Newbie with ?'s (mustard algae) (Deb)

[brent.roberts]

this routine will certainly count for exercise, mentally and physically.

Evan thanks for that bit on the PH and fighting algae. Never saw anyone say anything like that here before. All the references I read ( not close to everything posted here however ) said pretty unanimously that 7.2 to 7.3 made chlorine more effective.

[debs_pool]

Yes, Evan, a great big THANK YOU! : ) I meant to thank you in my previous post -- but then I went off on a rant! LOL I appreciate EVERY ONE who has responded to my post! Thanks! You guys/gals are the best!

[duraleigh]

Hi, Deb,

It sounds like you are making a little progress, albeit slowly.

Since your dilution test seems to indicate around 10ppm, you'll need a little more than three gallons to bring it back up to 20....not the two gallons you indicated.

Since you've been on this about four days, I think you may be getting close based on your water description. Keep plugging the bleach in there, especially at night, and I think your pool will clear.

[duraleigh]

Evan,

based on your post, are you suggesting the most effective method for fighting algae would be to raise (hopefully not lower!) pH to 7.8 then attack it with Cl?

[debs_pool]

Comments and suggestions and encouragment requested AGAIN! Thanks to every one of who have responded to me by post or PM -- I appreciate you!
(P.S. Madty -- please clear your PM box! LOL)

So here are my NUMBERS FOR TODAY:

7/14/06 (tested w/Wal-Mart kit) (Woo-hoo - received email today to say Ben's kit has been shipped out to me! )

Cl: ORANGE / retested 1/2 pool water & 1/2 distilled water (yellow - kind of dark)
Also tested it with a Cl strip from my friend's janitorial supply place (best I can tell - it was in the 10 - 50 ppm range (guide went up to 200 ppm for the strip)

Ph: 7.3

TA: 150 ppm

CYA: no test (no reagent) (was 40 when tested by my local pool store 7/10)

Clarity of water:

[B]Shallow End: Clear -- but not "crystal clear"
Slope(s) to deep: Clear -- around edges -- could kind of see middle
Deep End: Can see sloped sides
Bottom w/main drain: can see drain but not clearly (but I think better than yesterday

I've been keeping the BLEACH bottles busy! I am planning on vacuuming to waste tomorrow morning (then I'll have to add tap water! or my pump won't run! LOL -- that's really not funny) -- and then keeping the bleach going again tomorrow. Today my grass was mowed -- so some dirt probably got in my pool too! Geesh! Is this a TEST OF POP?

I still have some Bioguard Sanitizer - Everyday Chlorinating Granules (Will I ever use these?) What do you do with "stuff that you got from the pool store before you found the pool forum?"

THANKS again for ALL your help! I appreciate VERY VERY much!

[debs_pool]

Woo-hoo! I got Ben's kit in the mail today!

My numbers are:

FC: 19
CC: 0
TC: 19
ph: 7.6
Alk: 160
Cal: 150
Cya: 40
Temp: 83.5
Tested about 4:15 CST

(I am going to post my 1st test #'s also in that thread.)

I believe this mustard algae is just about ALL GONE and the deep end of my pool is cloudy but I can see the main drain better.

I must have been keeping pretty consistent with the bleach and the high FC since I began this on MONDAY!

Do I continue? Can I decrease the bleach? But the main question I have is ... WHEN CAN I SWIM? WE ARE HAVING A MAJOR HEAT WAVE!!!!

Can we get in if we don't get the water in our eyes? And wash off right after?

THANKS TO ALL OF YOUR THAT HAVE HELPED ME! When I figure out how to take pics & post pics I'll send a shot so you can see what you helped me with!

[brent.roberts]

Sounds like you've won the battle, just got to clear the water and the war will be over.

The water is in pretty good shape. Should think about getting the alk down once you're swimming again and having some pleasure from the pool.

Have you been putting a bit of DE in your filter to help clear it. Get a bag from the pool store. Backwash and start filtering again ... not the pressure carefully.
Start adding the DE to the skimmer about a cup at a time until the pressure goes up 1 PSI. Walk away and leave the filter running. You'll see a big difference in the water in 24 hours.

I'd be thinking about putting the poly 60 algecide in about now too.

With the CC at 0 I think you could start to let the chlorine drift down over the next few days and then stabilize it to match you CYA.

[river-wear]

Just one question, Brent. What's DE?