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Thread: opening my green pool...UGH

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Jun 2013
    Location
    Georgia
    Posts
    67

    Default opening my green pool...UGH

    this is the first season we are opening our pool with SWCG. After closing for the winter with the winter cover I was expecting better...we had a very warm winter in GA. It is very green...UGH! I just want to make sure I get it cleaned up properly. I started the pump just on recirculate as to prevent all of the green from going into the filter. The PH was just at 7.2. I added borax to raise it. I haven't rechecked it yet. Alkalinity was also low at 50. I added baking soda to raise it. I still have it just circulating. I couldn't get the FC to test. It wouldn't turn pink when I added the DPD powder. I know that there is no chlorine. I did go ahead and pour 4 gallons of bleach in at sundown tonight. I'm sure that isn't enough. I didn't know what to do about the salt system. I did read somewhere to try to clean it up before starting the SWCG. I have not turned it on yet. Am I on the right track for cleaning up. I know I have to kill all of the algae then vacuum. When should I turn the SWCG on and will it tell me how much salt to add? Thanks so much for sharing your knowledge!
    PF=5; 23K gal IG kidney vinyl pool, Triton II Sand Filter, Whisperflow VS Pump, Taylor 2006 kit, Jacuzzi/Carvin Saniclear 40 SWCG

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Jun 2013
    Location
    Georgia
    Posts
    67

    Default Re: opening my green pool...UGH

    tested the water this morning. It's not too bad...
    FC 7.5
    PH 7.6
    ALK 90
    Cal 25 Does this matter with a vinyl liner?
    CYA 40

    It does look a tiny bit better this morning...but still a long way to go I will see how the FC lasts today with the sun. I still have it just on circulate. I was hoping to kill some of the algae and then vacuum to waste before I run it through the filter. Any suggestions on the chemical levels? The water is pretty cold, but I haven't checked the temp. yet.
    PF=5; 23K gal IG kidney vinyl pool, Triton II Sand Filter, Whisperflow VS Pump, Taylor 2006 kit, Jacuzzi/Carvin Saniclear 40 SWCG

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Jul 2013
    Location
    Northern Illinois
    Posts
    817

    Default Re: opening my green pool...UGH

    Hi! Sorry about your green water!

    Most people with SWG's keep it off anyway during a clean-up, so just wait to add salt until it clears up.

    With a CYA level of 40, you need to raise your FC up to 15/16 and keep it there by testing and adding bleach. Do this as often as you can but at least twice a day. Falling below the 15 FC mark delays your clean-up, so stock up on bleach!

    Your CH is fine in a vinyl pool. Maybe someone with a SWG can guide you about cleaning it in the meantime so it's ready to go.

    Good luck!
    26K gal 20x40 rectangular IG vinyl pool; Apr 2014: New pump, liner, auto-cover, & water; Pentair Whisperflo 1HP pump; Pentair Trition sand filter; Cover/Star CS-500 auto cover; Taylor K-2006C; OTO

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Jul 2013
    Location
    Northern Illinois
    Posts
    817

    Default Re: opening my green pool...UGH

    Oh, and just in case, 128 oz of 8.25% bleach should raise your FC by 3.7ppm. Another way to look at it is to raise FC by 1ppm, use 34oz.
    26K gal 20x40 rectangular IG vinyl pool; Apr 2014: New pump, liner, auto-cover, & water; Pentair Whisperflo 1HP pump; Pentair Trition sand filter; Cover/Star CS-500 auto cover; Taylor K-2006C; OTO

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Jun 2013
    Location
    Georgia
    Posts
    67

    Default Re: opening my green pool...UGH

    Thanks so much! I did add more bleach this evening...it is looking much better. I am surprised how quickly the bleach and recirculating is clearing the water. I'll be at it the rest of the week i'm sure, but that's OK. Not too hard, just time consuming.
    PF=5; 23K gal IG kidney vinyl pool, Triton II Sand Filter, Whisperflow VS Pump, Taylor 2006 kit, Jacuzzi/Carvin Saniclear 40 SWCG

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Jul 2013
    Location
    Northern Illinois
    Posts
    817

    Default Re: opening my green pool...UGH

    See if you can check and add one more time tonight so it can sit at high levels overnight without fighting the sun.
    26K gal 20x40 rectangular IG vinyl pool; Apr 2014: New pump, liner, auto-cover, & water; Pentair Whisperflo 1HP pump; Pentair Trition sand filter; Cover/Star CS-500 auto cover; Taylor K-2006C; OTO

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Jul 2013
    Location
    Northern Illinois
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    817

    Default Re: opening my green pool...UGH

    Are you brushing all the surfaces well?
    26K gal 20x40 rectangular IG vinyl pool; Apr 2014: New pump, liner, auto-cover, & water; Pentair Whisperflo 1HP pump; Pentair Trition sand filter; Cover/Star CS-500 auto cover; Taylor K-2006C; OTO

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Dec 1969
    Location
    Virginia
    Posts
    751

    Default Re: opening my green pool...UGH

    The SWCG cell should only be cleaned if needed. Inspect the cell plates and see if you see any scale buildup on them. If you google "dirty salt cell" you will find pictures of what a dirty cell looks like. If it's not dirty, then it doesn't need cleaning.

    If it does need cleaning, refer to your owners manual for the recommended method for your model (I'm not familiar with that model).

    With mine (Goldline Aqua Rite with T-15 cell) I rarely need to do anything but hose it out at fall closing. Of course I keep tight control of water chem balance which helps greatly.
    22'x40' Grecian Lazy L 20K gal IG vinyl pool; Aqua Rite SWCG T15 cell; Hayward Pro Grid 6020 DE filter; Hayward Superpump 1hp pump; 12 hrs; Taylor K-2006; city; PF:6

  9. #9
    Join Date
    May 2010
    Posts
    119

    Default Re: opening my green pool...UGH

    Good advice. In addition to maintaining a high level of chlorine and brushing the sides and floor, why not begin filtering? If the pressure rises you can backwash it. This will help clean it up faster.

    I seem to recall that vinyl pools like a slightly lower pH (someone please correct me if I'm mistaken). 7.6 is fine, however I think the chlorine is more effective at slightly lower pH levels.

    The pH in my gunite pool tends to rise to 8.0+ over time so before shocking I lower it to 7.2-7.5. Once you begin shocking, the high chlorine affects phenol titration so testing pH becomes problematic.

    Contrary to what I've read on some pool sites, neither sample dilution (adding deionized/distilled water)* nor induced low chlorine (achieved by adding thiosulfate) will result in a reliable pH reading since both workarounds impact pH.


    *Sample dilution using newly manufactured, properly stored and unopened deionized water is better than nothing but it makes sense to me to heed Taylor's recommendation to just wait for chlorine levels to come down before testing pH.
    16'x29' free-form 14K gal IG gunite pool; SWCG & sodium hypochlorite 8.25%; Hayward SwimClear C4025 cartridge filter; Hayward SP3202VSP TriStar Variable Speed Pool Pump; custom test kit based on Taylor K-2006C; city; PF:8.6

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Jun 2013
    Location
    Georgia
    Posts
    67

    Default Re: opening my green pool...UGH

    Thanks for all of the great tips...I am brushing daily. I thought I would vacuum one more time this morning and then turn the filter on. Then I can watch the pressure and backwash when needed. I am also fighting that fine pollen. The filter will help get rid of that. I stored our salt cel over the winter. It looks really good...nothing on it. It didn't come with a cap to close off one end for cleaning, so I did see how to just use a bucket on line. I'll address that this summer when it needs cleaning.

    Thanks you all and have a BLESSED Easter!
    PF=5; 23K gal IG kidney vinyl pool, Triton II Sand Filter, Whisperflow VS Pump, Taylor 2006 kit, Jacuzzi/Carvin Saniclear 40 SWCG

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