My 6-year old is dying to swim and I've got green water even with high FC levels

[PoolDoc]

I'm so sorry you've had those problems. For future reference, with a 5,000 gallon pool, it's often better to dump and refill, once the pool gets away from you.

1. Maybe I'm missing it, but I didn't see your CYA results. Do you know what your CURRENT stabilizer level is?

2. If you have an Intex SWCG unit . . . DISCONNECT the wires to the copper part.

3. Don't worry about pH, TA, or CH right now. Just CYA.

4. Another question: do your pool walls feel slimy? Vinyl pools almost ALWAYS feel slimy when algae starts growing, and during an algae outbreak.

[rox29160]

I haven't added stabilizer at all this year. In the past 3 seasons, I never got the CYA to register on the test so it has to be less than 30 ppm. I also seem to remember reading that algae "eats" stabilizer. Based on these 2 things, I have been assuming the CYA is close to zero. I was trying to get the algae under control before adding any stabilizer. Stabilizer allows the chlorine to last longer, but doesn't it slow down the chlorine's effectiveness on algae? I will wait to hear back from you before adding the stabilizer so as not to slow down this process even further.

I do have the SWCG. I will disconnect the copper ionizer before hooking it back up. It is not hooked up at all right now. I am running the pump 24/7.

I can not find anywhere in my pool that is slimy. I know this is one of the telltale signs of algae so I go around rubbing my hands over everything. Everything squeaks when you rub your fingers over it, if that makes sense.

I decided to test my CYA this morning just to make sure. It is definitely below 30. I can clearly see the dot on the bottom when the tube is full. The solution is not even cloudy at all.

[PoolDoc]

+ Read the SS Recipe -- it doesn't apply directly, but it has info you can use: http://pool9.net/ssr/

+ Turn off the SWCG, for now. Completely off.

+ Use dichlor to chlorinate: http://pool9.net/dichlor24/ If you can't find the Sams dichlor in that link, I believe there are Amazon links to dichlor in the SS Recipe. Or you can shop Lowes, Home Depot or Ace. All of them *sometimes* carry undiluted dichlor. Look for dichlor products that have 56% available chlorine. Do NOT get anything that shows "trichlo-.....", "copper", or a non-chlorine oxidizer on the label.

+ For every 10 ppm of chlorine you add with dichlor you will also add 9 ppm CYA. Right now, that's a good thing for you.

[BigDave]

Thanks PoolDoc I'd missed that there was no CYA.
Do you have an guess regarding the flaky green material in the pipes and other surfaces?

@rox29160: did you get the new carts yet?

[PoolDoc]

Do you have an guess regarding the flaky green material in the pipes and other surfaces?

I'm afraid it's copper -- the color (= Statue of Liberty) she described is one of the copper salts.

[rox29160]

OK, I've got several stupid questions....Please excuse my ignorance. I plan to try and find some dichlor locally tonight or tomorrow morning.

1. Pooldoc stated not to use Trichlo. I know it is not the same as dichlor, hence the name, but I thought both were acceptable means to add FC and CYA, as long as you need CYA. I actually bought a floater and some tabs with 99.0%-Trichloro-s-triazinetrione & 1%other ingredients with 90% available chlorine last weekend. I have not used any of it yet thank goodness and can hopefully return it. I was planning to use it to boost my CYA after getting the green knocked out of my water. My question is...What is the difference in dichlor and trichlor?

2. If it is copper, is there something that will make it drop out so I can vacuum it or dissolve back into the water so it is not visible?

3. Why would copper just show up this year since it is the original pool water from 3 years ago? I have never drained the pool. I have added water over time though. Would algae make it all of a sudden appear? Or the SWCG? I have used the SWCG in all of the 3 previous seasons and had clear water last fall when closing the pool.

4. I have powdered cyanuric acid stabilizer on hand too. Can I use it to raise the CYA until I get the dichlor or will it just get filtered out?

[BigDave]

A) The only stupid question is the one that isn't asked.

1) I think PoolDoc's reason is that dichlor dissolves quickly and is the quickest way to get CYA in the water, Trichlor will also add CYA but at a slower rate.
2) I'm hopeful that a lot of it has stuck to the cloud in your water and the new cartridges may help remove it. There are other methods to remove metals, none of them are fast. Refill is quickest - are you sure you can't?
3) It didn't just show up this year. Your ladder was coated in it from last year. The copper dookickey in the Krystal Clear was actively adding it to your pool.
4) You can put it in a sock and hang the sock in the pool, prefereably in from of a return, Squeeze the sock every now and again to help it dissolve.

-5- If anything I've written conflicts with or is contradicted by PoolDoc, - What he says goes.

[rox29160]

30 May 2014

Again, I appreciate all of the help I am receiving.

1. I guess I need to wait on input from Pool Doc on whether to use or not use the Trichlor that I already have since he said specifically not to use it. I have never seen anything related to pools in any lowes or home depot around here, but I am going to check tomorrow. Pooldoc didn't mention buying it at a poolstore so I am assuming they don't usually carry it. I have 2 that are within about 30 minutes that I may call. I just hate to wait for shipping from Amazon if the stabilizer will help. It sounds as if I can add the cyanuric acid and at least be trying to raise it some while waiting.

2. The cartridge caught a good bit last night, but next to nothing during the day today. I may have mentioned we had a pretty bad storm last night so it could have been partly from stuff being clown into the pool. Fingers are still crossed though. I don't guess a refill is totally out, but my well is not a really high yielding well so I would rather not. I was scared I was going to run it dry last time I filled it.

3. I understand that it has always been in there. I meant more along the lines of why did it just all of a sudden turn my water green.

4. I will get this process started tonight. The sock method is how I have always tried raising the CYA in previous years.

5. Understood! I know he definitely knows his stuff.