my cloudy water to clear up.

My pool is an in-ground plaster pool.

[Whattf]

I tested my water this weekend at it's ammonia levels are at .5 PPM

[PoolDoc]

Assuming your ammonia test is valid, THEN

1. Use borax to raise the pH to near 8.0.

2. Add PLAIN 8.25% household bleach each evening at the rate of 1.5 gallons per 10K pool gallons. Continue until combined chlorine levels is less than 1 ppm. Postpone a dose anytime the free chlorine level is greater than 10 ppm

3. Order a Taylor K2006 (test kit page with links to Amazon in my signature block -- these kits can NOT be purchased locally!) ASAP. Report test results ASAP.

[Whattf]

I added 3 gallons of bleach and 2 pounds of shock my pool is ~50k gallons by my estimate. I ordered the kit and I will report back with the results.

[PoolDoc]

50K gallons is a HUGE residential pool, and very unusual. A 30 x 60 lap pool with 4' ends and a 5' center would be only 57K gallons; a 20 x 40 block wall pool with a 4' shallow end, 12' flat deep end, the break at 10' from the shallow end and a flat bottom straight wall deep end would be only about 45K gallons.

Please measure the pool's dimensions. It's hard to dose correctly, with incorrect volume calculations -- but about 30% of pool owners use seriously incorrect values.

[Whattf]

Please measure the pool's dimensions. It's hard to dose correctly, with incorrect volume calculations -- but about 30% of pool owners use seriously incorrect values.

So, you're right. I re-did some rough calculations today. My pool is two heptagons (7 sided) joined by a rectangle (it's a custom made pool). It's apparently roughly 2100 square feet so it's roughly 15.5k gallons. Still waiting on my kit.

[PoolDoc]

Glad you were able to clear that up. Keep us posted.

[Whattf]

I got my K-2006 kit. FC - 0; pH- 7.4 ; TA - 90 PPM; Cyanuric Acid < 30 PPM