Closing with "pink slime and white water mold"

[CarlD]

MASSIVE amounts of algae have been known to consume CYA and leave (I think) ammonia. If the filter pressure didn't go it, it's filtering--but you may have a leak in your plumping. It should be self-priming.

[CarolineM]

Thank you Carl!

[CarolineM]

Think we should rename the thread NOT closing with pink slime/wwm! To date have used 41 bottles (121oz/8.25%) Clorox. Water is finally starting to clear - can almost see bottom of deep end. Have brushed every day. I'm still trying to maintain 15ppm chlorine, but with my CYA dropping to 0, will this hurt the vinyl liner? Do I need to raise the CYA now or wait till spring? Does the mesh cover let in enough sunlight to matter?
Thank you for encouraging me to go ahead and clean this mess up! I appreciate your help! Never seen anything like it!

[PoolDoc]

(41) 121oz bottles of 8.25% would be about 130 ppm on your pool -- that is definitely in the range of normal consumption once the pool goes swampy.

1. If your pool is covered, don't add CYA yet. If your pool is uncovered, I'd recommend installing the mesh cover, but leaving the corners accessible, if you can do this. It's much easier to clean up an algae-only swamp covered, than it is uncovered. When you're ready to vacuum, you can just unhook and flip back one side.

2. Have you been testing CC levels? If not, you should. It's possible your CYA has been converted in part to ammonia. If so, that consumes huge quantities of chlorine, during cleanup.

3. I'm sorry I haven't chimed in sooner, but I was waiting to get more definitive results on using phosphate removers in conjunction with winterization. Keeping your phosphate levels below 125 ppb during the pool season can be very difficult, since phosphates can enter the pool from multiple sources -- my own local potable water has ~2ppm or 2000 ppb phosphates! But during winter, you are NOT constantly adding phosphates, so it may be practical for you to drop your phosphate level < 125 ppb, and then be able to keep it there till spring without any further effort.

A pool with very low phosphates is not algae-proof, but it is quite algae resistant, and *should* be easier to maintain. Very likely, you can achieve that for less than $100. If you're interested, let me know. But keep in mind, I have not fully tested this method myself yet.

[CarolineM]

Thanks PoolDoc! I have the mesh cover on - doing as you said. When I tested 0 CYA, took a sample to Leslies - they showed 45 CYA - took another sample to another store - they showed 25 (lol) I ordered new reagent and retested - it's 0. Leslies also tests phosphates - they showed 0 (for what its worth). Only lost 2 ppm chlorine overnight - I put 1 bottle Clorox in this morning and its holding so far at 15 ppm. I'll try the phosphate stuff if you think I should. Oh, meant to ask, should I put my Polaris in while shocking? I've scrubbed it and soaked in Clorox. Thank you!

[PoolDoc]

Don't buy any phosphate remover, yet. I've been testing phosphate testkits, and have seen some sketchy results. Instead,

1. buy a Taylor phosphate testkit;
2. test BOTH your pool and your tap water;
3. call your water company, find out the phosphate level in your tap water, and use that to validate the results.

It's unlikely your phosphate level is actually 0 (ie, less than 125 ppb PO4) -- algae simply does not thrive in that situation. You'll need to do some accurate testing FIRST, to see what your options are. The specific PoolForum / Amazon store page for the test kits is http://astore.amazon.com/poolbooks?_...g=UTF8&node=11

[CarolineM]

Oh man, what is going on with my pool? When I do the PH test at first it looks ok - 7.6, THEN it turns a PURPLE color - using the phenol red. Tested with the Leslies kit - using R0014 and it does the same thing - at first looks like 7.6 then goes to deep red. Still holding my chlorine at 15ppm, but until now my PH tested normal! Pool is clearing, but now there's a ring in the skimmer - kind of looks like mud. Could that be from dead white water mold??? Had this pool 15 years and have never had these problems! Help!